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5 Great Ways To Reduce Stress

April 25, 2021

The world doesn’t just seem a little faster than it was – it’s also a lot busier. Wherever we are and because of how we’re all more seamlessly connected thanks to the Internet and our smartphones, there seems to be a constant demand for our attention related to work, life, and even leisure. Such is the era we live in – oftentimes, it can be difficult to catch up. But boy do we try, and sometimes it just becomes too much to the point that we get stressed out. 

 

Studies have proven that stress can have a negative impact on our health and well-being. It’s responsible for contributing to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Therefore, it’s important to know exactly how to reduce stress – and in this article, we give you five amazing ways you can keep calm and carry on! 

 

Take a nature walk.

Are you close to your breaking point for whatever reason? Then it’s time for a walk. According to a study, just a 15-minute stroll is enough to alleviate stress (and also fatigue) thanks to the release of feel-good hormones in the body. If you want the added benefit being exposed to nature can give you, then stroll through the park.   

 

Soak your face!

Ever heard of the dive reflex? It’s our reaction to being submerged in water that makes our body use less energy, and causes both our heart rate and breathing to slow. It’s used as a skill in DBT (Dialetical Behavioral Therapy) and is activated by soaking the face – specifically around the cheekbones and above the mouth – to aid in relaxation. 

 

Breathe.

This has to be the most underrated way to destress! Sometimes, we let ourselves get carried away by everything that’s taking place in our lives, we forget to pause and take a deep breath. The process of deep breathing – also known as diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, or belly breathing – helps slow the heartbeat down while lowering and stabilizing blood pressure. 

 

Consume more omega-3. 

A study has found a correlation between reduced anxiety symptoms and the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. Some our our food friends rich with omega-3 are fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, as well as a variety of nuts and seeds – walnuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds just to name a few. 

 

Smile (though your heart is aching).

Song lyrics aside, even though you have to fake it, go ahead: smile! Even though your brain is powerful, it can’t tell the difference between a real smile and a fake one. In fact, a study that manipulated expressions in participants – asked to complete stressful tasks while holding chopsticks in their mouths to form a smile – found that the smiling group had lower heart rates during stress recovery. 

 

Though stress is part of our everyday lives, we don’t have to live with it. Contrary to how it makes us feel at a given time, it isn’t as inescapable as it seems either. Forming the right mindset and being more prepared to face life’s stressors head on, we can still lead a healthier, happier existence by learning ways to manage stress. 

 

 

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