10 ways to de-stress your life
10 ways to de-stress your life
10 ways to de-stress your life
IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE?
Do you feel overworked, tired, emotionally strung out and like you just don't have enough hours in the day or personal resources to fulfil all the projects/tasks/demands on your time?
Quality of life is so important and when you are stressed, you're just not going to have the energy or get up and go to live your life well.
Here are some great ways to begin to reduce stress in your life and get that zing back in your step, so as you enjoy waking up in the morning and look forward to your day. How does that sound? Well read on
1.SIMPLIFY
Simplifying your life is about seeing what is important and making that the focus in your life. It is about quality of life and living life well. Often it is through crisis or serious illness that we get clear on what is really important to us. Stress is an early indicator that we need to take a look at ourselves and our lives and find a way to live more in harmony with our real needs and values. Take some time to think about what it is you most value in your life. Then see how you can structure your life with these areas as a focus of your time and energy. Let other things find their place.
2. GET MOVING
Movement is life and your body needs movement to function at an optimum level. When we remain in the same position for extended periods of time, it begins to create tension areas in the body. The neck and shoulders are favourite areas for tension build-up, as well as the lower back and spine generally. The joints also need regular movement to stay lubricated and flexible. So get those walking shoes out of the cupboard, or perhaps your favourite gardening gloves, or just put on your favourite music and start to move. You'll be surprised how good you feel after just 20 minutes of movement. 3 4 times a week is a good frequency to aim for and in a short time you'll notice the difference.
3. LEARN TO RELAX
Relaxation is a skill you can learn. Practicing a structured relaxation sequence, such as yoga nidra or progressive relaxation on a regular basis, is an effective way of bringing about a significant change in your stress levels. As your body learns to relax, you develop new pathways in your brain, so it will be easier to reach a relaxed state in a shorter period of time. Your new relaxation levels, will also start to positively impact on other areas of your life, as you find it easier to relax in all types of situations, that were previously stress creating ie driving your car in traffic, answering the phone, talking to your boss or a new customer.
5. SPEND SOME TIME IN NATURE EVERY DAY
The healing and rejuvenating effects of nature, to body and spirit, are well known, but it is easy to forget to take time out to enjoy nature's gifts. There are many ways, we can spend some time in nature every day, with little effort and start to reap the benefits. An after dinner walk is a good way to digest your dinner and start to wind down for the evening, or taking your lunch break in the park instead of the office or shopping mall. Try walking instead of driving for those short trips, or stepping out to enjoy the sunset for a beautiful and inspiring end to your day.
6. AROMATHERAPY
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants, to harmonise the body, mind and spirit. Aromatherapy can help with stress, by triggering the release of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin or encephalin, which induce a calming or natural euphoric state. A few of the oils of particular benefit in stress management, are lavender for its calming and sedative effect, basil and bergamot for fatigue, stress and burnout and lemon and orange for apathy and mental fatigue. Try a few drops of essential oil in a bath or oil burner and feel your stress melt away.
7. JOURNALLING
Writing is a great form of self-expression and an effective tension reducer. Writing about traumatic, stressful and emotionally charged events, has been shown to improve physical and psychological health significantly, as well as to improve immune functioning and reduce the symptoms of chronic illness, such as asthma and arthritis. To get started, buy yourself a special journaling book or notebook and start writing. Morning can be a great time to sit down and sort out your thoughts for the day. Try getting up hour earlier and writing your journal with a cuppa, as a great way to start the day.
8. SOCIAL SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP
Social support or feeling loved, cared for and mutually esteemed, has been shown to have a significant impact, on many of the health consequences of stress, such as arthritis and depression. In our busy lives, where our day is often made up of getting ready for work, commuting to work, work, tv and meals, we may be increasingly neglecting an important health and happiness factor social support and friendship. Life is often reduced to a series of habits, that may not be all that healthful or life affirming. Instead of turning on the TV, why not go for a walk with a friend or partner. Or try joining a local group for a hobby or interest and make new friends as well as enjoying your favourite pastime.
9. LIVING IN THE PRESENT
Have you ever thought, that every moment and every experience of our life is unique, a one of a kind, never to be repeated. If we miss the moment, by not being present, it is gone for good. How many moments and experiences do we miss, by being preoccupied with something else? When we savour the moment, with our senses and our awareness, bringing ourselves fully to the experience, there is a quality to life, a richness of experience that we would otherwise miss. When we are stressed, we are often in a state of unawareness and overload, so we are not noticing the sights, sounds, smells and beauty all around us. The practice of mindfulness or bringing our awareness to the present moment is a way of enriching our lives and significantly reducing stress.
10. DRINK WATER
Drinking plenty of water has many health benefits including a reduction in stress. When we are even marginally dehydrated, a physiological stress response is triggered in our brain, causing our fight and flight response to be activated and hormones to be released in order to retain water levels. Water is needed by our body for digestion and assimilation of nutrients, as well as temperature regulation, circulation and eliminating waste materials. Thirst is a good indicator, of our body's need for water. Individual requirements vary with age and level of activity, amongst other factors, but as a rough guide, eight 10oz glasses of water, including water contained in foods is our daily requirement, preferably clean, spring water.
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