Stress is linked to a variety of health problems including high blood pressure, digestive issues, depression, and obesity. But when your pulse is pounding and your mind is racing, it seems impossible to achieve relief fast. However, with a few key strategies, you can relax, re-center your thoughts, and reduce your stress levels right away. Here’s how.
Shut everything down
Heavy technology use has been linked to stress, fatigue, and depression in young adults. Technology can also affect the quality of your sleep, depriving you of its restorative benefits for body and mind. The solution is simple: turn it all off. That means phones, computers, TVs, and tablets. Replace technology usage with offline activities that relax your mind and body by encouraging you to stay focused on the present moment. Read a book. Write a letter. Take a bath. Bake something. Play outside with your children or your pets.
It’s not necessary to banish all tech from your life. Start by establishing a daily tech-free period of a half-hour to an hour. Notice how your mind and body respond to the change. Do you feel anxious? Do you feel the compulsion to check your email? Remember that the world is not going to crash down around you if you’re offline for an hour. This is your time—you deserve it.
Burn essential oils
Aromatherapy is an effective means of jumpstarting a relaxed state. Your nose communicates directly with your amygdala and hippocampus–the parts of your brain that manage emotions and memories. The right combination of smells sends relaxation signals to your brain, helping to relieve your fight-or-flight state and achieve a greater sense of well-being right away.
Some of our favorite aromatherapy scents for stress relief include:
- Lavender
- Rose
- Ylang ylang
- Bergamot
Work out
When you’re in the middle of a stressful situation, it’s tempting to crawl into bed and hide under the covers. But moving your body boosts your production of endorphins, your body’s “feel-good” hormones.
High energy aerobic activities like spinning, running, or dance get your heartbeat up and can serve as a useful distraction. Slower, focused exercise such as yoga or tai chi forces you to focus on achieving and holding certain poses, thus directing your focus toward the present moment. When you feel your stress levels creeping up, make it a priority to clear your schedule and head to the gym.
Get away from it all
Sometimes the fastest way to achieve a general re-set is to shrug off your normal routine. Changing your schedule is a great way to reenergize your focus and regain your enthusiasm. An all-inclusive wellness retreat provides the ideal environment for you to examine how stress is affecting your life and to craft a solution to stay even-keeled.
Wellness retreats are pre-planned getaways that focus on your overall health. Activities are designed to be both stimulating and relaxing–shifting your focus away from the things in life that bring you stress, and replacing them with strategies for relaxation and a clear path toward personal goal achievement. These strategies for clarity and order are supplemented by fresh foods, fun exercise, and intriguing personal development workshops. The result is a relaxed, revitalized state of being.
Get in the habit reducing your stress level the moment you feel it rise. If you experience tension creeping up on you, stop what you’re doing and deploy any of these strategies. As you do, you’ll notice an overall sense of peace and satisfaction. You’ll also set yourself up for improved physical and mental wellbeing.
