Stress is something we all live with these days. Somewhere between picking up the children from school to studying for the coming finals, we forget that stress is something that should NOT be a regular part of life under any circumstances.
The human body is resilient but still needs to relax for optimum performance. And stress acts as the worst ailment for our bodies hindering our working schedule, reducing our ability to produce results, urging procrastination and even causing us to be incredibly lazy! Stress manifests in different forms ranging from acne to hair loss and even stomach ulcers.
We recommend for your sanity [and the sanity of people around you]; DESTRESS RIGHT NOW! Use the following five steps:
Breathe
Yup. The simplest of exercises and the essence of life. To de-stress, any yogi will be able to tell you, focus on breathing. Breath is known as ‘life force’ and is vital for nourishment of the body.
According to Huffington Post which quotes NPR, breathing exercises including a few deep breaths work wonders to reduce stress and tension stimulating parasympathetic reaction helping us calm down.
Visualize
The mind has everything to do with stress. To calm the mind, visualize a stress free situation like getting that bonus you have been working really hard to get, or going on a vacation that you have been planning even going home to sleep!
Women’s Health magazine goes as far as telling you to “picture yourself in an elevator, happily sandwiched between two hot actors of your choice.”
Eat [Careful, though!]
You mind and tummy will work together to help reduce your anxiety. If you are stressed out, eat up but mindfully, though. Don’t binge. Consume foods like half an avocado, a handful of nuts or a hard-boiled egg or something of equal calories.
Get a Plant
You heard us right, get a plant. They not only help liven up a space but the green is also a great stress reliever.
As reported by Huffington Post; “One Washington State University study found that a group of stressed-out people who entered a room full of plants had a four-point drop in their blood pressure, while a comparison group who didn’t see plants dropped only two points”
Get Rid of that Technology
You there! Yes, you, the stressed one. Step away from that screen. Continuous use of computers, tablets, laptops and even cellphones have been known to cause stress and anxiety. Make sure you take regular breaks! Turn off that phone for a bit and breathe deep.
