10 Ways to Relieve Stress

Stress-We all deal with it. Biological stress was first identified in 1950 and, believe it or not, you don’t have to live with it. It was first discovered and documented by endocrinologist Hans Selye. But the signs of this strain have been around for a long time. Mr. Selye’s finding only resulted in studies that can aid millions waging a war on it. Rather than allowing that stress to rule your life, experiment with some stress-management techniques. Below are the top 10 methods of reducing stress:

Listen to Music

The first thing you can do is --- listen to the music. Try listening to classical or instrumental music because that can leave a positive effect on your brain and body. Doing so will also reduce your blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone related to stress. If classical is not your thing then, try listening to sounds of nature that also leaves similar effects like listening to classical or instrumental music.

Talk to Yourself

You can relieve stress by talking to your friends but, sometimes this is not an option or you don’t feel like talking to anyone. If that’s your case then talking to yourself calmly can be an option. Don’t feel like it’s a crazy thing to do---just do it. Tell yourself-- why you are stressed, ask yourself--what you can do, also talk about solutions to yourself  and most importantly---tell yourself that everything will be OK. 

Laugh it Off

Laughter is a good therapy as it increases endorphins that improve mood and decreases the level of Cortisol and Adrenaline, hormones that cause stress. However, we are not saying that you can burst into giggles, just sitting at your desk, try some other ways like watch comedy movies, watch comedy shows or watch funny videos.

Try Tea

A large dose of caffeine causes a short-term spike in blood pressure and also causes stress--- a state of mental or emotional strain resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. So, instead of having coffee or energy drinks, try having green tea. It has very less caffeine---almost half of the coffee, it also has Theanine, an amino acid that leaves a soothing effect on the nervous system.

Learn to say No

You don’t have supernatural powers like a super hero, you cannot do everything you are asked, so why do you keep pretending that you can? The more you promise and don’t deliver, the less people will think that you are being nice. Most of the people will get disappointed and think that you just know how to make promises; you cannot deliver what you promise. So, instead of being nice and saying ‘Yes’ all the time, be assertive and learn to say ‘No’ politely. Especially, when you think that there is a chance and you may not be able to get the thing done.

Avoid your stressors

Cut off the thing that is stretching you. Seems obvious, right? But staying away from what is stressing you out can sometimes be easier said than done. If that specific act or person of which is causing you the stress, Just cut it out from your life & forget about it. if its a stressor that is there permanently like work, school, family then get away from it! You should try this as a first recourse to lower your stress levels.

Clean up a bit

Dirty or messy things around you can also make you stressed. If your home, car or workspace is overly messy, take some time to clean up and put things in an organized way. Your mind will breathe a sigh of relief for sure.

Take a few minutes to get ready

It’s hard to feel prepared for the day when you haven’t spent time getting ready for it. So, compromise your sleep a bit, spend a few extra minutes in the morning to get ready. Take an extra long shower, wear your best outfits and go out with confidence to take on anything all day.

Focus on your sleep

When people get stressed and overwhelmed with thousands of things, the first thing they do is sacrifice their sleep. However, this is one of the biggest health mistakes they make. Getting adequate sleep is very important, it allows your body to recharge and refresh. With proper sleep, your body also gets rid of excess hormones and toxins that are responsible for stress. To get rid of stress in your life, try to sleep 7-9 hours daily at night.

Keep a journal

Keeping a journal may seem tedious but, writing down your own thoughts and experiences on a regular basis can help you relieve stress. When you feel bogged with some emotional or mental stressor, write about it in your journal. Getting it out on paper will give you a good relief.