Take It Easy – 10 Ways to Reduce Stress in Your Life
People don’t have to be flooded with stress if they follow these tips. They can help diminish stress levels and regain control in difficult situations.
1. Listening to music: Music is one of the many ways to reduce stress; studies show that listening to music reduces cortisol levels. Cortisol is an immune hormone response that is released into the body when it is under stress.
2. Surrounding oneself with positive people- Surrounding oneself with positive people encourages positivity to rub off and influence one’s mood.
3. Taking a nap- Taking naps can also help reduce overall stress levels. This helps improve focus and emotional stability.
4. Meditation- Being at peace with your thoughts and contemplating the joys and grateful elements of your life can being you a moment of peace in a stressful situation
5. Drinking tea- Drinking tea (specifically green tea) helps lower stress levels, but it works best to drink at least five cups a day. Only those who really enjoy tea will benefit from this, as drinking something distasteful will have the opposite effect.
6. Writing it down in a journal- Studies have shown that writing for a specified period each day about worries can help calm a person.
7. Practicing focused breathing- Even the way one breathes affects the whole body. Breathing exercises are a good way to relax, reduce tension, and relieve stress.
8. Exercising- Exercise releases endorphins which are a body’s natural painkillers, helping with stress and sleep.
9. Playing with dog or cats- Studies show that when a person plays with animals it helps produce more oxytocin (a stress-reducing hormone).
10. Taking things in stride- Simply just by not being tough on oneself can also help a person get back to normal by not making whatever it is seem bigger than it actually is.
