Not only is stress an unpleasant experience, it has a negative impact on your state of mind, health and immune system. When your body reacts to perceived stressors, you swing into fight-or-flight mode. Your body perceives a threat, even if there isn’t one.
Although you may have developed a strong meditation and yoga practice, no one is immune to stress; it often hits us when we’re out living in the world. These five techniques translate easily into every situation. By drawing on age-old wisdom and modern science, they can help you keep stress away. We need simple achievable methods that can draw out a relaxation response while we’re stuck in traffic, or faced with awkward situations, like making a big presentation.
Deep Breaths – Take 10
A simple and easy way to offset a stress reaction is to follow your breath. Research from Harvard Medical School confirms that slow continuous steady, deep breathing can lower stress by relaxing your spirit, body and mind.. Next time you feel stress surfacing, count ten deep breaths.
Walking Briskly
Moving away from a stressful situation with a brisk walk out doors gives you the opportunity to exercise your stress away while getting some fresh air. In the British Journal of Sports Medicine they published one study’s findings that open green nature spaces can have a particularly calming effect on a person’s state of mind. Instead of worrying, step outside — even for five minutes. You’ll feel better, regardless of the outcome of the stressful situation.
Laugh a Little or a Lot
Is there a funny meme or YouTube clip that always makes you laugh? When it comes to stress, laughter is a powerful way to change your state of mind. It relaxes your body, decreasing the presence of stress hormones. Next time you feel stressed by a situation, try to see the humour it. You can loosen the hold a stressful situation has on you by simply reframing the circumstance.
I Am Affirmations
By boosting your self-esteem and countering feelings of being overwhelmed, affirmations can help you master stress. Next time your anxiety is getting the best of you, find a short affirmation to repeat in your mind. Choose a simple “I am” meditation. By saying this phrase repeatedly, you bring yourself back to the present moment.
When I feel stressed, I like to affirm my own capability to tackle the challenge. I say, “I am open and willing to solving this problem.” Affirmations that will change your life.
Positive Thinking
Sometimes, our overthinking minds lead us to the worst-case scenario. To beat the stress that overthinking causes, we need to challenge that kind of doom-and-gloom perspective. Next time you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, ask yourself, “Is this true?” Slowly shift to better-feeling thoughts — you’ll probably feel a tangible sense of relief.
These five simple go-to techniques can help you during any stressful situation, whether your flight is delayed or you’re about to meet someone for a first date. Start with the approach that feels best to you, or use a combination of your own personalised ones to find the sense of calm that feels right for you.