As the CEO of your life, the buck stops with you in everything. The demands of life, including work, family, and social life, can easily weigh down on you. And in a world of unreasonable expectations, where enough is never really enough, stress is an everyday thing.
Stress can negatively impact your health and rob you of the joy and reason for living. In this post, we investigate some of the most effective ways to live a stress-free life.
Put yourself first
It’s easy to get sucked into a whirlwind of worry when things don’t go your way. Stressors could be an annoying boss, an errant child, loans, or just the plain old fear of the unknown. In all that, the most important thing is to take care of you.
For starters, ensure to get enough sleep. Nothing should come between you, and the doctor recommended 8 hours of sleep.
Good things naturally flow your way when you get enough rest, including strengthening and renewal of your bodily functions, and inspiration to find the answers to your troubles.
Additionally, exercise is a crucial ingredient for a happy life. It is a stress buster. When you work out, you sweat out toxicity, and the process also helps to unleash endorphins, the so-called feel-good hormones.
These happy hormones induce the same feeling you get from a good mug of coffee, chai or a bar of chocolate,
Connect back with nature
Name any problem, and Mother Nature will often always have the answer. We live a fast life in big cities where we survive on take outs and befriend our tech gadgets. It is an out of touch way of living that can gradually build up toxicity and propagate stress hormones.
A study published in Science Daily shows that taking just 20 minutes to be in touch with nature can significantly reduce your stress hormones.
It is easier than you think. You don’t have to plan a vacation and miss work. Instead, aim to take regular breaks from your office. Instead of having lunch at the desk, take it out to the park. Take time to gaze at the beauty of the trees and flowers.
Instead of staying indoors and streaming Netflix, go on a nature trail or biking at the park. Break out of the matrix. Greenery has the power to draw human beings into a meditative state. It’s in that space where stress dissolves, and only one thing thrives—abundant life.
Breathe, and only think about breathing
Well, that’s meditation. It is embracing simplicity as a shelter from the harsh realities of the world, even just for a few minutes. You don’t have to be religious to meditate. Instead, it should be a natural strategy for helping you relax and calm your raging adrenaline.
Deep breathing reminds you that nothing is as serious as it looks and that only one thing matters– breathing. As WebMD explains, the calming effect that results from deep breathing is similar to when your body is at rest or when you are sleeping at night.
Lottoland has some interesting facts about stress; for instance, the fact that 62 % of employees in the workplace suffer from extreme anxiety.
The next time your boss is breathing down your neck, remember to take deep breaths. It will help to reduce tension and boost your oxygen circulation. Eventually, that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm down.
Envision happiness
Think happy thoughts as experts would say. It sounds like a cliché, but there is indeed a de-stressing potential in visualization.
Close your eyes for a few minutes and fixate your mind to a point past where you are now. Sink into a state where you feel as though what you wish for has already happened. Let the joy and calm wash over you.
Scientists concur that visualization can help in relaxation. In hospital settings or at the shrink’s, the experts would often use ‘guided imagery‘
That entails lying down straight on your back, taking deep breaths, and listening to a calm, soothing voice giving you directions on how to relax your mind. They might ask you to picture a beautiful lake or a similar scene in nature or repeat a set of positive affirmations.
Mindful eating
This technique is not about fad dieting. Instead, it is about using your relationship with food to promote wellness of soul, mind, and body. Listen to your body; it’s regularly telling you what it wants. One way of reducing stress is by treating yourself to the foods you like to eat.
When you sit down to eat, be fully present. Switch off the TV or put the phone away if that’s what it takes to be attentive to your plate or snack.
Feel all your senses in this experience and take time. You can even start by taking a few deep breaths to center yourself before digging in. When you do, chew slowly, listening to your body’s fullness cues.
No one is immune to stress, but these techniques can help to buffer you from the vicissitudes of life that erode your calm and happiness.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
As a founder and chief author at InsightState.com, Bulgarea Candin helps readers on their spiritual journeys. His writings are designed to inspire creativity and personal growth, guiding readers on their journey to a more fulfilled and enlightened life.