From minor challenges to major crises, stress is part of life. And while you can’t always control your circumstances, you can control how you respond to them. When stress becomes overwhelming or chronic, it can affect your well-being. That’s why it’s essential to have effective stress relievers that can calm your mind and body.
I call this Living the 8 Wise™ Way and here are some tools to help you manage your stress and improve your emotional wellness for a healthier happier mind.
- Acknowledge your stress
Acknowledging your stress can really help lift the weight off your shoulders and could be the first step to asking for help.
Facing stress is an opportunity to reset your mind and take it as a chance to grow. Researchers say the brain is rewiring and trying to learn from the experience so you can handle it differently next time.
So, think about whether the stress is a buildup or related to a more long-term issue. If it’s unrelated to anything, maybe it’s a sign your mind and body need a break.
If it’s tied to a more long-term problem you can’t immediately solve, try another one of the quick relaxer tips below.
- Chew gum
Chewing is a great form of stress reduction. If you have gum on hand, particularly scented gum, chew it for at least three minutes. One study of 101 adults found that people who chewed gum during work had a lower stress response.
But don’t chew half-heartedly! It may be useful to take out your pent-up energy on the gum. Another study found that vigorous chewing was required in order to achieve stress relief.
- Drink stress-reducing tea
There are several supplements that can help reduce stress and anxiety, but many of these supplements may take a few weeks or months of intake before they have an effect.
However, the act of stepping away for a few minutes to make tea can be therapeutic. So why not also make a stress relieving drink?
Although tea takes at least an hour to take effect, just stepping away can signal to your body to relax. Plus, once you get back to your desk, time may fly faster than you know it.
- Inhale essential oils or invest in a diffuser
Inhaling essential oils may help calm the mind. may in times of stress, anxiety, and insomnia. This popular technique, also known as aromatherapy, focuses on using scents to holistically balance your physical, psychological and, emotional health.
Popular essential oils for combating stress include:
* lavender
* rose
* vetiver
* bergamot
* Roman chamomile
* frankincense
* sandalwood
* ylang ylang
* orange blossom
Choose scents based on your personal preferences. For example, if the smell of peppermint reminds you of holidays at home, use peppermint.
To use essential oils for stress, apply three drops onto a cotton pad and breathe it in deeply 10 times. You can also purchase a diffuser for your room or desk so that it constantly releases a calming scent.
- Stretch at your desk
It’s incredibly important to take breaks during work, even when you feel like there’s a rush to get your task at hand done. For the times when you can’t leave your desk, you can still stretch while sitting for five minutes without intervention.
Stretching can also help with discomfort and work related pain injuries. The simplest stretch you can do is the upper body and arm stretch.
To do this:
- Clasp your hands together and push upward with your palms facing the sky.
- Stretch and hold the pose for 10 seconds.
- Try twisting your torso left and right for 30 seconds, then repeat.
For more information on how you can live the 8 Wise™ way to achieve a healthier happier mind and optimal mental health and wellbeing browse this website.
