10 SIMPLE WAYS TO RELIEVE STRESS

Is stress making you feel frustrated and cranky? Well, you are not alone as a lot of people go through this daily but choose to manage it, else they lose their mind. Stress can make you more vulnerable to illness due to its ability to weaken your immune system, thereby reducing the body’s capacity to fight off diseases and infections.

In case your stress is getting out of control and you need quick relief, try one of these tips:

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

The quality and amount of sleep you get can affect your mood, energy level, concentration and overall functioning. If you have sleep troubles, make sure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, listen to soothing music and stick to a consistent sleeping schedule.

EAT A BALANCED DIET

A poor diet can bring greater reactivity to stress. Consuming a healthy diet can help you combat stress. Foods like eggs, avocado, and walnuts support mood regulation and energy balance.

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Exercise is a fantastic stress reliever that can work in minutes. It can lift your mood and serve as a distraction from worries. It also allows you to break the cycle of negative thoughts that can increase your stress levels. So, whether you just need to take a stroll around the office to get a break from a frustrating task or you decide to go for a long walk after work. Walking is a simple and effective way to rejuvenate your mind and body.

MEDITATE

Meditation brings short-term stress relief as well as lasting stress management benefits. You can start by creating a mantra that you repeat in your mind as you take slow deep breaths. Or, you might take a few minutes to practice mindfulness, which involves being in the moment. Simply pay attention to what you see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. Meditation takes practice, but it can make a big difference in your overall stress life.

QUIT SMOKING & OTHER BAD HABITS

Aside from the health risks of cigarettes, nicotine acts as a stimulant. It also brings on more stress symptoms. Do yourself some good by dropping unhealthy habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption etc.

GET A HUG FROM A LOVED ONE

Physical touch can do a lot to relieve your stress. Hugging a loved one can be especially beneficial to your mental health. When you hug someone, oxytocin (also known as the “cuddle hormone”) is released. Oxytocin is associated with higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress.

OBTAIN SOCIAL SUPPORT

Having supportive people in your life is the key to stress management. If you lack emotional support and friendship, it’s important to get it.

That may mean reaching out to your distant friend or confiding in a family member. It can help you become closer and it may give you the social support you need.

MANAGE YOUR TIME

At times, we all feel overburdened by our ‘To Do’ list and this is a common cause of stress. Accept that you cannot do everything at once and start to prioritize your tasks.

Make a list of all the tasks you need to accomplish, in order of preference. Note what tasks you need to do personally and what can be delegated to others. Record which tasks need to be done immediately, in the next week or in the next month.

Remember as well to create buffer times to deal with unexpected and emergency tasks and include time for your own relaxation and well-being.

LAUGH MORE

A good sense of humour can’t cure all ailments, but it can certainly help you feel better, even if you must force a fake laugh through your grumpiness. When you laugh, it not only lightens your mental load but also causes positive physical changes in your body. Laughter fires up and then cools down your stress response. So read some jokes, tell some jokes, watch a comedy or hang out with your funny friends.

TAKE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

In addition to practising healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep and so on, taking nutritional Supplements like Cestra Once A Day Multi relieves stress and tiredness that results from your daily activities.