5 Ways to Destress
Stress is probably something no one needs in their life at any given time. It causes anxiety within yourself that is conveyed both mentally and physically as well as has a negative impact on your relationships. However we all experience stress, the difference from person to person is how do we handle it? Here are 5 ways to help you overcome your stress and have a healthier and happier relationship.
BOTTLED UP FRUSTRATION
When you’re under a lot of pressure, you’ll probably find yourself stressing over pretty much everything (yes, even things that don’t need to be stressed over). Bottling up your frustration and stress is one of the most unhealthy ways to deal therefore you need to practice the art of open communication.
Being able to talk to your partner about your stresses and worries will lift a great weight off your shoulder and might even ease your mind just a little. Talking to your partner allows you to dissect the situation as you’re talking about it as well as allows your partner to give you some advice. Don’t bottle up your anger; in fact, pick up the phone the moment you feel frustrated and talk it out with your partner, no matter what the subject is.
QUALITY SLEEP
In 2015, a Monash University study was conducted on adult Australians regarding the quality of their sleep. Overall, 21% of people said that their sleep was disturbed due to having thoughts on their mind. Having 8 hours of sleep can be pointless if you wake up every hour. Quality over quantity is very important when it comes to sleeping.
Before bedtime, switch off any sort of device and relax with a book, music or your favourite podcast. Drinking chamomile tea or warm hot chocolate is also a great way to prepare your body for a good sleep. Remember that comfort plays a huge role in the quality of your sleep as well so be sure to make your bed as comfortable as possible!
REGULAR EXERCISE
Healthy living doesn’t only make your body look good, it also makes you feel fabulous. Exercising can mean so much more than just lifting weights at the gym, you can do a plethora of activities that allow your body to release cortisol and endorphins. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the body when it’s under stress and can ultimately inflame/damage the organs. Working out can release this hormone which quite literally helps the body release the stress.
If you hate the idea of going to the gym, you can try the following:
- Walking
- Yoga
- Zumba
- Boxing
- Pilates
- Sports – basketball, soccer, football, tennis etc
- Swimming
HEALTHY EATING
Feeding your body nutritious and good quality food is so essential to your well-being. There are certain types of people who turn to unhealthy foods when they are under pressure – think, ‘comfort foods’. In fact, ‘comfort foods’ like pizza, chips, burgers and oily based foods can make you feel extremely lethargic and tired.
Instead, opt for green leafy vegetables, great quality protein and healthy fats to balance out your daily diet. You can also include supplements and vitamins that can give you that extra bit of nutritional value that may be hard to retrieve from foods.
TAKE A BREAK
If your stress is coming from work, take a break! There is nothing to be ashamed of when you’re simply tired and needing time away from work. Taking a full day off to yourself can do wonders on your body and mind. There are so many people who feel they need to work 24/7 and dedicate themselves even though they are so tired and stressed out. If you’re one of these people, you need to stop yourself once in a while and just take a breather.
This doesn’t mean taking a 2-week vacation (although that does sound amazing), you only need a couple of days to recoup your mind and get into better headspace.
