Stress Relief
Having trustworthy friends you can talk to is a great way to blow off steam and get insightful guidance. A study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University found that people who rely on their friends and family as a stress buffer are less inclined to partake in drinking alcohol, smoking or drug use. Furthermore, recent studies show that having good relationships with friends helps with stress management, lengthens your life, improves psychological well-being and facilitates good cardiovascular health.
Taking breaks during the day is essential for stress relief. Going for a walk, stretching, a quick workout or just having a glass of water and looking outside the window are great ways to maximize breaks. These practices help keep stress levels low.
Oftentimes, we give little importance to breathing. We underrate breathing but it is essential to our being. “Breathing sustains life by providing oxygen needed for metabolism and removing the by-product of these reactions, carbon dioxide. It is also one of the major regulators of pH within the body and has influence over the autonomic nervous system, circulatory system and metabolism.” Simply focusing on breathing techniques and practicing deep breathing are a great stress reliever.
Revive Your Energy
The simple act of drinking water is very impactful and directly related to stress. Approximately 60% of your body weight is made up of water. Staying hydrated and taking breaks for water helps revive your energy as well as lower your blood pressure, keeps your joints lubricated, prevents infections, and carries nutrients to all the cells in your body.
Moving your body throughout the day is a great way to elevate your energy. A quick workout, a 5 minute walk and walking up a flight of stairs are great ways to incorporate activity and increase your energy..
Breathing in fresh air is a wonderful way to increase your energy. Fill your lungs with fresh air and feel its inadvertent benefits. Taking a deep breath of fresh air has the effects of revitalizing your emotions, settling down your nervous system and garnering peacefulness.
Enhance Your Mood
Writing down your thoughts in a journal is a great way to improve your mood. It serves as a gateway to transfer your emotions onto paper, reflect and use as reinforcement. Seeing is believing and once you write your thoughts down on paper, you may not agree and shift your perspective to a more positive one. It is also great to write down your hopes and aspirations and keep reading them as constant affirmations.
Listening to music is a fantastic mood enhancer and a great way to invigorate your mood. Studies show that music has an enormous impact on mood. Depending on the type of music you are listening to, It can bring you to tears as well as get you dancing. “Happy, upbeat music causes our brains to produce chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which evokes feelings of joy, whereas calming music relaxes the mind and the body.” In other words, listen to good music and get moving.
Taking a short walk is another fantastic way to elevate your mood. It is an activity that will decompress and reset your state of mind. It is a short activity that shifts your mood for the better. The best part is it has multiple benefits such as decreasing fatigue, food cravings and burning calories.