We all experience some kind of stress in our lives. Whether it may be exam stress, first date, or worrying about bills, stress is a part of our normal life. Although it’s a natural reaction, stress is still a negative force that can have a serious impact on both our professional and personal lives.
Here are 5 proven methods to distress yourself.
SCREAM, SIGH, OR SING
Stress is a result of us not letting it out. One of the easiest ways to release this stress is just by letting out a good old-fashioned primal scream. You can also sing your favorite song since that releases endorphins and oxytocin.
IDENTIFY YOUR STRESS TRIGGERS
What exactly stresses you out? While you’re not going to be able to eliminate every stress trigger in your life, you can at least remove the ones that you have influence over. For example, if your morning commute is your main cause of stress because of traffic, then ask for a flexible schedule where you only have to commute three days a week and work two days from home. Another option for a flex schedule would be coming in earlier or arriving later so that you can avoid most of the hectic traffic.
MEDITATE
Meditation brings short-term stress relief as well as lasting stress management benefits. There are many different forms of meditation to try–each one is unique and brings its own appeal. You might develop a mantra that you repeat in your mind as you take slow deep breaths. Or, you might take a few minutes to practice mindfulness, which involves being in the moment. Simply pay attention to what you see, hear, taste, touch, and smell.
PRACTICE PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION
Progressive muscle relaxation involves relaxing all the muscles in your body, group by group. To practice, you can start with a few deep breaths. Then, practice tightening and relaxing each muscle group, starting with your forehead and moving down to your toes. With practice, you'll learn to recognize tension and tightness in your muscles and you'll be able to relax more easily. Each time you practice, however, you should experience a feeling of relaxation sweeping through your body.
TAKE A WALK
Exercise is a fantastic stress reliever that can work in minutes. Taking a walk allows you to enjoy a change of scenery, which can get you into a different frame of mind, and brings the benefits of exercise as well.
HOW DOES ART HELP TO RELIEVE STRESS?
Art therapy can be used as a complement to traditional mental health treatment. The aim is to manage behaviors, process feelings, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem.
It is very important to know that you don’t have to be a talented artist in order to try art therapy. Human beings are innately creative, and all you need to do to complete an art therapy activity successfully is, to be honest with yourself and your emotions. Once you unleash your creativity, your inner artist will quickly wake up.
Studies also show that creating art stimulates the release of dopamine. This chemical is released when we do something pleasurable, and it basically makes us feel happier. Increased levels of this feel-good neurotransmitter can be very helpful if you are battling anxiety or depression.
Mental health professionals and experts agree that art therapy has many benefits, from boosting your self-esteem, and providing you a safe outlet to relieve your emotions, to giving you a sense of control over your life and helping you to get to know and understand yourself better. During the process of art creation, you will be taking yourself on a journey of self-discovery that will help you eliminate emotional roadblocks, and learn how to communicate with yourself and others.
STRESS RELIEF: UNWISE CHOICES
Many people turn to unwise choices to cope with stress, tension, and anxiety. These include,
Gambling
Overeating
smoking
Substance Use
Drinking alcohol to excess
Even a seemingly harmless source of stress relief, such as computer games, can cause trouble. So make wise decisions to cope with stress.
Writer - Antra Pandey
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