Stress-reducing techniques are the most surfed thing on the internet. Stress is a physiological and psychological response to situations the body and mind find to be overwhelming. Managing stress in our day-to-day life is a difficult matter.
There are many ways people manage stress and reduce the overall stress of day-to-day activities. With the fast pace of work and home, being constantly inundated with technology, and still wanting to have time to connect with those around us, our lives can feel overwhelming and stressful at times.
Manage how you live with these five tips to feel less stressed:
1. Meditation
Guided meditation is a great way to distract yourself from the stress of day-to-day life. There are many guided meditations available on the internet. You can follow the best 5 minutes of centered relaxation.
2. Take Deep Breathing
Deep breathing is a great way to reduce the activation of your sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body’s response to a perceived threat. Deep breaths are taken for a count of five seconds, hold for two seconds, and released for a count of five seconds, which can help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps reduce the overall stress and anxiety you may be experiencing.
3. Physical Exercise and Nutrition
Physical exercise and nutrition are two important components of how you respond to stress. When you have a sound body, you should get a sound mind too and vice versa. Physical exercise is proven to be a great stress reliever and also helps to improve your overall quality of life. Nutrition is important as stress can deplete certain vitamins, such as A, B complex, C, and E. Maintaining proper nutrition not only helps your body feel better but your mind as well, which allows you to better combat stress.
4. Reduce Social Media Time
Spending time on social media sites can become stressful, not only by what we might see on them but also because the time you are spending on social media might be best spent enjoying visiting with friends, being outside enjoying the weather, or reading a great book.
5. Connect with Others
Humans are social beings. You need to have connections with people to feel supported. Finding a sense of community — whether at work, with a religious organization, or through shared activities, such as organized sports — is important to your well-being. Enjoying a shared activity allows you to find support and foster relationships that can be supportive in difficult times.