Stress is a killer — literally. Medical studies show that prolonged stress leads to high blood pressure, heart attacks, chronic pain, and other issues that lead to hospitalisation or worse.
Putting some stress hacks to use will allow you to reduce tension and pain in your life. Our stress guide will set you on the right track.
Consider these stress tips and relaxation techniques so that you can get your life back in order.
1. START A PRACTICE OF DAILY MEDITATION AND DEEP BREATHING
The act of meditation is about as old as human civilization itself. There are several reasons and benefits for meditating, and stress relief is one of the most useful.
Meditation trains your Reticular Activating System (RAS), which is your brain’s focus mechanism. When you meditate, you learn to clear your mind and let go of the extraneous thoughts that flow through your mind.
There are several different types of meditation, but most involve sitting still and focusing on your breathing. Deep breathing through your nostrils and out of your mouth will allow you to detach from your thoughts and recognize yourself as the observer of them.
This little bit of detachment will give you enough space to not get carried away with the stressors in your mind and your environment. It is a simple solution to handling stressful situations and calming yourself down. People that meditate regularly will reduce stress hormone levels, improve their immune system, lower blood pressure, and so many other physical health benefits.
In order to achieve maximum comfort during your meditation, we recommend trying the Buddalife Zafu meditation cushion or the Buddalife half-moon crescent meditation cushion, designed to support your hips and spine while you practice your meditation. The buckwheat hull interior also helps keep your body cool due to its breathable design. Achieving a comfortable position is vital for achieving the most productive meditation.
2. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PHYSICAL FITNESS EACH WEEK
Physical fitness is the absolute best medicine for stress. Exercising every day produces endorphins that will help you relieve stress and live lighthearted and free of tension.
These endorphin brain chemicals relieve tension in your body and mind and make it easier for you to feel comfortable in your skin. Strength training promotes testosterone and balances your hormones so that you lower anxiety and depression, allowing for improved mental health.
Human beings have an inherent mind-body connection, which means that training your body will also improve your brain health. This will allow you to have control over your mind rather than feeling like you are at its whims.
Cardiovascular exercise also allows you to breathe deeply so that you improve lung capacity, quiet your mind, and lower your blood pressure. Regular exercise, such as working out five days per week, will help your body to relax into a deep sleep so that you can wake up the next morning free of stress.
3. LOOK INTO CANNABIDIOL (CBD) PRODUCTS
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the hottest supplements on the market right now, largely for its ability to help you reduce your stress levels. There are several reasons that CBD is helpful for different types of stress, but the biggest is that it interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS plays a role in controlling everything from your hunger and thirst to your nervous system and immune system.
People today are beginning to use CBD for chronic stress in the form of oils, vape pens, edibles, and smokeable flowers. A small dose of some quality CBD will help you to alleviate even the most intense forms of stress.
Anxiety is rampant today, and many people use CBD to help deal with these symptoms. Getting your anxiety under control will help you in social situations and in general. It can help you to navigate the sources of stress and your stress response.
4. BEGIN PRACTICING YOGA ON A REGULAR BASIS
Time on the yoga mat will help you beat stress more than almost anything else.
Yoga is yet another practice that people follow when they want to centre themselves and alleviate the effects of stress on their bodies. Think of yoga as a combination of meditation and physical exercise.
It involves holding a number of poses while breathing deeply and clearing your mind. This practice integrates your mind and body and can help you reduce the tension in both.
Chronic Stress and memories are often trapped in the body in the form of muscle tension and a variety of neurotic holding patterns. Yoga works them out pose by pose, while also helping you get more oxygen into your lungs and bloodstream.
When you practice yoga on a regular basis, your body will become strong and toned, and you will improve your cardiovascular health. Your body will become more flexible, which will also help to lubricate your joints and work out the kinks. This increase in blood flow will reduce the amount of swelling and inflammation that you carry in your body.
People often tout the spiritual benefits that come with yoga. It allows people to feel more integrated into the world and in their lives, in addition to learning to put stress in its proper place, rather than getting carried away by it during a stressful event.
In order to truly utilize the stress-relieving benefits of yoga, we recommend using the Buddalife Biocrystal yoga mat which features a layer of biocrystal wrapped between natural cork and recycled tyres layers. The biocrystal technology is scientifically proven to reduce your stress levels, reduce your muscle tension, increase your oxygen levels, and decrease the impacts of EMF around you. The material is comprised of 100% natural crystals, has no additives or side effects and is an active anti-stress treatment.
5. TRACK AND OPTIMIZE YOUR SLEEP
Getting the right amount of sleep at night will help you control stress levels. In fact, there are a few daily stressors that a good night’s sleep can’t wipe away.
The problem is that most people simply don’t get enough sleep each night, or don’t get quality sleep. When you sleep, you reduce your stress hormone levels and ease the tension in your body. Conversely, your body becomes riddled with stress hormones and stiffens with tension if you fail to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
Invest in a smartwatch and an app that tracks your sleep. This will let you know how many sleep cycles you are getting each night, whether you are snoring, and if you are tossing and turning.
Develop a daily routine for winding down every night so that you are tired and ready to fall asleep once it’s time. Banish smartphones from your bedroom and avoid going down social media or online rabbit holes when you’re trying to get to sleep.
Make sure that your bedroom is dark so that you can produce enough melatonin to help you doze off in a way that is meaningful and healing.
6. EAT HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS
Take the time to also track your nutrition. Many people fill their bodies with foods and drinks that cause stress and tension.
For instance, sodium raises your blood pressure and added sugar, processed foods, and saturated fats are difficult for your body to digest. Food digestion takes up a large part of your body’s energy each day, so go out of your way to eat foods that will easily absorb into your bloodstream.
A plant-based balanced diet reduces inflammation in your body and is easy for your stomach to digest. Go out of your way to make fruit and vegetable smoothies every day so that you can stop stress in its tracks before it takes hold.
Hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and avocados are great sources of omega 3 fatty acids, which promote brain and heart health. Leafy green vegetables like collards and kale will also reduce blood pressure so that your body and mind are at ease.
Avoid unhealthy foods, eat nutrient-dense foods, and track your calories to make sure that you’re eating enough each day and not going into starve mode. A healthy diet is a great way to alleviate acute stress.
7. GET RID OF UNNECESSARY STRESSORS IN YOUR LIFE
Take a qualitative look at your daily life and figure out which stressors need to go. Leave no stone unturned, and don’t be afraid to be selfish.
Whether you have a job that isn’t rewarding, have toxic relationships with friends or relatives, or are taking in media that troubles you — don’t be afraid to cut it out or detach from it.
Prioritizing your own joy will allow you to stay healthy and whole.
8. LOOK INTO SOME HERBAL REMEDIES FOR STRESS
There are plenty of herbs you can take in that will help your stress and your overall health. Ashwagandha root is a herb that fights oxidative stress. Turmeric promotes blood flow and also fights oxidative stress.
Mint tea or ginger tea can help you breathe deeply and remove acute stress from your life.
Check out some Buddalife herbal teas that you can sip each day to control the stress in your life. These include lavender and chamomile herbal tea which is packed with body-loving and serenity inducing properties.
9. BEGIN JOURNALING EACH DAY
Finally, take the time to journal on a regular basis so that you can point out triggers that are bugging you. Keeping a daily journal will help you process your thoughts and will take away a lot of fear and anxiety that you experience. Journaling can also help you to cope in situations following a traumatic event.
You will find that your daily journal entry will become one of the most rewarding aspects of your day and life, and it is a healthy way of setting a strong foundation for stress management.
Journaling can help you to identify the source of stress in your life and can help document the common signs that you’re feeling stressed, as well as help identify any warning signs surrounding the impact of stress on your physical and emotional health.
PUT THESE STRESS TIPS TO USE IN YOUR LIFE
The stress tips in this article will help you more than you know. When you get control of the stress in your life, you will not only improve your quality of life but can improve your health as a whole.
We have a variety of tools and resources that will help you out with the daily battle against chronic stress.
If you feel as though your stress is taking a serious toll on your life, we highly recommend speaking to a health professional for the most suitable advice for your particular needs.
Take some time to join our community so that you can learn about how our products will help you beat stress in your life.