rose
Stress is a natural human response to change. It is your body’s innate defense against potential danger. When your body senses any stressors, it releases hormones to prepare itself to confront the danger. Commonly, this is referred to as the fight or flight mechanism and can help you stay alert and motivated. For example, students can feel stressed when they have an important test coming up but this also causes their bodies to work harder and stay awake longer so they can cram their studies.
Anyone can experience stress at any time. In some situations, the feeling of stress doesn’t go away until its cause is resolved or removed. If you don’t find ways to relieve that stress, it can build up gradually and become overwhelming. This is when it becomes problematic. When you don’t manage stress, it can lead to serious health issues such as high blood pressure, digestive problems, and anxiety. To keep stress from piling up and causing you to burnout, you need to learn how to manage these feelings and give yourself a break. Here are some of the things you can do to destress and recover some peace of mind.
Meditate
Meditating is an effective technique both for providing instant stress release and as part of regular stress management. There are different forms of meditation. Some people practice mindfulness by being in the moment. To do this, find a quiet spot to sit in then concentrate on what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.
Another form of meditation is praying. Depending on your faith, you can read and reflect on passages from religious texts. If you follow the teachings of Islam, you can access a digital copy of the Quran through Muslim Pro. Using the app allows you to read the Quran anywhere you are. You just need to download the mobile app on your smartphone. The Muslim Pro app can also help you remember to pray on time since it offers accurate prayer times for major cities worldwide.
Even if you are traveling and staying in different countries, you won’t miss any prayer schedule as the mobile app can be configured to adjust to your location.
Meditation, in whatever form, can help put your mind at ease. Instead of mulling over a stressful circumstance and worrying about it, your focus is directed to the present moment and helps you to regain your calm.
Focus on Breathing
If you find yourself in a stressful situation that you can’t leave, you can destress by practicing some deep breathing exercises. When you breathe deeply, your chest and abdomen fills up with air then releases the physical tension it creates, resulting in a sense of relief that helps your body to relax. The best thing about this practice is you can perform it anywhere and any time. Also, it is very simple and only takes a few minutes to do.
Start with inhaling through your nose and allowing your belly to fill up with air. Slowly count up to three as you breathe in and hold your breath for a second. Then, slowly exhale through your nose as you count to three again. Continue repeating the process until you feel more relaxed. Another tip to help you calm down is to visualize a peaceful image as you practice deep breathing exercises. Imagine calm air entering your body as you inhale and let that air spread through your entire body. When it’s time to exhale, visualize releasing stress and tension along with each breath.
Enjoy Aromatherapy
Using aromatherapy is another easy and effective way to destress when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Certain scents, like lavender, are believed to help decrease anxiety, stress, and fatigue. You can enjoy the calming effects of lavender through bath salts and massage oils. You can also pour some lavender essential oils in diffusers or light lavender-scented candles to create a relaxing environment. Sipping on lavender-infused herbal teas is another great way to wind down after a long day and prepare your body for a good night’s rest.
In addition, you can take advantage of the relaxing effects of bergamot essential oil. It is sourced from a citrus fruit called Citrus bergamia and can help alleviate negative feelings. You can inhale the soothing scent by placing a few drops of oil onto a cloth or an aromatherapy diffuser.
Take a Walk
Taking a walk is a simple form of exercise that can help you reduce stress. It provides instant relief by shifting your focus and gets you into a different frame of mind. When you take a walk outside, you can enjoy the change of scenery and divert your attention to what’s going on around you.
Even if you can’t go out for a stroll, walking and moving around in your home or office for five to ten minutes can be beneficial. It will also give you the physical health benefits of exercising such as improving your cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness. Whether you regularly take a stroll in the park or walk around the office to take a quick break from a stressful task, the activity can rejuvenate your mind and body.
It’s inevitable to experience some stress in your life but that doesn’t mean you have to keep feeling bad. There are different ways to calm yourself down, whether you are out in public or in the comfort of your home. Many of these methods can bring instant relief and you can continue to do them regularly as part of lasting stress management methods. By learning various relaxation techniques, you can handle stressful circumstances better and avoid harmful health issues linked to living with too much stress.
