Do you sometimes feel as if there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that you need to? We all experience stress in some form or shape; whether it’s completing a time-specific task at work, juggling school and family, or finance issues, it is something that can cause tremendous strain on your mind and body.
According to WebMD, stress can lead to heart disease, asthma, obesity, depression, headaches, accelerated aging, diabetes, and premature death; to name a few. The ability to appropriately manage stress can greatly impact your life and the life of those close to you. Don’t fret, there are several ways to manage stress; some of which I have outlined below. Kate Morin at Greatist.com, following are scientifically proven ways to help reduce stress. They are as follows:
1. Try Progressive Relaxation
All the way from fingers to toes– tense and then release each muscle group in the body (lower arm, upper arm, chest, back and abdominal, etc.). Once the body is relaxed, the mind will be soon to follow!
2. Try Some Light Yoga
The combination of deep breathing techniques and poses makes this activity work to reduce stress, too.
3. Meditate
The “mental silence” that goes along with meditation may have positive on stress (especially work-related stress).
4. Breathe Deep
Taking a deep breath has been shown to lower cortisol levels, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. Studies suggest deep breathing can also cause a temporary drop in blood pressure.
5. Spark Some Scents
Studies suggest aromatherapy can be a good way to relieve stress. Certain aromas (like lavender) have been consistently shown to reduce stress levels.
6. Listen To Music
Research points to multiple ways in which music can help relieve, from triggering biochemical stress reducers to assisting in treating stress associated with medical procedures.
7. Exercise
That post-exercise endorphin rush is one way to sharply cut stress.
8. Try Self-Hypnosis
Research suggests hypnosis can help reduce anxiety. Plus, it’s a great self-mediated technique for stress-relief.
9. Write It Out
Keeping a journal may be one way to effectively relieve stress-related symptoms due to its meditative and reflective effects. A journal can really help us put things in perspective, so pick a time every day to write down a few things that make you happy.
10. Get A Massage
Getting a good rub down may do more than alleviate physical pain. Studies suggest massage may also be beneficial for fighting stress. It may also help improve body image.
Source: Greatist
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