Whether we like it or not, stress is part of daily life. But just because it's there doesn't mean we can't keep it at managable levels. Most of us have our own coping methods that work well for them, but some of us start to start to panic at the mere mention of the word! Work, family life, study whatever it is in your life that makes you start to feel under pressure and in turn feel run-down, over-stretched or over whelmed, there is something you can do about it. And it doesn't invlove taking a pill or shirking all those niggling little everyday things that take up your precious time and energy.
Here are 5 easy, natural things you can do when life starts to get you down:
- Yoga: a gentle exercise system which is said to create a union between the body, mind and spirit, thereby bringing balance to the person practicing. On the physical level, yoga relaxes muscles, improves suppleness, fitness and function; it then relaxes the mind and teaches us how to deal with stress, destructive emotions and habits.
- Meditation and Breathing exercises: Being aware of you breath forces you into the present moment - the key to all inner transformation. - Eckhart Tolle. These work quicly and can be done anywhere. Deep breathing exygenates the blood, relaxes muscles and quietens the mind. Begin by focussing your awareness on your breath. Notice how your breathing sounds, how and where you feel it in the body. Gradually deepen your breathing, drawing the air into your belly, allowing it to expand. Continue this inhalation into the ribcage and upper chest. As you begin to exhale, relax the ches, ribcage and finally the belly. Continue in this fashion, trying to draw deeper and deeper breaths each time. Practicing this technique each day will help keep your mind clear and your body more relaxed. Meditation: can be seen as a form of mind control, not by an outside force, but by ourselves and can give us feelings of inner calm and peace. If practice regulary, medition can give rise to profound changes in our daily lives an dhow we view the world.
- Physical Activity: exercise helps to reduce stress by helping the body to release endorphins - "feel-good" hormones - and lower cortisol levels which contribute to stress levels. It also helps to refocus your attention on something other than what's bothering you. A simple walk through the park can be as helpful as a trip to the gym to pump some weights!
- Warm Bath: having a warm bath is an easy way to fight stress. The warm water helps to ease tight and overworked muscles, and the flow to water on the skin can feel like the washing away of your problems. Enhance the experience by reading a favourite book, listening to some soothing music, buring scented candles or adding some bubble just for the fun of it! The different ways of enjoying your bath are half the fun!
- Massage Therapy: is an easy and pleasant coping strategy that requires nothing more from you than to "let go" and receive. Massage provides immediate relief with soothing sensory input that refocuses your attention on the here and now, thus interrupting your cycle of mental agitation.
