Too much stress can not only reduce our enjoyment of daily life, but also contribute to fatigue, loss or gain in appetite, problems with sleeping and even other, more serious medical issues, especially those that involve heart health. Proper stress management is necessary to help us lead more productive, enjoyable lives and while a little stress can be a good thing, too much of it can lead to serious negative effects on our overall health. Here are a five quick ways to help relieve stress while at work or in the home.
Time Out: If the stress is being caused at work, then taking a time out can help break the cycle of stress and refocus the mind on the tasks at hand, rather than worrying about the ramifications of what might be. This means stepping away from the computer, leaving the desk and taking a time out, a few minutes to put into perspective what has happened before going back to work.
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Exercise: One of the best methods to relieve stress is to literally work the feelings out of our system. Proper exercise not only improves the health of our bodies, it also focuses our minds away from what is causing the stress and is an important part of stress management. In particular, aerobic activity that works the entire body or even something more simple as jogging or walking can ease the mind while improving the spirit. Exercising five days a week, even it only for 20 minutes a day, alternating between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, which is either using free weights or simply bodyweight exercises such as push up, sit ups and the like can significantly relieve stress. Yoga for example is one of the best exercises for good stress management as it emphasizes the mind and well as the body.
Stillpoint: A stillpoint is a therapeutic technique that came from therapies involving osteopathy and craniosacral, which breaks the body’s own stress cycle and refocuses the mind away from thoughts which are augmenting the stress. This simple technique, which generally only takes 5 to 10 minutes, can help you relieve stress effectively by using the power of the mind.
Bathe: Seems simple enough, but taking a bath or refreshing shower can help break the cycle of stress. It puts our minds into another place and away from the feelings that are causing the buildup of stress. A good, long hot shower can do the trick, but many people turn towards soaking in the tub to help ease their minds. You can even make a bath a spa-like experience, a sort of mini-vacation if you will from life’s daily grind.
Day Off: Not so much a vacation, more of a day off to take our minds away from our troubles. Find a stress relieving activity that you enjoy and plan part of your day around it, whether you decide to take time off work or on your normal day off, this should be your time to go to a spa, take a relaxing afternoon at the park or simply engage in your favorite activity that helps re-set the mind and take away the stress.
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I think exercising is one of the best methods not only to relieve your stress, but to even help you concentrate better on your work. The blood circulation throughout our body is enhanced whenever we exercise, and that is when our brain can receive the necessary nutrients to function better.
I can always focus better on my work with a clearer mind and work much faster after going out for a 30 minute jog. I feel all refreshed as my stress just dissipates by itself.
I can’t stress enough (pardon the pun) about how DE-STRESSING a warm bath is to me. Well, let me re-phrase that. When I dim the lights, put on a rainforest sounds CD (or hypnosis CD), light some candles, and slip into a bath infused with aromatherapy oils – there’s nothing in the world that can stress me out. I will try the other tips you have listed here though in case I can’t have a bath for whatever reason 😉
Another great post! You have the most sound advice I have read. Although, taking a day off from work is not possible for me, I do take time outs and float around the pool an hour every day, while reading my Kindle. So, that does relieve my stress. I surely enjoy your advice. Another great post I will be passing along to my friends.
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