Stress is a constant companion, and many people have become too practiced at being stressed out. Luckily, relaxation can help you minimize stress. Yet, the ability to relax is an acquired skill. The more stressed you feel, the more challenging it can be to learn to relax.
Discover how you can relax your body and mind when your stress levels are out of control:
- Take a moment to stretch. Stand up for a few minutes and stretch your body. You may not notice as muscle tension creeps up on you during the day. Release it by shaking your arms and legs (and the rest of your body) before getting back to work.
- Exercise. If you have more time available, 30 minutes of exercise can work wonders. Don't just limit yourself to the standard walk or jog. Try other things. Play a round of tennis. Do tai chi. Dance around. Attempt to break your personal bench press record. Consider whether you'd prefer to exercise alone or with others and make it happen.
- Listen to music. Music can be very soothing. The theme from Rocky might make you feel great, but might not be the best choice if you're feeling agitated. Choose music that you find relaxing.
- Meditate. Meditation is simple but challenging when you're first learning it. You can use it to focus your thoughts and relieve your tension. Keep your thoughts focused on your breath and return to your breath whenever you get distracted. What could be simpler?
- Reach out to others. Some of us find relaxation in being alone, while others feel better with others. Reach out to your friends and family. Discussing your feelings and the challenges you're facing can help take a load off. Alternatively, use your time with others in your life as a distraction. Go out to dinner or watch a movie. Have a little fun.
- Laugh. Maybe laughter really is the best medicine. Pull out your favorite video. Spend the evening at a comedy club. Call your funniest friend for a chat. Read a book of jokes. Find something or someone that will make you laugh.
- Feel gratitude. It's easy to forget about all the wonderful things in your life during challenging times. Make a list of all the blessings in your life. Focus on feeling gratitude. Reminding yourself of all the good things can help put the not-so-good things in a softer light.
- Take a nap. One of the best ways to reset your nervous system is sleeping. Find a quiet place to lie down for an hour. A nap can be a great stress-buster.
- Think happy thoughts. Remember a happy, past event. Relive it in your mind. Creative visualization can be an excellent way to take a break from your stress. Be creative and enjoy yourself.
- Drop the caffeine from your diet. Caffeine and stress don't mix well. Give your nervous system a break and avoid caffeinated beverages. If you're stressed, do you really need to be any more stimulated?
- Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. Or plug your ears and focus on what you see. Blocking off one of your senses while focusing on your environment is an excellent way to be more present. Keeping your attention on your surroundings will help stop your mind from creating more stress.
- Take a spa day. Last but not least, take some time for a massage, manicure, soak in the sauna, or other feel-good activity. Let the tension melt away.
Stress is a part of daily life. Learning to manage it makes life more enjoyable. The best time to address stress is the moment it begins. There's a momentum to stress. Once your stress reaches a high level, it's far more challenging to reduce. Use stress-reduction techniques sooner, rather than later, to prevent a meltdown before it happens.