5 Magical Stress Releasing Techniques That Work Instantly
Everybody
has to know how to fight this problem because everybody at any one point in
life is stressed. According to the WebMD these 5 techniques would revolutionize the way you
manage stress and improve on the quality of your life.
Breathe Deeply
Give
yourself a 5-minute break from whatever is bothering you and focus instead on
your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes closed, with a hand on your belly. Slowly
inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work its
way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your
mouth.
Laugh Out Loud
A good
belly laugh doesn’t just lighten the load mentally. It lowers cortisol, your
body’s stress hormone, while increasing brain chemicals called endorphins that
boost your mood. Lighten up by tuning in to your favorite sitcom or video,
reading the comics, or chatting with someone who makes you smile.
Meditate
A few
minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. “Research suggests that
daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more
resilient to stress,” says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago
health and wellness coach.
The
process can be simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your
eyes. Focus your attention on reciting -- out loud or silently -- a positive
mantra such as “I feel at peace” or “I love myself.” Place one hand on your
belly to synch the mantra with your breaths. Let any distracting thoughts float
by like clouds.
Listen to Some Music
Research
shows that listening to soothing music can lower blood pressure, heart rate,
and anxiety. “Create a playlist of songs or nature sounds (the ocean, a
bubbling brook, birds chirping) and allow your mind to focus on the different
melodies, instruments, or singers in the piece,” suggests Benninger. You also
can blow off steam by rocking out to more upbeat tunes -- or singing at the top
of your lungs!
Be Grateful
Keep a
gratitude journal or several (stash one by your bed, keep one in your purse,
and one at work) to help you remember all the things that are good in your
life.
“Being
grateful for your blessings cancels out negative thoughts and worries,” says
Joni Emmerling, a wellness coach in Greenville, N.C.
Use these
journals to savor good experiences like a child’s smile, a sunshine-filled day,
and good health. Don’t forget to celebrate accomplishments like mastering a new
task at work or a new hobby. When you start feeling stressed, spend a few
minutes looking through your notes to remind yourself what really matters.
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Categories:
mental-health
