Everyone feels stressed from time to time. From the to-do list that never seems to get done and endless work responsibilities to household projects, arguing with the kids over homework and cleaning up a mysterious mess that your dog created, you probably feel like a living Calgon commercial.
While days like this are totally normal, you don’t have to accept these stressful feelings as something you have to put up with. If you think about it, there are probably plenty of small changes that you can make from day to day that will reduce your stress while increasing your feelings of self-worth.
As for how to go about doing this, please consider the following pick-me-ups that are sure to cheer you up:
Consider Taking a Regular Multi-Vitamin
Numerous studies have found that supplementing with the B vitamin family for anywhere from two to 12 weeks can help reduce your stress level while boosting your mood. Antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E can also protect our bodies from free radicals, which cause oxidative stress. If you don’t already take a multivitamin on a regular basis, you might consider adding one to your daily routine. For instance, Amway sells a variety of Nutrilite vitamins and supplements, including a Vitamin B dual-action tablet and a number of multis.
As a major bonus, in addition to reducing your stress through vitamins and supplements, you can also take your love of nutrients to the next level by becoming an Independent Business Owner through Amway. If this sounds appealing, check out this YouTube video that explains how to make money online with Amway. Doing so may pad your bank account a bit—which can also help to reduce your stress levels.
Count Your Blessings
When your day is going badly and you want to scream into a pillow, counting your blessings can help pull you out of your funk. Stop what you are doing and jot down the things that you are thankful for—even coming up with three or four blessings will help to refocus your mind from the negative to the positive, according to research from Harvard. You can either do this trick as needed or if you feel like you are suffering from chronic stress, make it a point to write down at least five things you are thankful for each and every day. Go back and read through the list from time to time as a gentle reminder of your good life.
Teach Yourself Deep Breathing Techniques
When you are feeling stressed, your body will respond in a number of ways, including by suppressing your immune system and raising your blood pressure. Over time, this can lead to heart issues along with an increased risk of becoming ill. We can take control of the way our body responds to stress by learning specific techniques like deep breathing, according to Health.Harvard.edu. Also known as belly breathing and abdominal breathing, this technique involves inhaling slowly and deeply so that the air that comes in fully fills up your lungs and your lower belly will rise.
This type of deep abdominal breathing will slow your heartbeat and lower your blood pressure, and it will also allow beneficial oxygen to get into your body while releasing carbon dioxide. When learning to deep breathe, find a quiet and comfy place to sit or lie down, and then breathe in slowly through your nose, letting your chest and abdomen rise. Then, breathe out slowly through your mouth or nose. As you practice deep breathing, it can also be helpful to imagine something that relaxes you—like a beautiful day at the ocean or a field of wildflowers in bloom. Strive to breathe deeply whenever you are feeling acute stress, and also make it part of your overall routine to help keep stress and anxiety at bay. Other great benefits of deep breathing are that it can be done anywhere and at any time, and it won’t cost you a dime!
You Deserve to Be Happy
The great thing about all of the aforementioned pick-me-ups is that they don’t cost an arm and a leg. Please don’t think that you need fancy vacations, decadent spa days or a shopping spree at the mall to boost your mood. A simple B vitamin complex, writing down a few blessings and learning and practicing deep breathing techniques will go a long way in reducing your stress—you definitely deserve it.