Stress reduction is imperative in protecting our health. Stress can affect us on either a psychological or a physiological level. It can manifest in symptoms as diverse as gastrointestinal disorders and eye ticks. By addressing stress in a step by step approach, its cause can be identified and possibly even alleviated.
A journal can help reduce stress. All it takes is a pen and paper and a few minutes to write down whatever is bothering you. Often just getting it out on paper puts things in a better perspective. Writing about our problems releases emotions that may otherwise be pent up, thus increasing our stress levels. Furthermore, seeing our problems on paper can sometimes allow us to see possible solutions to our problems.
A great tip that can help you keep your stress levels down, is to simply give someone a hug. The physical act of giving or receiving a hug is one of the best ways to keep your stress down. You’ll feel nothing but warmth and you’ll notice that you aren’t as anxious.
Saying “no” more often will actually reduce the stress caused by giving in to things you really didn’t want to be obligated to and keep you from having to do them! When you are already pressed for time throughout your day, so saying “no” to offers people make that you are not actually interested in will give you more control and definitely less stress!
Reducing clutter in your life will automatically reduce some amount of stress! Be it your desk, pantry or closet, anything over cluttering your physical environment makes it much harder to work and find things and just isn’t pleasing to look at it! By cleaning up clutter you can operate more efficiently, enjoy your surroundings more and simply be less stressed.
Take more vitamins. Vitamin B has been shown to help reduce stress. Try to take between 100 percent and 300 percent of the daily allowance. Minerals such as chromium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, molybdenum, zinc, manganese, and selenium also help you to better deal with stress. Stay away from vitamins labeled as stress relievers as they are usually just vitamin B.
Next time you are feeling stressed, do something that makes you smile. Just the act of smiling has been scientifically shown to reduce stress levels. The nerves you use when smiling trigger the center in your brain that controls emotions. This essentially begin relaxing you immediately. So next time you feel stressed, step back and grin!
Identify the most harmful sources of stressful situations in your everyday life; find ways to reduce it to the best of your ability. Stay far away from the things that may be causing undue stress in your life. You do not need to worry about other people’s drama. Finding and eliminating stress sources in your life will really make a difference in your emotional well being, and will make you healthier, too.
Exercise to relieve stress. If you find that you are under stress from your job or personal situation, regular exercise can help you feel better. Taking a long walk, going to the gym, dancing or doing yoga are all forms of exercise that can help you feel less stressed.
Try aromatherapy for calming your nerves and reducing your stress levels. Citrus and lavender are both proven to do just this. You can use scented soaps in the shower, or try candles or heated oils in your home. If you surround yourself with peaceful scents you can reduce the amount of stress you feel at home.
Don’t keep your feelings bottled up inside. You need to let out your thoughts and emotions, or the stress of holding them in can increase your blood pressure and raise the possibility of other health problems. If you don’t have a confidant or friend you can speak to, consider the services of a professional counselor.
Next time you feel stressed and want to give up, do the opposite. Fighting through stress by being proactive, is an important step to controlling the situation. When you are passive about the the situation, you can easily develop a growing level of helplessness, which will only add more stress to your plate. Get in front of the situation.
In every person’s life, there needs to be some kind of balance. Living a balanced life is important for stress reduction. Doing too much of one thing, such as work is an easy way to become stressed. Instead of focusing on only one thing, allocate your time and energy to multiple areas.
By reducing or, better yet, even eliminating stress from our lives, we can do wonders in improving our health. This isn’t an impossible task. The first step is figuring out the problem. The second step, or series of steps actually, involves addressing the problem at its root and working to eliminate it in its entirety.