With the ups and downs of modern life, it’s so easy to become awfully stressed out. Stress is not always all harmful, as there is healthy stress, which somehow comes in handy to protect you from further damage, and also reshapes your focus, like preparing for a big exam or presentation.
But then there is the ever common harmful stress which eventually leads to physical, mental, and emotional pains. Here are ten tips to help de-stress, relax, and feel better.
1. Exercise
You probably guessed it, right? Besides keeping your body in shape, exercise does help to reduce stress. The good thing is that it doesn’t have to require a heavy financial investment. Jogging, running, or even some yoga at home is totally free and of great benefit. You might just want to try it out and see what just a 20 minute head-clearing walk can do for your mood!
2. Listening to Music
Someone said that music is food for the soul and indeed it is, especially in stressful times. If a situation threatens to take the better of you, turn to your all-time favorite album and it should help to keep you relaxed. Also, calming music can have positive impacts on the brain, helping to reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.
3. Socialize
Friends and family remind us that life is not just about us, but those who we surround ourselves with. Spending time with loved ones reawakens the sense of belonging inherent in all of us. This could go a long the way in assuring us of others who care a great deal.
4. Make a Few Changes
Perhaps all you need is to adjust your working schedule, your wardrobe, work, or the environment. Making some changes may yield high returns and reduce your stress levels.
5. Sleep, Sleep, and Sleep Some More
Whereas stress could be a cause of sleep loss, sleep loss could also be a cause of stress. Your mind and body can easily burn out due to lack of sleep. Try by all means to make sure you get yourself enough healthy sleep.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Exercise alone is not enough to keep your stress levels down, you’ve got to take care of yourself in all aspects. Healthier food, plenty of water, and good nutrition overall will do wonders for your state of mind.
7. Meditate
Meditation focuses more on the inward. Taking a deep breath, inhaling the nature and absorbing your surroundings is a good way of keeping stress off.
8. Positive Self-Talk
Affirmations, talking to yourself positively, and possibly even loudly can help re-focus. Compare, for instance, positive self-talk like, “I can do this,” or “Things will work out,” to negative sentiments like, “I’ll never get well,” or “I’m so stupid.” Both have will impact your mental health, so try to choose the positive route.
9. The Power of Visualization
You can practice this anywhere and it will help you relax a great deal. Use your mind to walk away to a beautiful scene, vacation destination, or your favorite beach. Imagine how you would feel accomplishing a future goal, and so on.
10. Conserve Energy
Energy levels fade fast and you need to save as much as you can. Less important things take up your energy and you, therefore, need to be careful at prioritizing.
