How can you relieve stress

Interacting with pets may help release oxytocin, a brain chemical that promotes a positive mood Having a pet may also help relieve stress by giving you purpose, keeping you active and providing companionship — all qualities that help reduce anxiety.

Although stress and anxiety may arise in your workplace and personal life, there are many simple ways to reduce the pressure you feel. Exercise, mindfulness, music and physical intimacy can all work to relieve anxiety — and they will improve your overall work-life balance as well.

Read this article in Spanish. Anxiety is a common problem characterized by worry and nervousness. This article lists 6 foods and beverages that can help to reduce it. Stress is a natural and normal part of life, but sometimes you just need to relax. We've compiled a list of the top 10 ways to relieve stress. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol can cause various problems. Here are 11 diet and lifestyle tips to help lower your cortisol levels….

People seek help from professional psychologists for many different challenges. Find out more about these issues, from death to stress to family and…. Social anxiety can creep up at work, on dates, at parties, and more. Here are just a few ways to get it under control in your daily life.

How long you live is largely within your own control. Here are 13 diet and lifestyle habits to adopt in order to live a long life. Meditation is the process of redirecting your thoughts to calm your mind.

It may also improve your overall quality of life. This is what the research…. Yoga combines breathing exercises, meditation and poses proven to benefit mental and physical health. This article lists 13 evidence-based benefits of…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Share on Pinterest. Consider supplements. Light a candle. Reduce your caffeine intake. Write it down. Chew gum. Yoga offers a variety of physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits. To get started, you might take a class, enroll in an online program, or use an app to help you begin practicing.

Gratitude helps you recognize all the things you have to be thankful for. Whether you're grateful for a sunny day or thankful you arrived at work safely, think about all the good things you have in life. Gratitude also reminds you of all of the resources you have to cope with stress, which can be quite empowering. Studies also show grateful people enjoy better mental health, lower stress, and a better quality of life.

So whether you decide to make it a habit to identify what you're grateful for as you sit around the dinner table or you decide to write down three things you're grateful for in a gratitude journal every day, make gratitude a regular habit. Physical activity is key to managing stress and improving mental health. And the best news is, there are many different kinds of activities that can reduce your stress.

Join a gym, take a class, or exercise outside. Keep in mind that there are many different ways to get more physical activity in your day too. Walking, strength training, kayaking, hiking, and spin class are just a few different examples of ways you can get stress relief.

Most stress relievers focus on changing your emotions. But sometimes, you won't necessarily get relief until you change the environment. This is referred to as problem-focused coping as opposed to emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused coping involves taking steps to remove the stressor from your life as opposed to changing how you feel about the stressor.

If you're trying to squeeze 20 hours worth of work into 16 hours, you're going to feel stressed. Reducing your workload could be key to helping you get through the day feeling better. Whether that means stepping away from a committee you joined or it involves hiring someone to complete some of your household chores for you,. Honing your time management skills can allow you to minimize the stressors that you experience, and better manage the ones you can't avoid. When you are able to complete everything on your "to do" list without the stress of rushing or forgetting, your whole life feels easier.

Having supportive people in your life is the key to stress management. If you lack emotional support and friendship, it's important to get it. That may mean reaching out to your existing network. Perhaps confiding in a family member or distant friend can help you become closer and it may give you the social support you need. You may also need to expand your network. Join an organization, attend a support group, or get professional help if you lack supportive people in your life.

Sometimes, the best way to reduce your stress is to cut something out of your life. Get rid of the things that are adding to your stress so you can experience more peace. Watching the news, being constantly connected to your digital devices, drinking alcohol, and consuming too much caffeine are just a few of the things that may add more stress to your life.

Making some changes to your daily habits could be instrumental in helping you feel better. Finding the best stress relief strategies may take some experimenting.

Some strategies may take practice too. But it's important to keep looking for the tools that will help you manage life's inevitable ups and downs in a healthy way. Keeping stress at a manageable level is important for your overall well-being.

Struggling with stress? Our guide offers expert advice on how to better manage stress levels. Get it FREE when you sign up for our newsletter. Guided imagery for stress and symptom management in pregnant african american women.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. Prevalence and patterns of use of mantra, mindfulness and spiritual meditation among adults in the United States. The effects of progressive muscular relaxation as a nursing procedure used for those who suffer from stress due to multiple sclerosis. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem.

The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Breathe Sheff. Squeeze a Stress Ball On days when you want to strangle a coworker, your roommate, or the driver in the next lane, squeeze a stress ball instead.

Try Progressive Relaxation Anxious? Just squeeze, release, and repeat. Progressive relaxation involves tensing the muscles in one body part at a time to achieve a state of calm. The method also used by actors is a great way to help fall asleep.

Be Alone Five minutes of alone time can help you collect your thoughts and clear your head. Get Organized Clutter could be contributing to your stress. Take a few minutes to reorganize your desk or table, or wherever you are , leaving just what you need on top.

Do Some Yoga Put your feet up—against the wall, of course. The Vipariti Kirani yoga pose involves lying on the floor and resting the legs up against a wall. Not only does it give the body a good stretch, but it helps create peace of mind, too. Eat Some Chocolate Just a square about 1. Dark chocolate regulates levels of the stress hormone cortisol and stabilizes metabolism. Write whatever comes to mind. No one else needs to read it, so don't strive for perfection in grammar or spelling.

Just let your thoughts flow on paper — or computer screen. Once you're done, you can toss out what you wrote or save it to reflect on later. Listening to or playing music is a good stress reliever because it can provide a mental distraction, reduce muscle tension and decrease stress hormones. Crank up the volume and let your mind be absorbed by the music. If music isn't one of your interests, turn your attention to another hobby you enjoy, such as gardening, sewing, sketching — anything that requires you to focus on what you're doing rather than what you think you should be doing.

If new stressors are challenging your ability to cope or if self-care measures just aren't relieving your stress, you may need to look for reinforcements in the form of therapy or counseling. Therapy also may be a good idea if you feel overwhelmed or trapped, if you worry excessively, or if you have trouble carrying out daily routines or meeting responsibilities at work, home or school. Professional counselors or therapists can help you identify sources of your stress and learn new coping tools.

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