Try out these five activities for immediate stress relief
Letting go of stress
Stress is inevitable and it affects different people in different ways. It is the body’s
way of coping with change and threat. Stress hormones are released into our body
when we experience stressful situations, and they trigger our fight-or-flight response.
Stress can affect our body and mind in negative ways. If left unchecked it could lead
unhelpful thought patterns and health problems. Fortunately, there are ways to
manage everyday stress. Here we show you stress relief activities that help to
maintain inner peace and well-being.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), there are three main
types of stress. Acute stress, Episodic stress, and Chronic stress. Acute stress is the
most common form of stress and is highly manageable and treatable.
Here are five stress relief activities that anyone can do in order to release stress.
These activities produce endorphins – natural feel-good chemicals, which boost
happiness into our lives. Endorphins also lower our stress levels by helping us to
sleep well.
Take a deep breath
Breathing deeply, using specific deep breathing exercises, is a fantastic way to lower
stress in the body. You can do deep breathing exercises anytime and anywhere.
When you breathe deeply you slow down your heart rate and allow more oxygen to
enter your blood stream, and you send a message to your brain to calm down. Your
brain in turn sends this message to your body.
Stretch
Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.
- Joseph Pilates
We get rid stress hormones through physical activity. When we don’t exercise, the
stress hormones stay in our body and cause hypertension, muscle spasms and pain.
Pilates can release this tension through gentle stretching and gradual conditioning.
When we stay focused on the exercise, it is likely that we will enjoy the experience
more.
Put on your running shoes
Running is a great way to relieve stress and it’s free. It doesn’t have to be long or
hard. You could even have a good old chinwag while you run. According to an article
on Runner’s World, running is a way to survive high-stress times.
Get a massage
Massage therapy is ideal for stress relief. It relaxes your muscles, and increases the
production of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Massage can also lower your
heart rate and blood pressure.
Laughter is the best medicine
Laughter lowers stress hormones, boosts immunity, relaxes your muscles and
decreases pain. Laughter therapy gets people laughing in both a group and an
individual setting. Find something to make you giggle every day or fake it. The body
cannot distinguish between real or fake laughter.
References
https://www.onlinepsychologydegree.info/faq/what-are-the-different-kinds-of-stress/
https://themovementcollective.co.za/joseph-pilates-2/
https://pilatesbridge.com/12-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-pilates-for-your-peace-
of-mind/
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a20864549/heres-why-you-should-definitely-
keep-running-during-stressful-times/
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uz2255