5 tips to lower stress levels
JOHANNESBURG – We’ll bet you didn’t know that 4 November is Stress Awareness Day. We’ve compiled a short list of a few ways to lower your stress levels, anytime, anywhere.
Stress affects everyone, young or old. Stress can cause hormones, adrenaline and chemicals to build up in your system, which can cause significant physical and psychological damage.
Stress Awareness Day aims to promote awareness of the things that cause stress and help individuals and organisations change their behaviour and lifestyles in order to be relatively stress-free.
Here are a few ways that you can lower your stress levels:
Listen to music: If a stressful situation is becoming a bit overwhelming, take a few minutes and pop in your earphones. Play a few calming songs – most scientific research suggests classical music but even natural sounds will do the trick. Playing calm music has a positive effect on the brain and can lower blood pressure.
Change your diet: In these modern times, when we’re running around non-stop, it’s easy to become trapped in the take-out zone where you find yourself eating convenient foods that lack the proper nutrients. Unfortunately, a proper diet and stress levels are linked. Eating fruit, vegetables and fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress. So skip the vending machine and have a tuna sandwich instead.
Let out the laughter: Everyone feels better after a good chuckle. If you’re feeling frustrated, take a five-minute break and watch something that will make you laugh. Laughter releases endorphins and endorphins make you happy. It also decreases the levels of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which make you stressed.
Get moving: One of the best things you can do to lower your stress levels is a bit of exercise. Now we understand that you can’t exactly whip out some weights and start benching at your desk, but you can get up and take a brisk walk around or climb a few flights of stairs. Getting your blood moving releases those happy endorphins we mentioned earlier, which can improve your mood instantaneously.
Breathe: People often underestimate the power of breathing methods, but it can help a lot! Deep, meditative breathing can help oxygenate your body, helps calms your body and clears your mind. Try this – sit up in your chair with your feet flat on the ground. Place your hands on top of your knees and breathe in and out slowly and deeply. Be sure to concentrate on your lungs as your breathe.
