3 Ways to Immediately Reduce Stress in Your Life
By Genevieve Cunningham
Ahhhh, stress. Besides death and taxes, stress is one of the very few things that we probably won’t escape in this life. It hits us from all angles … from work, family, friends, community … it’s neverending! Even though there is little we can do to completely avoid stress, there may be some simple steps that you can take to reduce stress in the here and now. To manage the ill effects of too much stress in your life, take a look at these immediate solutions to combatting those uncomfortable moments.
Clean Your Surroundings
We’re a country full of stuff. As Americans, we like to own a lot of things: Cars, clothes, shoes, furniture … the list could go on and on. While it’s nice to own things and have the essentials of what you need, too much stuff leads to clutter, and clutter leads to a stressed mind and body. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes and clean your surroundings. Your desk, your office, your home, your car. The free space will likely lower your worries almost immediately, and long-term cleanliness can lower your stress levels on a more permanent basis.
Remove Yourself for a Few Minutes
If you’re feeling particularly stressed in a certain situation, it’s OK to remove yourself for a few minutes. Have you been working on the same work project for hours? Been in the same disagreement for what feels like forever? Stuck inside doing paperwork all day? All of these scenarios can be quite stressful, but it’s OK to get up, go somewhere different, and take some deep breaths of fresh air, even if it’s only for a few minutes. This almost always calms the nerves and the mind, and when you get back to your task at hand, you’ll have renewed energy and focus.
Turn on Calm Music
We underestimate the power of music on our bodies and minds. Have you ever heard a song and immediately felt happy or comforted or slightly at ease? We’ve all felt this sensation at one point or another. This calming sensation is real. The right music can bring a bit of peace to the mind, calm the nerves, and even lower blood pressure and heart rate. Just make sure that the music is mellow and satisfying, and it’s not something that will amp you up or raise your heart rate.
Feeling a bit of stress is absolutely a normal happening in everyday life, but it’s definitely not something that you want to let overtake your life or your mind. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, use these tips to reduce the immediate stress in your life, and to continue the stress management long into the future.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.