Today is National Stress Awareness Day #NationalStressAwarenessDay …looking for some great ways to get your Zen on and lower your blood pressure? Check out these easy and helpful tips to bring you back to state of peace and tranquility (even if only a temporary fix).
Fun Easy Ways to De-Stress
Pucker Up
Kissing relieves stress by helping your brain release endorphins. According to WebMD and Joy Davidson, PhD, psychologist and clinical sexologist in Seattle, “[Kissing is] a sensual meditation,” she says. “It stops the buzz in your mind, it quells anxiety, and it heightens the experience of being present in the moment. It actually produces a lot of the physiological changes that meditation produces.”
Let’s be honest here – even if it doesn’t help with your stress – a good make-out session is just plain FUN! And often leads to more naughty activities…
Drop an F-Bomb
Drop it a few times if necessary (just please not around children). People swear that cursing can be an effective coping mechanism to release stress.
Go for a 10-minute walk
Take a break and get some much needed me time (leave your phone at HOME). The greener the space you walk, the better. This helps to put your head into a state of meditation.
Buy Yourself a Plant and a Fish
Researchers have found that that simply being around plants and fish can induce your relaxation response. Need to vent or just speak out loud – you will never have a more captive audience.
Step Away from All of Your ‘Screens’
Take FREQUENT breaks from technology – put your iPhone on airplane mode, shut down your iPad and walk away from your computer. To properly power yourself down, be sure you are “tech free” at least one hour before bedtime to give your body, mind and soul the proper turn down it needs to rejuvenate for the next day.
Put On Some Music
It is a known fact that classical music has a particularly soothing effect – you can slow your heart rate, lower blood pressure and even decreases levels of stress hormones with any calming form of music. Don’t forget environmental sounds like waves crashing and rain falling can also soothe stress.
Eat A Banana
Did you know that potassium helps to regulate blood pressure? Your BP raises in times of stress…so act like a monkey and peel that yellow fruit. Some people find that eating a banana helps improve energy and the high levels of potassium help to sooth their mood.
Forgive Someone (Like Really Forgive Them)
This is where forgiving someone can benefit you more than them! Although it may be tempting to rehash the details of the twisted situation your ex-boyfriend caused last weekend, letting go of negative feelings really does lower stress.
Break Something (NOT Someone)
Why do you think the Greeks are such happy people? They are always breaking plates. Take a turn into your local thrift shop, purchase cheap plates and a used pillow case and start breaking things (safely).
Try Laughter Yoga (aka Hasyayoga)
According to Wikipedia this is a practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter. Laughter yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Forced laughter soon turns into real and contagious laughter. You release endorphins laughing – endorphins are 200 times stronger than morphine.
Remember how happy you were as a kid – did you know on average you laughed 140 times a day. As an adult, you laugh 12-14. You do the math…if that isn’t something to laugh about – I don’t know what is.
What did you do today to combat stress for National Stress Awareness Day? Chime in below and let us know what unique ways you beat your stress before it beats you.
#NationalStressAwarenessDay
