Quick ways - Stress to Relax Body and Mind | HealthyLife | WeRIndia

Not all days are same. Sometimes at home, sometimes at work or college or in public one could be tensed or stressed.  Do not succumb to this stress try to come out. Here are some quick and easy tips to relax your body and mind.

Food and Drink

Sip Herbal tea: Instead. Green tea is a source of L-theanine, a chemical that helps relieve anger. Boil the water, pour it out, and take a soothing sip. Add little honey to sweeten the tea. Get cinnamon or ginger tea. Add to water and sip it. These are also soothing for the body.

That little piece of chocolate! : A square  of the sweet stuff can also calm the  nerves. Dark chocolate regulates levels of the stress hormone cortisol and stabilizes metabolism.

 Honey: Besides being a natural skin moisturizer and antibiotic, honey also provides compounds that reduce inflammation in the brain, meaning it fights depression and anxiety.

Chew Gum: People chew gum to reduce that mouth odor. Well, here is another reason to  much chew gum -Stress! a stick of your choice of favorite flavor chewing gum can do that magic. It is a quick and easy way to beat stress.

Crunchy Snack:  stressed adults craved crunchy and salty snacks more than usual. But that salty crunch doesn’t have to be so sugary — a handful of trail mix, spicy corn mix or a bag of organic carrot will do.

Inner Peace 

Rest your head on a pillow: It is not always possible to take rest in the middle of the office. If you have a pillow, you are already on the road to relaxation. Lay your head down for a few minutes and imagine the pillow is a sponge sucking up all your worries.

Meditate: There is evidence that just two quick bouts of silent meditation per day can relieve stress and depression. So find a comfortable spot in a quiet place, concentrate on your breath, and feel those anxieties start to disappear.

Slow breathing: Slow, deep breaths can help lower blood pressure and heart rate.  Try Pranayama breathing or Alternate Nostril Breathing, a yogic method that involves breathing through one nostril at a time to relieve anxiety. Inhale through left nostril while holding/pressing two fingers on right nostril & exhale through right. The technique is in use for many centuries for concentration and work the same way as acupuncture, balancing the mind and body.

Count Backwards: When worries are running rampant, try slowly counting to 100 and then back again to calm down. By the time you reach zero your muscle will start relaxing.

Close Your Eyes & Imagine white light: Take a quick break from a busy office or a chaotic household by just lowering your eyelids. Imagine white light on your head and concentrate for a minute. It is an easy way to regain calm and focus.

Total Body Relaxation

Rub Feet over a Small rough surface Ball: You can get an impromptu relaxing foot massage by rubbing your feet back and forth over a golf ball. This relaxes feet and your leg releases tension.

Squeeze a Stress Ball: On days when you feel too much tension at work or home and want to fight with someone, squeeze a stress ball instead. It is an easy, portable, and non-violent way to relieve tension.

Brushing Hair: Even if you have already done your hair job for the day, grab a comb and brush your hair. Repetitive motions like running a brush through hair & scalp can cause the body to relax.

Change the Environment

Be alone: Find a space that is completely free of stress where you can go to relax. Set up a comfortable chair or light some incense and disappear there for a few minutes until the tension dissipates. A separate prayer room lit with small lamps and incense to God will definitely help.

Find the Sun: If it is a sunny day, head outside for an easy way to lift your spirits. Bright light can be an effective treatment for people who suffer from depression, and can even cheer up otherwise healthy folks.

Sit outside the house: If you are at home sit outside and watch trees, birds, cars and people. Instead of watching same TV and depressing serials, this method would be better to cheer up.

Exercise

Stretch your body: Stand up for a quick stretch can to relieve that muscle tension. Raise both hands and slowly bend your body to right and then to left. Roll your shoulders up, down, back & front. Turn your head both sides and while breathing turn head in clockwise and anticlockwise manner.

Yoga: Do cat and cow pose while inhaling and exhaling for 4-5 times. This releases tension in stomach and back.

Entertainment and Creativity

Listen to music: Pickup your favorite music – classical, modern, pop, folk songs, film songs anything. Music brings back your calmness.

Song & dance: Just move your body for music. Sing while dancing. Make facial expressions and laugh it loud -well do this alone. On the other hand, try humming a song!

Read book: Are you a fan of romantic novel, feel good novel or sci-fi? Keep books handy and read your favorite book. Read comics and relax.

Puzzles and quiz: Have a puzzle to solve. Do crosswords, answer quiz questions. Solve small mathematical problem to take your mind away from that stress.

Smells

 Essential oils:  Lavender, sandalwood, jasmine or your favourite oil can help you relax. The soothing scents will help send stress and anxiety packing by stimulating smell receptors in the nose that connect to the part of the brain that regulates emotions.

Smell fruits: The smell of citrus can help us relax by increasing levels of the stress-related hormone norepinephrine.

Coffee: Just the odor of coffee can help reduce stress hormones — no sipping required. Well, you can always have coffee if you needed it badly.

Socializing and Fun

Laugh: Laughter is the best medicine. Read jokes, listen to jokes, or share jokes with friends and coworkers. Laughing together makes everyone happy and cheerful!

Talking to friend: Have a quick chat with your best friend or if he/she is not available leave a message. This way you poured your heart to your friend who will get back to you soon.

Pet: Cats and dogs -there you go. If you are owner of a pet then cuddle your pets.  Play with your pets. They may not talk, but will help you relieve the stress from your mind.

Try these methods because the best thing about most of these is that you can do them anywhere, any time & it takes only few minutes.

References:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/
http://lifehacker.com/
http://healthland.time.com/

Image credit: Image by Devanath from Pixabay  (Free for commercial use)