A lot of us find ourselves stressed out once in a while or even on a daily basis, depending on what kind of lifestyle we lead. While a certain amount of stress will always occur, stressing out too much can lead to the breakdown of both physical and mental health. Starting from hair loss to depression, graying of hair, weight loss, and more stress is always a bad thing, irrespective of gender or age.
If you often find yourself stressed out, here are five proven ways to reduce your stress levels and retain your mental and physical health. Longevity Live Paid Content.
Five proven ways to reduce your stress levels
1. Eat Healthily
Though this is a basic fundamental of maintaining good health, a shocking number of people tend to ignore the importance of eating healthy and maintaining a healthy diet. This is especially true for those who live in urban areas where fast food and takeouts are the norm. But all this unhealthy food typically contributes to stress as they slowly affect your body.
If you have bad eating habits such as eating frozen food, stress eating because you are stressed out, avoiding vegetables, and having too much sugar, then the first thing you need to do is fix your diet. Include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet, and try to make your meals at home to retain maximum nutrition.
2. Meditate
The concept of meditating for stress relief has been around for centuries, but most people don’t tend to practice it and enjoy its benefits. Meditation not only negates stress but improves focus and mindfulness. Those who master meditation are seldom stressed, as they know how to push it out of their mind.
There are different types of meditation methods; just pick one that suits you. Mastering meditation is not easy and will take time. But once you master it, you will definitely love the benefits you will enjoy. Just make sure you have an isolated spot that is soundproof for the best results when meditating.
Photo by Ben Blennerhassett on Unsplash
3. Exercise regularly
Developing the habit of exercising on a regular basis is certainly not an easy task, but if you find yourself stressed out often, then exercising is exactly what you might need. Physical activity is one of, if not the best ways to get rid of stress, whether you’re running, cycling, swimming, or hitting the gym.
If you are spending a fair amount of time outdoors when exercising, don’t forget to bring high-quality eyewear. They come in a variety of sizes and specifications, such as oval or round glasses, or ones that can be customized to protect from blue light. Having the right protection not only helps with visibility, regardless of the sport or physical activity you’re partaking in but also mitigates the effects of UV light exposure or other environmental elements.
Yoga is also an excellent option for stress relief if you’re not into heavy physical activity, and is particularly preferred by women worldwide. For exercise to be effective for stress, you need to do it on a regular basis. If you have any medical conditions, then consult with a personal trainer or gym coach to figure out which exercise regimen fits you.
4. Be Creative
Being creative can be a great outlet for stress relief. You can take up a lot of creative hobbies such as painting, wood carving, sculpting, weaving, sewing, and more to fall back on when you feel too stressed out.
If you can’t decide which creative outlet is best for you to de-stress yourself, you can ask friends and family for suggestions. You can also visit different online forums and threads as well as browse through YouTube to get some ideas.
5. Connect With Others
In today’s world of the internet and social media, connecting with other people around us is becoming increasingly difficult. While it’s easy to put the blame on social media, not maintaining connections with friends and family is definitely a personal responsibility. Without the warmth and human connection offered by friends and family, it’s no wonder so many people are increasingly stressed out.
Hanging out with people every once in a while, even if you have a packed schedule, is a great way to relieve stress. If people are isolated when stressed, they often make bad decisions and fall into emotional turmoil. During these times, the companionship of friends, family, or even acquaintances can be a great help.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
A Natural Part Of Life
Being under stress is never a pleasant feeling, but hopefully, the methods discussed above will be of help to you. You should never expect your life to be always stress-free, life will always find a way to put pressure on you. That’s why managing stress is more important than trying to avoid it altogether, as this is a common trait of every successful person out there.
Who is the author?
Kristine Graf
Kristine Graf is a European business and tech writer with more than 10 years of experience. With over a decade of experience, she’s managed to balance between the corporate and startup environments, where she’s worked with different companies as a journalist and consultant.
