Adulting is full of its ups and downs and since it is National Stress Awareness Day I thought I would share with you my favourite ways to de-stress. Hopefully you will find these not only helpful but some of them a little surprising.
Work out
I feel like people think gym when anyone says exercise. The relality is not everyone has time to get to one. Most often when you are feeling stress the one thing you feel you need is time. Save journey time by picking something you can do at home. A personal favourite of mine is Yoga since it helps you focus on your breathing which forces your body to a relaxed state. Not to mention it supports with posture and generally keeps you supple. My go-to app is one named “Yoga” which is available on iPhone and Android.
Hobbying
Whether it is gaming, knitting, gardening, painting (your face if you’re me) it is soo important to do something “for the fun of it”. There are a number of benefits depending on what you do. Gardening is great to get you into the sunshine and fresh air. Playing a musical instrument absorbs your focus making you a vehicle for creative expression.
Reading
It has been proven that reading can help reduce stress. Whether this is due to the fact that it is very similar to focus meditation I am unsure. Even 6 minutes can be enough to reduce stress levels by more than two thirds. It actually works better than other methods such as listening to music, going for a walk or having a cup of tea. Currently I am reading this book which I am really enjoying.
Let me know what you’re reading in the comments below.
Journaling
Journaling is more than keeping a diary. It is a way to help you clarify your thoughts and feelings. Often when you are stressed it is hard to find time or energy to see people. Seeing people can be helpful to discuss and work though stressors. Keeping a journal, whether it is for gratitude, or coincidence journaling can really help you process.
Meditation
The workout for your brain is meditation and there are many way to do this. Sometimes if you are a beginner you can just end up thinking about clearing your mind for hours. This is why things such as concentration meditation is great as it involves focussing on a single point. Mindfulness meditation involves the observation of wandering thoughts and there are other techniques too.
Aromatherapy is a great way to add some extra de-stress to your meditation. Whether you use oils or a diffuser, is up to you.
Mind Charity have a great downloadable poster you can use as well as further information about stress management. Be sure to check them out HERE.
How do you manage stress levels?
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