Whether at home or in the workplace, stress is something that many people have learned to live with. However, constant stress is bad for both physical and mental health. The next time you feel your shoulders getting tense, reduce the stress and anxiety using these natural stress busting techniques.
Try Calming Techniques
Take several slow deep breaths and repeat it as many times as necessary. Believe it or not this really does work. Clear the mind and concentrate only on breathing for the best results.
Call a friend or loved one to instantly relieve anxiety. Just hearing the voice of someone who cares, even for a few minutes, will lift spirits. If there is time, get their perspective on current problems as they may offer insight that will ease the stress.
Relieve Anxiety by Creating a Less Stressful Environment
Surround the environment with physical things that create happy feelings. Put out a picture of loved ones, or pets. Turn off harsh fluorescent lights and use a table lamp instead. Turning on music, even if it is low, helps to regulate mood. The music doesn't have to be soothing elevator music in order to work. Any music that a person likes will lift the mood.
Turn on some lights, or open the window blinds to provide an instant mood booster. People experience more stress in cooler months primarily due to lack of sunlight. Generating more light, even if it's artificial, will do wonders to improve the mood and relieve anxiety.
Light a candle or burn some incense. Choose a scent that naturally brings good memories to mind. Although scents such as lavender have been proven to reduce stress, if a person prefers citrus then use that scent instead.
Get Away from the Stressful Area
Talk a walk outside, even if it is only for five minutes. Fresh air, sunlight and natural sounds will greatly improve the mood. In addition, this works because the person is leaving the situation that is causing stress. If going outdoors isn’t possible, bring the outdoors in. Go outside and pick some flowers to bring in and place in a vase. The fresh smell and colors will brighten the room and the person’s mood.
One of the best ways to reduce stress and anxiety is to take a break and exercise. Vigorous exercise, such as going for run or lifting weights, works in two ways. First, it loosens up the muscles and releases stress from the body. Secondly, exercise takes the mind off of the problems. Another benefit to exercise is that those who are physically active respond better to future instances of stress than those who are sedentary.
Although it may take some practice, there are many effective ways to reduce stress and anxiety. Using these techniques consistently will eventually become a habit that leads to a more peaceful life.
Sources
- www.fi.edu/learn/brain/relieve.html
Kimberly Johnson - Christina Jones is an experienced freelance writer who contributes articles to many different websites and publications.
