Reducing stress in your life helps with your overall well-being and helps reduce pain. When we are stressed the body is at a continuous state of fight or flight through the release of cortisol which can inhibit our mind from returning to a state of calm. Here are 10 tips to reduce stress that doesn’t involve a vacation or spa weekend.
- Meditate – This can take place anywhere at anytime. Sit up straight with feet on floor, and think of something warm and relaxing and close your eyes. Shut out the world around you and let your mind focus on this peaceful, serene place. A few minutes of meditation can make a big difference in
- Deep breathing – This is excellent when you feel frantic and hot tempered. Sitting calmly for about 5 minutes just taking slow deep breaths that go from your diaphragm to the upper part of your chest can reduce your heart rate and blood pressure.
- Be Present – Reduce the number of things you are thinking about and focus on one sense, like, taste, touch, hearing, smell, or sight. Listen to nature or watch a pretty view. Bring yourself to the now.
- Reach out to people – Reach out to your family or friends, do this face to face, not online. Talk to them about what you are dealing with and invite a new perspective that may help you find solace.
- Tune into your body – Find a place to lay down flat on your back and start with your toes and go up, taking a moment to see how each body part feels.
- Decompress – Take a warm bath, lay on a heating pad, place a warm wash cloth on your face, or massage an area that is holding tension.
- Laugh out Loud – Think of something funny, listen to a comedian you like, but the act of smiling and laughing triggers the release of endorphins that helps suppress the release of cortisol.
- Listen to music – Listening to your favorite up-beat music and even singing along with it can do wonders in relieving your stress.
- Get moving – Exercise and activity can help release chemicals that help provide positive energy and emotions.
- Be grateful – Create a journal that you write in daily that documents what you did for yourself, work, family, and community. Even if it is what you might consider a minor thing it triggers a positive emotional response in the brain.
Highly effective people lead stressful lives but have understand that stress doesn’t have to be contained in the body, but released in a way that can lead to a positive lifestyle. It’s the harboring of stress in the body that does damage to it and can lead to more pain.