Due to the current climate and time of uncertainty, stress is unfortunate but may also be unavoidable. Having the tools to manage stress is a great way to maintain mental, physical, and emotional stability. If you want to change your stress levels, learning stress relief strategies help navigate your mind and body into a restful state are important to practice.
What is stress?
Over the centuries humans developed a coordinated response to protect ourselves in our environment. Stress is our body’s natural response to fear by our minds. Long-term exposure to stress can affect your mental health and cause a psychological syndrome we know as burnout. In some cases, chronic stress or extreme pressure can cause major depressive disorders or anxieties.
So what now? We understand that chronic stress can make us sick. So how do we find a balance between stress and rest? To have a healthy lifestyle you should be able to effectively cycle between the two. After being in a stressful situation your body and mind often need to enter a relaxing state. Stress relief only takes a few minutes to become a habit. Here are the top 4 ways to relieve stress.
Meditation
Spending a short time using meditation techniques can restore peace and relaxation. When our body is in the “flight or fight” state, it is necessary to activate a natural relaxation response in the body. Implementing activities of meditation will decrease your everyday stress and boost your mood and energy levels.
- Mindfulness – A person can expand their conscious awareness by using mindfulness. Mindfulness focuses on the flow of breathing and the release of your current emotions and thoughts. Stress can be overwhelming when we focus on the current climate or worry about the future. Mindfulness helps train the brain to break these habits.
- Guided Meditation – This technique is used to develop mental images and locations that you find relaxing. This incorporates textures, sounds, sights, and smells.
- Yoga – There are many interpretations of the practice of yoga. Regardless of your interpretation, you can still experiment with meditation techniques that stem from the movements and motions.
Find a Hobby
Hobbies aren’t just for children, but you can certainly look at your childhood for inspiration. Searching for your hobby is all about having fun. Take a moment to reflect on what you find enjoyable or what you enjoyed doing as a child. Did you spend hours in your coloring books? Maybe painting is the right hobby for you. Hobbies are supposed to be exciting and fun. If you try a new activity and feel stressed while you’re doing it, it’s probably time to find a new one. The hobby that you choose should be stress relieving. If the thought of performing an activity seems unappealing, try something new! Options are endless when it comes to finding a hobby.
Use Supplements
While everyone has stressors, we can’t ignore the fact that the current climate may have elevated them. Metagenics offers an array of supplements that help reduce stress and anxiety. Here are some that we recommend.
- Adreset- Adreset is a supplement that helps address feelings of physical fatigue that is a result of prolonged stress. This dietary supplement is designed to improve stamina and support the body’s systems involved in managing levels of stress.
- Serenagen- Serenagen is a classic Chinese medicine that is formulated to manage stress. This herbal supplement is used for individuals who have feelings of anxiety, have difficulty resting due to stress, or feelings of being overheated and flushed.
- Exhilarin- Exhilarin is a classic blend of herbs traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. This herbal supplement helps increase stress tolerance and help maintain mental sharpness.
- Tran-Q – Tran-Q is a herbal stress management formula designed to promote relaxation. This supplement helps release tension in those who feel overwhelmed or physically tense and ideal for those who feel stressed and worried.
Utilize Essential Oils
Scents are powerful and can trigger powerful responses in the human body. Scents can directly impact our bodies through our nervous system. Once a scent becomes in contact with our nose, they connect directly to our brain. Aromatherapy uses essential oils to balance your body, mind, and spirit. A few drops of oil can be gently rubbed on your temples, or diffused into the air. Here are 4 oils that can relieve stress.
- Lavender – one of the most common essential oils for balancing stress is lavender. If you are regularly experiencing stress and anxiety you must have lavender. Lavender has proven to restore the nervous system, lower blood pressure, and restore your heart rate. Lavender oil helps calm your nerves and also improves your quality of sleep.
- Ylang Ylang – an essential oil that is extracted from the Indonesian Cananga tree. This oil helps promote comfort and joy by simultaneously lowering your heart rate. Ylang Ylang is also effective for improving your mood and promoting relaxation. Inhaling this scent helps release negative emotions and acts as a natural remedy for anxiety and depression.
- Chamomile = if you have heard of the tea, then you will learn to appreciate the oil. Chamomile is well known for promoting inner calm. In the form of essential oil, Chamomile can be used to reduce anxiety and inflammation in your body. Chamomile oil is also known for stress relief and helps regulate moods.
- Jasmine- it is a natural remedy for depression, stress, and anxiety. Commonly used in Asia, Jasmine oil is used to detox the respiratory system and improve energy levels. Simply place this scent in your diffuser, directly place it on your temple, or add a few drops to a hot bath.
Stress is known as the silent killer which can creep slowly into our lives. Although we may not realize the dangers of stress, chronic stress can cause major damage to our health. Sometimes the uncertainty of life can be too much for us to bear and it is important to balance the stress in our lives. Take a deep breath, relax, and take a moment to prioritize the health of you and your family.
