We all know what it feels like to have our stress levels go through the roof. Adrenaline can rush through our body as we attempt to deal with our whiny toddler, a teenager bent on torment or a ticking clock as we sit in traffic on the way to a critical meeting or even a deadline at work that might seem impossible to meet.
When stress rises, you might try one of the following techniques if you’re looking for a quick cool down.
Get Serious About Fitness
Exercise can be a fantastic reliever of stress. It releases endorphins, those feel-good chemicals in your brain, and allows you to blow off steam. You might consider signing up for some fitness classes or working out independently.
Running or walking provides you with rhythmic movement that assists you with readjusting your focus and relieving stress. If you head out for a run or walk or get in a quick workout during stressful times, it can give you a perspective that will let you go back to whatever situation you’re dealing with in a fresh state of mind.
Meditate
Meditation assists with quieting your mind. That is crucial for good mental health. During meditation, you aren’t supposed to react to the thoughts going through your mind. You just observe them.
To begin, get yourself into a comfortable seated position and make sure you close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths before settling into an even, steady breathing pattern. Focus on the breaths going in and out. If your mind begins to wander, return to focusing on your breathing. Even meditating for just a few minutes can help. If you’d like to try other types of meditation, such as guided meditation, there are quite a few free apps that let you do this.
Breathing Exercises
Try to focus on your breaths and push all of your thoughts aside. Be aware of the breaths that go in and out and concentrate on the sensation of exhaling and inhaling. Alternatively, you can try the box breathing technique. That is where you inhale to a count of four. Next, hold that breath for a count of four before exhaling to the count of four. Hold for another count of four, and then repeat the steps until you feel calmer.
Mindfulness
This keeps you in check with your inner self. Mindfulness is practicing awareness of your senses, feelings, and thoughts in the actual moment while not judging them. To begin, you should try to do a single thing mindfully every day. Choose a mundane activity, such as brushing your teeth or eating breakfast, and then practice being present in your chosen moment for a minimum of two minutes.
Gratitude
It’s impossible to have joy in your life if you don’t practice gratitude. Practicing this daily, can assist in rewiring your brain to concentrate on the positives in your life. Try to write down at least three things you are grateful for every day.
Stress is an issue in modern society, from a lack of boundaries related to a world of instant messages, FOMO due to social media, and stress related to work. Yes, some people might struggle more than others when it comes to stress, but we all have at least some. It can also arise at any given moment, even in those who don’t have a history of dealing with it.
Everyone has their own way of reducing stress that works best for them. You might have to try a few different or a combination of approaches before you find something that helps you calm down.
