Stress management

Stress is a routine expectation in everyday events and can be very persuasive in overwhelming every other aspect of life. However, with successful stress management strategies, most people can overcome or at least minimize their stress levels to a significant extent. Effective stress management is all about taking charge of your lifestyle, emotions, thoughts and the approach you take to cope with problems.

5 Natural Ways to Lower Stress

Here are five natural ways to lower everyday stress by adopting effective strategies for stress management.

                                          

1. Meditate
Meditation, also known as mindfulness is a powerful way to relieve stress levels. Even on a hectic schedule, meditation done for as little as 15-20 minutes a day can help achieve this .It is possible to meditate anywhere; simply clear out the mind, give yourself some silent time and let your thoughts run free. The purpose here is to refocus attention while eliminating any jumbled up thoughts that may be crowding the mind. Oftentimes, meditation sessions may also require focus on breathing that can also be beneficial for calming the mind. Deep breathing does this by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure .The best part about meditation is that the benefits do not end with the session, but will help the individual carry on more calmly throughout the rest of the day.

     

2. Exercise

Exercise is closely related to meditation since it gives an individual time to be alone with their thoughts, or an opportunity to let them go. While it may seem counter intuitive to some people, exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Any activity from yoga, tai chi to aerobics can be part of a stress management plan. With the gentler forms of exercise, the benefits are clearing out the mind, and giving yourself a break while the more vigorous forms of exercise will typically take your mind off the day’s worries and make you forget about them. Instead the focus will be on your body’s movements and coordination. This can include anything from swimming to a fast paced game of tennis. Overall, exercise busts stress by pumping up endorphins, and improving the mood.

                                       

3. Sleep
Another very natural stress reducer is getting a good night’s sleep. It is well known that insufficient sleep leaves people irritable, cranky and on edge, whereas too much sleep will have the effect of making them sluggish and depressed. The aim here is to find the right equilibrium which permits individuals to feel well rested and ready for the day.
To promote better sleep, it is important to establish bedtime rituals that can signal the wake-sleep cycles to the brain. For instance, try not to exercise or take a warm bath too close to bedtime, as both practices raise circulation making it hard to wind down. Likewise do not eat big meals late in the evening as they may trigger indigestion, reflux or heartburn.
                                               
4. Diet
It has actually been proven that consuming junk food can make people depressed, not to mention fat, which is a constant source of stress for some. This makes cleaning up the diet very important. Health foods like whole grains and protein are known to improve mood and provide long lasting energy to cope with the various experiences of the day. Then there are certain vitamins like the B vitamins that are known to not only promote proper functioning of the brain and nervous system but also praised for inducing relaxation and fighting fatigue. In fact, indicators of a vitamin B deficiency include symptoms like depression, irritability and indifference, so to counter these, increase the intake of Vitamin B rich foods.

5. Organize
Of all the natural ways to lower stress, organization may be the most obvious but the most neglected. This is because organization offers a natural sense of control and peace of mind. If an individual feels on edge in their own house, tidying up may help, since studies have shown that the mere sight of clutter can put people on edge. Or if someone finds themselves always running around, it makes sense to prepare lists and organize some of the chaos in their life.