5 Stress-Free Ways to Fight Stress

Honestly, I felt ruined. I came home after work and felt that I needed to do something important. It was about time to finally clean my bathroom. Five minutes later, I started working on my next project. Two minutes passed. I could not focus. I could not do anything. I was stressed.

This “flight or fight” instinct allows us to survive in high pressure situations but when we are facing it every day, it becomes a major danger to our health and mental well being. Stress has been linked to anxiety, depression, and even inefficient immune system.

Stress is something all of us come face to face every day, be it at work, or at school, or even in off hours. Learning to manage stress will increase your life enjoyment, productivity and general well being. That day I sat down and ordered fries. Then watched an old movie till midnight. These ways were tried and true of getting my mind off that thing.

We all have our way to manage stress somehow. We all learn how too, in order to survive - right? But are late night movie binges, orders of large fries, and screaming it out the healthiest ways we can come up with?

Unhealthy ways to fight stress change our life patterns and for me, for once, I decided that waking up tired and greasy is rather stressful as well. Here are five easy and healthy ways to deal with that thing be it big or small.

WRITE IT OUT IN A JOURNAL.

Putting out all you frustration, loneliness, or whatever other feeling helps get it out of your system. Journaling helps you analyze negative patterns and to focus on positive aspects of your everyday life. Put it all on paper and move on! Journal about your hopes, goals, and read it over to remind yourself today will be yesterday as soon as you write it down. Its even better then telling it all to a friend since now you are not stressing out that person!

GO FOR A WALK.

Do you know that route you always wanted to try on your jogs? Put on your sneakers and go for a long refreshing run or walk and explore! Exercise has many indisputable benefits in addition to relieving stress and making you fell energetic and ready to face the world - one more time. Rhythmic nature of walking and fresh air calms you down and may be easier than planning to finally head over to the fitness club.

TEA WITH DARK CHOCOLATE

Make yourself some fresh herbal tea since as chamomile and get that piece of dark chocolate. It’s healthy right? And scientists say its good for your brain and what else does your brain need when it’s all focused on that one thing. Good quality dark chocolate is super nutritious, is a source of antioxidants and may reduce the risk for heart disease! Now, the drink of choice not coffee! Herbal teas containing chamomile, lavender, or valerian are perfect to calm down your jingly nervous system.

TURN OFF LIGHT AND GET SOME CANDLES

Go back to your roots and cuddle up with fire. Watching the flickering light candle is balancing and one study found that its reduced blood pressure and tension. Many of us don’t have a hearth in our concrete apartments but candle is any easy way to bring the fire to our life. Slowing down and just watching the candle is a luxury that will make us feel like we are worth it.

BREATHE

The simplest way to quickly reduce stress and release tension is focusing on your breathing.

This is so easy to do anywhere. Even when on a bathroom break between exams stop and do some big slow breaths. When in stressful situations we breathe without thinking in short shallow breaths and to calm down channel your relaxed state breathing, long and deep. Place on hand on your tummy and breathe in. Feel your hand rise then exhale. Close your eyes and focus on breathing. Another technique is 4-7-8. Counting while you take a breath is an excellent way to trick your brain to actually focus on breathing. Take a slow deep breath as you count up to four. Hold you breath and count to seven, then slowly exhale counting to eight. Slow breaths signal your brain to relax and and reduce tension throughout the whole body.