Remember the adrenaline rush when you were in college and had an exam the next day? You were stressed about not having enough time to prepare for it. That is common and happens from time to time in our lives. We have to face various things day to day that can add to our mental stress.
Stress has a physical and mental impact on us. When we are stressed, our heart rate, and blood pressure increase. The adrenal gland starts to secrete hormones called cortisol- a stress hormone. In excess, it causes flight, fight response, and exhaustion. Whenever we panic and are too stressed, our adrenaline levels go up, and our bodies respond accordingly. If you see someone who is highly stressed for a long time, it is better to take them to a therapist or a doctor. To get an expert opinion, you can visit a General Physician in Lahore.
Here are some tips to decrease stress:
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet means a balanced diet. It supports the immune system and makes it stronger by repairing damaged cells. Moreover, it provides extra energy to cope with stressful situations and helps in reducing cortisol levels.
People consider stress eating as a coping mechanism. That is wrong and only makes you gain weight. Replace stress eating with mindful eating. It involves slow eating with deep breaths while focusing on the meal. This increases enjoyment during eating, decreases stress, and improves digestion.
Enough Sleep
Getting 7-9 hours of sleep is what our body needs on average. The deep stage during sleep lets your body relax. It helps your body to repair, grow and build a healthy immune system. When you remain stressed for a long time, your overall health is affected. You might become sick more than usual.
Sleep is not something under your control. So, it is essential t to figure out tips that help you get enough sleep, for example, exercise. Under stress, it is so hard to have a peaceful slumber. Therefore you have to put in extra effort for that.
Physical Activity
Physical activity like walking, exercise, and dancing helps to decrease your stress. It makes more oxygen reach cells all over the body and helps muscles relax that otherwise get tense during stress.
Exercise also releases endorphins that help elevate your mood and help keep you happy.
Music
Calm music helps to lower stress, uplift your mood, and help you rest better. Therefore you can listen to music when feeling stressed. It will help rejuvenate.
Stress Relieving Tools
There are some de-stress kits you can use in case of urgent stress relief. You can imagine it being the same way as a car emergency kit. It immediately puts you into your happy place. Such kits include stress relieving balls, cubes, essential oil, candles, pens, etc. Therefore always keep them with you.
Meditation
Some meditation techniques help you calm down. One such technique includes a 2:1 breathing technique. In this, inhale and hold your breath for a few seconds and exhale. You have to do this a few times. After that, you must repeat the same steps but only double the time for holding your breath.
Watch Comedy
Whether it is a movie, a season, or a show, watching comedy helps you make laugh and lower your stress. It lets you get rid of the negative thoughts occupying your mind.
Enjoy Nature
A beautiful view or scenery helps you get distracted. Going near water, whether a beach or the sea not only lets you enjoy nature but lowers stress levels too. When you see those soothing scenes, eventually your mind relaxes, and you feel better.
Get Social
Sometimes having a friend by your side in a depressing situation help you get over your bad time. Going out with them, enjoying lunch, or even sitting with them can be beneficial. Talk to them about your stress. They might have a solution to it. Talking always helps reduce stress, especially if you do that with the right person.
The Bottom Line
In the end, it all depends on which tip works best for you. What works best for you might not work best for others. The only solution is to find the way yourself as nobody understands you better than your own self. You can help yourself the best because you know your body and thoughts. If you are stressed for a long time, seek professional help. To get an expert opinion, you can visit Dr. Javed Akram.