Stress Busting Tips to Improve Mental and Physical Health
(495 Words)
With the power to compromise your mental and physical health, stress can be a silent enemy within. It can propel your body into the fight or flight response mode, releasing hormones that affect your heart and breathing rate. Although some stress is normal, many suffer from copious amounts, thus it is important to take the important steps to reduce stress in your life.
Exercise
Exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress. It has even been correlated with a lower rate of hypertension. Thirty minutes a day most days of the week can reduce your stress and even improve your cardiovascular health. Many find a reduction in anxiety that can last far beyond the exercise routine.
Meditation
Mediation can play a large part in reducing stress. It can be something as simple as relaxing in your office chair for five minutes and imagining that you are in a tranquil forest, surrounded by nature. You can purchase a CD that has guided imagery. There are many classes on meditation as well.
Get a massage
A massage can help relax you physically and mentally. You may find that the effects of an hour massage last for days.
Proper time management
Many are stressed because they simply have far too much on their “plates.” They may balance work, family, household chores, and much, much more. Proper time management can help you schedule your time in an efficient and effective manner. Try to make a time for everything and avoid distractions so you can focus on one thing.
Give yourself time to relax
Everyone needs some time to themselves, no matter how busy they are. It may be a simple matter of reading a book or watching a funny show for half an hour to refresh yourself.
Breathe deeply
Your mother may have told you to count to ten when you were stressed and breathe deeply. It may sound simplistic, yet this easy and quick technique can truly help to reduce stress.
Get support from others
The people around us can help reduce our stress. Do not keep everything bottled up inside. You may need to talk to someone to “vent” your problems when you start to feel overwhelmed by stress. If you feel that it is becoming a true problem then you can seek the help of a counselor who may be able to help you get some better techniques.
Purchase books on reducing stress
There are many different books that can help you reduce your stress. Some highly rated ones available from www.amazon.com include The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, Matthew McKay, and Patrick Fanning, Stress Management for Dummies by Allen Elkin, and So Stressed: The Ultimate Stress-Relief Plan for Women by Stephanie McClellan M.D. and Beth Hamilton M.D.
Reducing stress can help you lead a happier and healthier life. The above methods can help you reduce stress for better mental and physical well-being.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management-topic-overview
http://www.medicinenet.com/stress/article.htm