Stress is a normal physical response. Most of us experience at least a small amount of stress when we encounter challenges or new situations. While stress is normal, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have the potential to affect your health and well-being. When stress threatens to overwhelm you and affects your everyday life, you might like to try lowering it by doing the five things listed in this article.
Get a Massage
Simply typing ‘massage Gold Coast’ or ‘massage’ plus your location into a search engine will provide you with contact information for many massage therapists in your area. You can then make an appointment and enjoy a relaxing massage by a professional skilled in making their clients feel at ease.
While there are only small studies looking at the effectiveness of massage for stress, the results look promising so far. A 2007 study showed regular back massages lowered blood pressure, while a 2020 study showed a significant increase in heart rate variability. There’s no harm in trying this stress-relieving activity for yourself and seeing if you notice any relief.
Reach Out for Help
We can’t always control the stressful situations we find ourselves in. However, we have control over how we approach them. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by something happening in your life, reach out for help. A trusted friend, family member, or support person can be a listening ear when you need it the most. You might even reach out to a trained therapist or other wellness experts if you’d like to learn coping and stress-relieving techniques to help you in the future.
Go Outside
There’s something about nature that can’t help but make us feel at ease when we’re dealing with anxiety and depression. Take time out of your day to watch the trees move in the breeze, a babbling brook, or crashing waves on the beach. These nature activities won’t fix the cause of your stress, but they might reduce any feelings of overwhelm. Research seems to support this idea. A study conducted in 2018 found that areas with the ‘highest levels of nature had the greatest effect on reducing levels of stress.’
Maintain Work-Life Balance
We should be working to live, not living to work. If your career is the leading cause of your stress, it might be time to reevaluate your life. Talk to your boss about delegating some of your more stressful tasks, and avoid bringing work home if you can. Using your vacation time and spending time away from the office might also be helpful for reducing your stress levels.
Eat a Healthy Diet
It might seem improbable that a healthy diet would help you keep your stress levels in check, but it just might. A balanced diet can result in a healthy immune system. It may also help repair damaged cells. These benefits might give you the energy you need to cope with stressful events. Some research also suggests that Omega-3 fats and vegetables may help regulate your cortisol levels.
Lowering your stress levels can be challenging. In fact, some people might see it as an impossible task. However, you might experience some luck by taking any of the actions above.