Life can be stressful. Sometimes you will have to deal with a ton of stress thrown at you, and in many cases – you need to deal with it in a “positive” way.
Stress, as we know, can arise from a variety of things – such as family problems, job problems, financial difficulties, poor health, unfinished school work and so on. There is even some good stress. This would be something that motivates you. It is extremely important to recognize the causes behind your stress, and get to the root of the problem to then find a solution.
Here are four healthy ways to help you lower your stress levels in both the short-term and the long-term.
1. Exercise
It may seem like one of the last things you want to do when stressed, but as research keeps expanding – exercise benefits SO much of your mind and your body. Get together a workout plan and watch how much you will benefit.
2. Get social support
Do you have a friend or family member that you trust? Give them a call or send them a text message. When you share your concerns or feelings with another person, it does help relieve stress. But it’s important that the person who you talk to is someone who you trust and feel can understand and validate you. If your family is the stressor, for example, it may not alleviate your stress if you share your stress with one of them.
3. Smile and laugh
Our brains are truly connected with our emotions and facial expressions. When people are very stressed, they tend to showcase that in their face. So laughing or smiling can likely help relieve some of that tension.
4. Meditate
Meditation can truly help the mind focus. You can download a free app on your iPhone and begin meditating 5 minutes a day. You can also do something like pilates, which is so amazing for reducing stress and increasing mindfulness.
Mindfulness can help people see clearly. You may also start to develop self-compassion and forgiveness. When practicing a form of mindfulness, people can release emotions that may have been causing the body physical stress. Exercise and meditating are the absolute key.
