Ways to reduce stress

Let us face the fact- we all have stress. Now you might be wondering what this stress thing is all about. Well, Stress is an unpleasant reaction to experiences that one perceives as emotionally or physically dangerous. And now the next question arises. The symptoms! The symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and elevated heart rates. How many times have we come across such symptoms without realizing the fact that you can reduce it?

In my opinion, stress is a common experience. Every person in the planet might have experienced stress in one point of their life or the other. It’s like saying that there is no person in the world who is immune to stress. Often people experience stress due to problems at work or in social relationship. Major life events like losing the job, divorce, pregnancy or even a death of loved ones can cause severe stress. Even simple threats can also cause stress for some people. Say for example you might have had stress while attending a big test, before showing your report card to your parents or before the final football game of the season.

Moderate stress is essential for the human kind because it prepares us to take defensive action thus motivating us to manage or avoid situations that pose threats. The level of stress differs from person to person. Usually, people who are vulnerable to stress are prone to many stress related diseases. Such people, under a lot of stress may experience headaches, minor pains and sleeping difficulties. Exposure to chronic stress can contribute to both physical illness such as heart disease, and mental illness, such as anxiety disorders.

So, how do you reduce stress? Don’t worry; you have plenty of options to choose. Below is the list of activities that I find can reduce stress.

Gardening & Exploring Nature:

Gardening is a stress relieving tool that gives to exposure to sunlight. Moreover, people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder benefit from this activity. Also sunlight is a source of Vitamin D and the fresh air that goes with it is good for health. Besides it gives you an opportunity to enjoy the music of birds and the relaxing atmosphere of floral beauty.

Indeed, interacting with nature can reduce stress. This is due to the fact that the Mother Nature is a symbol of tranquility. For instance, think about yourself relaxing by a sea side, or exploring the deep woods. Think about the voice of nature that has a power to change our mood.  Tempting…isn’t it?

Reading:

Reading is a common hobby that can be traced back to several centuries. It has a hidden power to transform our view point of life to positive one. Further, books are the gateway to explore the power of imagination. Contrary to this, a bad book has a capability to increase the level of stress. So it is always recommended to read those books that you enjoy rather than the one that create unnecessary tensions. Also, I would recommend reading self help books or those books that have something positive in them.

Journaling:

Writing about one’s feelings and opinions about life is a great way to relieve stress. Expression of innermost thoughts through the medium of poetry, journals and essays can reduce the mental overloading. In addition to that, it is a great way to boost your creativity. So try to write about your worries in a humorous way. This can enable you to handle your worries with ease and change the way you are thinking about life.

Photography:

Hmm...Reminds me of Peter Parker! Anyway, I feel that digital photography can bring an appreciable change in the level of stress. Unlike creative arts, photography combines the merits of reading and journaling, in a way that it helps us to explore the realms of imagination and expression.

Nature photography is the best way to understand and present the world about the marvels of the nature. In this way it not only connects us with nature, but it also helps us to alleviate the feeling of being worn out.

Music:

Listening to soothing music is a popular way to reduce stress among teens and adults alike. Research has found that music with slower tempo promotes a calm, meditative state by changing the brain wave activities. Thus, music can bring lasting benefits to the state of mind, even after you have stopped listening. Furthermore, it had been found that music can lower the blood pressure, boost immunity, ease muscle tension etc.

You may choose instrumental music or music interwoven with positive affirmations to help you ward off the detrimental effects of negative stress. Whatever kind of music you use, it is obvious that music is one of the easiest, most affordable and effective forms of relaxation available to us.

Prayer:

The good news is that prayer for stress really works! It is amazing to notice the curative powers of prayer. Maybe, you decide that in times of trouble prayer could open up a pathway to enlightenment and peace. A person who believes in God finds solace in the healing powers of prayer for there is an invisible link between prayer and healing. Because the prayer is a connotation of healing power, it is no surprise that a number of doctors recommend prayer and meditation as stress relievers. If you start and end your day with a prayer, you may be amazed at how your stress level seems to plummet.

Meditation:

The rate of heart beat and breathing can be changed through meditation. In this way, the blood pressure remains normal, which decreases the sweat. People who meditate on a regular basis are immune to various diseases and what’s more, meditation helps in giving up life damaging habits such as smoking, drinking and drugs!

Reducing the intake of caffeine:

Caffeine is found in coffee, tea and soft drinks. Excess intake of caffeine can increase the temptation to take more, thus leading to fatigue. This is due to the fact that more energy to function is produced in caffeine and when it wears off, you are even more tired. Besides, caffeine injects adrenaline into your system, giving you temporary boost, but possibly making you fatigued and depressed later. Caffeine is best ingested before a heavy physical exercise. In this way, it not only helps to increase the energy, but also helps to perform heavy exercise. But you should always keep in mind that too much of caffeine may lead to excess fatigue.

Coping with stress is a major ingredient to lead a successful life. So try to enjoy the game of your life!