How are you feeling right now? Do you feel a little stressed? Stress has been linked to numerous health issues such as sleep, appetite, and mood problems. It seems like everyone nowadays suffers with stress, so it’s important to find ways to overcome it. Having a heavy workload, a strained relationship or marriage, worries about money and many other things can have significant effects on your body. It’s important to learn how to relax because it’s good for you. Many of the most popular ways only take a few minutes out of your day.

Meditation

It only takes a few minutes of meditation every day, and you’ll be amazed how much your anxiety eases. You don’t need to sit on the top of a mountain to do it either. Find somewhere quiet to sit with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. There are many different meditation techniques you can try to see which works best.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the best stress busters, and it doesn’t have to cost a dime if you don’t want it to. Take a 20-minute walk around the block or go for a jog in the park. Alternatively, try some different yoga poses. When you exercise, regardless of the type of exercise you undertake, it releases mood-busting chemicals called endorphins. These help to melt away stress. Exercise also helps to protect against heart disease because it lowers your blood pressure, strengthens your heart muscle and helps you maintain a healthy weight.

Deep Breathing

When you’re feeling particularly stressed, and there’s nowhere, you can meditate or exercise take 5 minutes out of your day and focus on your breathing. Find somewhere to sit, whether it’s in the park, by the sea, or in your garden. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor, close your eyes and place your hand on your belly. Inhale through your nose and feel where the breath starts in your abdomen and then works its way to your head. Do the opposite as you exhale. Deep breathing lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, thereby reversing the effects of stress.

Give Yourself Some Me time

 

You might often find yourself putting other people’s happiness before your own. When you feel the tension levels rising put yourself first. Concentrate on eating healthily, getting regular exercise, sleeping properly and having a happy relationship. Take a couple of hours out and enjoy some me time. Have a relaxing spa, take a walk, or sit down and read a book.

Sometimes, all it needs to reduce your stress levels is to remove the underlying cause of your stress. If it’s your job, look for another one. If money issues are causing you to have sleepless nights, then work at managing your money better. Don’t be tempted to turn to unhealthy choices in an attempt to deal with your stress. Smoking, occasionally overeating, and drinking too much alcohol at times will only increase your stress levels in the long run.