Stress Relief Methods
Stress is a natural mental and physical reaction to life experiences. Thanks to work, family, and even politics, everyone is plagued with stress from time to time. Some forms of stress are fleeting, like excessive traffic or trying to make a work deadline. Fleeting stress takes less of a toll on the body as it usually dissipates quickly. Other types of stress like a death in the family, divorce, or health issues, can negatively impact your health if left untreated. Stress can also lead to wrinkles!
Do you get headaches when you’re under pressure or does your stomach get tied in knots? Does light-headedness plague you or does your breath become rapid? Regardless of how stress affects you, there are easy, healthy habits you can incorporate to help reduce and even eliminate stress in your life.
How to Reduce and Treat Stress
1. Prep for tomorrow before it arrives.
Getting organized allows you to be ready for the next day, so take a few minutes to make a to-do list before you go to bed. Knowing you've got everything under control means you're less likely to fret about work and life.
2. Find time to work out.
Working out is one of the most effective ways to relieve stress. Spending 30 minutes working out reduces stress by up to 25 percent. The increased oxygen flow also helps with brain function, making you more alert and more useful throughout the day.
3. Eat healthy snacks.
For many people, binge eating on junk food is quite common when stress is involved. In order to keep yourself from consuming non-nutritious food, which can lead to weight gain and more stress, fill your bag, car, and desk with healthy snacks. Salted peanuts, string cheese, granola bars, dark chocolate, or other relatively healthy snacks will help you curb your stress without the feeling of guilt.
4. Take a dip in the pool.
Nearly 80 percent of the subjects in a Swedish study felt less tense and depressed after swimming. This is because in water triggers the body's relaxation response, which in turn lowers our stress-hormone levels. For even more health benefits, float in salt-water float tanks at least once a week to pump the body with healthy, healing salts. It can also prevent you from overheating, which is beneficial because of the effects of hot climate on the skin.
*An extra tip - indulge yourself! Self-pampering helps you relax, which ultimately leads to less stress. One easy and highly beneficial way to do this is to treat your skin every day using natural skin care products.