We live in a stressful world, folks. Each and every one of us has experienced the feeling of being stressed, overwhelmed or anxious at one time or another. Sometimes stress becomes so bad that it not only affects our mental wellness, but also our physical, emotional and even sexual wellness. There are some obvious ways to relieve stress and others that aren't as apparent, that are all completely natural. So before you turn to a pill for stress release, try these 8 all-natural ideas. You may not be surprised that relief from your worst stressors could be as easy as just being healthy and mindful.
1) Sleep. Stress and sleep are closely related and in fact sleep is one of the best ways to overcome stress. When you're short of sleep, your body doesn't work as efficiently as usual. That is even true with moderation of stress and anxiety levels. When you're body hasn't been properly rested, it's working harder to do everyday tasks which can leave us feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Take time to get a full nights' sleep and when insomnia from stress or restlessness strikes, combat it with natural herb teas, honey with milk or other melatonin inducers. (Don't revert to alcohol use to help your sleep. It will, in fact, help you to fall asleep but can lead to an interrupted sleep pattern that makes you more tired.)
2) Exercise. Whether it's yoga, tai-chi or a run, exercise is great for relieving stress. It helps us clear the mind and focus on a different sort of challenge than we are faced with throughout the day. Physical wellness is crucial to maintaining a stress free mind and body.
3) Organize and simplify. Feeling disorganized, cluttered or scattered can be stressors for some people that leave them feeling discontent and unsatisfied. Whether you have a to-do list at the office or home that's growing each day no matter how you combat it or you have a messy or cluttered home to worry about, being disorganized stresses us out. Simplify and organize your life to relieve stress. You're mind will be more at peace in organized simplicity.
4) Breathing/meditation. The best part about this one is that it doesn't require anything expect your mind. We can meditate anywhere, although the best spot is somewhere quiet and comfortable. It only takes 15-30 minutes to meditate and it can make a world of difference in your stress levels. By taking the time to focus solely on your breathing- inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the mouth- and to watch your thoughts drift past your brain, you're allowing your body to relax and cope.
5) Massage. These do cost money but depending on where you go, they can be reasonable (especially if it's a complimentary massage from your significant other ;)). Massage is an obvious way that stress is relieved and has been practiced for thousands of years. Releasing the toxins and tensions in the body allows us to achieve ultimate relaxation.
6) Take time to "disconnect". We live in a world that is uber-connected which makes it hard sometimes to focus on simplicity and our well-being. Make time each day to disconnect from the world by limiting access to technology. That's right, turn off the phones, tablets, computers and TVs and make a little quiet time for y-o-u. You will be so surprised at the clarity you feel having some disconnected time with yourself.
7) Healthy diet. This one goes along with exercise and sleep but yes, a healthy diet can relieve stress. Eating junk foods actually makes stress worse. Focus on eating foods rich in Vitamin B like nuts, beans and eggs, lots of veggies and fruits and lean meats. The better the eat, the better you feel AND the better you get at maintaining your stress levels.
8) Aromatherapy. Who doesn't love a yummy scent tantalizing their senses? Specific scents like lavender, rosemary, citrus, green apple or coconut have been proven to alleviate stress and to calm the nervous system. Use baths salts next time you take a bubble bath, light a candle or incense, or even add herbs to hot water as tea or a soak.
Next time you're feeling stress, try these 8 tips that are natural and mostly inexpensive. Stress can be beaten! Be mindful of your body, take care of yourself, and expose yourself to things you enjoy as often as you can.
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