Posted on October 11 2017
Stress, especially prolonged or chronic stress is extremely dangerous to our health; contributing to one of the largest health problems in women, heart disease. Many of us are used to working 40+ hour weeks – it’s no wonder we’re finding ourselves overwhelmed, stressed and burnt out.
So often I found myself using the term “stress” to describe my state of being…especially when it came to my professional life, but rather than continue down that path, I wanted to find a way to overcome it!
Here are 7 simple techniques you can implement today to relieve the stress in your life and help you feel calm and relaxed no matter what’s going on.
Share Your Feelings
Whether you decide to lean on a close friend, talk to a counselor, or even journal your thoughts and feelings – don’t let it bottle up.
Sharing your concerns and worries will help you begin to find solutions to them and free you from the burden you’re carrying alone.
Use the code STRESSFREE to get free shipping on our Write Your Story, Tell Your Story Notebook and start journaling your thoughts today!
Do Something Fun
Be sure to set aside some ‘me’ time every day where you completely switch off from work and your responsibilities, and give yourself permission to relax and have fun.
We’re only human and we need time to let our hair down every now and then, otherwise we’ll drive ourselves crazy!
Exercise
Whether you opt for a relaxing swim, a session of peaceful yoga or even a high intensity spin class; moving your body will help to release those feel-good endorphins inside and reduce some of the pent-up emotional intensity you’re feeling.
Your stress won’t magically disappear, but you’ll gain perspective and clarity on your situation, which will help you to deal with your problems calmly and rationally.
Personally, I enjoy practicing hot yoga as a wonderful hybrid of exercise and meditation.
Meditate
You might be apprehensive about trying meditation, but it’s simply the act of sitting comfortably, breathing deeply, and focusing your attention away from everything that’s whirring around your mind.
Even if you only spend five minutes on it each day, you’ll notice yourself feeling calmer, more focused and less distracted by everything that’s going on in your life right now.
Headspace is a great app that focuses on meditation practice and you can sign-up for free. I also have found several meditation podcasts that help me to decompress especially when I’m traveling.
Eat A Healthy, Balanced Diet
When you’re stressed, it’s natural to jump straight to unhealthy comfort food like sugary snacks and greasy takeaway, but try to resist the urge.
Getting the right balance of vitamins, minerals, carbs, proteins and good fats will ensure your body is running at its optimum level. You’ll have tons of energy, be more resilient to illness and you’ll have a far more positive outlook on everything.
Avoid Unhealthy Distractions And Habits
Similar to junk food, you might rely on distractive habits like drinking and smoking to help relieve your stress, but these crutches won’t actually solve your problems in the long run – they’ll only mask your real problems and likely create new ones.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoy the occasional glass of wine to unwind after a long day or to celebrate a win, but just be sure you don’t make habit out of it.
Look For The Positives In Your Life
Thinking positive will help you feel more positive about your circumstances, and anything life throws your way. Take a look around and think about how much you have to be thankful for, instead of focusing on the negatives. If you have to, shut off your phone and steer clear of social media for a few days. If you ask me it’s one of the largest distributors of negativity and who has time for that?
A great habit to get into is listing 3 things that you are grateful for at the end of each day before you go to bed.
What do you do to relieve your stress?
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