There are MANY ways for us to manage stress that do not involve taking medication. Here are 5 easy things you can do to combat stress in your life.
Stress Relief Tips
1. Exercise
As humans we are designed to move our bodies, but many of us sit down for most of our working day. Exercise gives us a feeling of well-being.
It is an essential part of good body function. Many of us say we are too busy to exercise but exercise can reduce stress. It can easily be added to our daily routine.
Not only does it keep the heart healthy and get oxygen into the system, but it helps deplete stress hormones and releases mood-enhancing endorphins which help us cope with stress better.
The increase in endorphins in your body leads to a feeling of euphoria, an enhancement of immune response and gives us so many other benefits. This helps combat the negative effects of stress.
2. Meditation
If you are stressed or anxious consider meditation. Spending even a few minutes a day in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace.
Anyone can practice it and it doesn’t require any special equipment, it is simple, inexpensive and you can practice meditation anywhere, any time of the day.
You can start at only 5 minutes a day and increase your practice. An easy way to start is to buy a guided meditation.
3. Do Something You Love
When you do something you love you change your emotions from one of stress to one of happiness. This will trigger the ‘happy hormones’ in your body.
Our emotions affect us at a cellular level so when we change our emotions, we change our body’s chemicals. So by doing something you love you can beat stress.
4. Change Your Thoughts
Our thoughts affect our behaviours and our stress levels. If we are thinking negative thoughts, we will be in a negative mood. If we are thinking positive thoughts, we will be in a positive mood.
So when you are in a ‘bad’ mood, notice your thoughts and consciously change them to more empowering thoughts.
5. Get A Massage
We know massage feels great and we feel relaxed but what are some of the other benefits? Massage is amazing for relaxing our bodies. It reduces inflammation and increases blood flow to muscles.
It releases chemicals that act as an anti-inflammatory in our body, you get the same result you would get by taking anti-inflammatory pills and as an effect it boosts your ability to recover from exercise faster.
Massage therapy triggers serotonin, a brain chemical that generates calm and serene feelings. It makes sense that when stress is alleviated, peaceful sleep comes more easily.
Massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, resulting in feeling happier and often lower blood pressure. It can also boost the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in depression.
So here are 5 easy ways to beat stress in your day to day life. Which will you choose?
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Sharon White
If you would like to learn more and work with me one on one I would love to work with you. I am passionate about people having a voice, being heard and creating the change you want in your life.
You can contact me at sharon@globalhealingexchange.com to see how I can help you. Sharon is the founder of Global Healing Exchange. You can work with her on her Emotional Freedom Program here.
