Are you a person who finds it difficult to unwind? Maybe you try to get a head start on the next day’s workload, by working into the night or over the weekend?
Constant stress (whether from a traffic-choked daily commute, unhappy marriage, or heavy workload), can impact on your health, mood, sleep and appetite — and yes, can even cause heart disease.
Here there are some tips to relax.
1. Exercise: Every time you are physically active, whether you take a walk or play tennis, dance, your body releases mood-boosting chemicals called endorphins. Exercising not only helps you destress, it also protects against heart disease by lowering your blood pressure, strengthening your heart muscle, and helping you maintain a healthy weight.
2. Take a warm Shower or bath: The best way to leave work behind you is to wash away the tension from your body. Water has a calming effect on the mind and soul. Try a nice hot shower to help your muscles relax, followed by a cool splash of cold water to energies the cells in your body. If you have a bath tub, light some aromatic candles and soak your body with some Epsom salts.
3. Digital Detox: You don’t have to completely cut yourself off from the world. However, doing a digital detox every now and then will have some great benefits on your wellbeing. For instance, being present, you’ll be more productive and you may have healthier relationships.
4. Out Doors: Stress levels can be reduced being around nature and participating in physical activity. Having that respite away from work and life, getting out and achieving things such as paddling a river, climbing a mountain or abseiling down a wall will bring an important break to normal routine, and achieving these things will help to build self-confidence and self-esteem.
5. Mindfulness: Life can be busy and demanding. Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment—and accepting it without judgment. This means being present, right here, right now. When practicing Mindfulness, it's less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past.
6. Reach out - Get social: Enjoying the company of your loved ones. Whether they provide a distraction or they help you to ‘hug it out’ shifting your focus with the help of a friend or loved one, can really help to reduce stress.
7. Get Enough Sleep: Do you know you actually need more rest when undergoing significant levels of stress? Healthy sleep can help your body better regulate blood sugar levels, keep your immune system functioning properly and even improve your heart health by decreasing stress.
8. Listen to Music: Research shows that listening to music improves our mental well-being and physical health. Enjoyment goes far beyond the present moment, as it directly influences the outcome of our hormones and cognitive functioning. If you are ever in need of an emotional boost, let it be known that it only takes 15 minutes of listening to your favorite tunes to get a natural high.
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