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Daily Steps To Mindful Living

stress relief

15 Relaxing Things to Do to Quickly Relieve Stress

Mental Health, Mind

Relaxing should be intuitive, shouldn’t it? Who doesn’t want to feel relaxed and stress-free?

While that seems like a no-brainer, for people who are under constant stress – whether because of work or other personal issues – being able to truly relax may not be easy. There is no such thing as an “ON/OFF” switch to relax.

stress levels

Related: How to Stop Stressing Out When You Know You’ll Be Stressing Out

Whether you find letting go of stress easy or you’re one of those whose muscles are always tense, here are some relaxing things to so that will quickly relieve stress. They may not have a “forever” effect, but they’re easy go-to activities that work over time.

Some of these activities may already be familiar, but I promise you, you’ll find some new gems in this list. [Read more…] about 15 Relaxing Things to Do to Quickly Relieve Stress

Originally posted on April 7, 2016 @ 8:00 am

How to Stop Stressing Out When You Know You’ll Be Stressing Out

Mental Health, Mind

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”

(This quote is from FDR’s first inaugural address.)

Likewise, there is nothing to stress out about but stress itself. I think that’s a valid argument, isn’t it?

There are certain things that we fear, don’t like, or worry about. By default, when we know that we are going to face those things, we stress out beforehand. [Read more…] about How to Stop Stressing Out When You Know You’ll Be Stressing Out

Originally posted on February 11, 2016 @ 8:30 am

6 Relaxing Hobbies That Will Relieve Stress

Meditation, Mental Health, Mind

Are you living a life of stress? Does it seem that stress is all you can feel day in, day out?

Then you need to examine your lifestyle. Perhaps your work is taking over your life. Perhaps you have issues about taking on the burden of everyone around you – even if you don’t have to. Perhaps you just need to take a break from everything and carve out some “me time”.

When was the last time you spent time doing something that you really enjoy? If you can barely remember, or if the instances are far and few in between, then I suggest making an effort to make time for this activity.

If you think you need something new, here’s a bit of help: some relaxing hobbies that will relieve stress.

Painting

Not everyone is skilled in painting, but even if you don’t know anything about color palettes and brushes and whatnot, it’s worth a try. Look for classes in your area, sign up for one, and find out if painting is for you. You might be surprised at the results.

Photography

relaxing hobbies

 

These days, everyone can be a photographer. While the hardcore hobbyists have expensive equipment, which you might not want to invest in just yet, you can easily use your smartphone. Photography is definitely a relaxing hobby, as there are endless choices for subjects – and there should be at least one that you are interested in.

Cooking

If you like your food, why not up the ante and challenge yourself in the kitchen? You might already be making your meals every day, but if you see that as a necessity – one has to eat after all – it probably isn’t relaxing at all. Instead, you might see it as a chore.

Why not turn things around and make cooking a hobby? Browse cooking/recipe sites and buy cooking/foodie magazines. Look for recipes that make your mouth water, and go for it!

Gardening

It has been proven time and again that gardening is one of the best relaxing hobbies. Before you ditch the idea, give it a try. Gardening outside exposes you to the health benefits of the sun. The mere act of tending to your plants (you can even talk to them) also helps you relax.

And, who doesn’t like seeing flowers grow and brighten up your surroundings? If you grow some vegetables or herbs, you’ll have the added satisfaction of consuming them.

Ikebana

relaxing hobbies

 

Ikebana is the ancient art of flower arrangement, a distinctive part of Japanese culture. Learning and practicing Ikebana will not only help you relax, but give you a sense of achievement and an appreciation for beauty for it is not simply putting a bunch of flowers in a vase, but an art form and philosophy that highlights how nature and humanity come together.

Transcendental Meditation

Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s, Transcendental Meditation, or TM, is a technique that requires the use of sound or a mantra that is practiced twice every day for 15 to 20 minutes. The TM technique is supposed to bring your body to a relaxed state and profound rest. If you take up this as hobby and do it regularly, you’ll find that your life doesn’t have to have much stress.

Originally posted on May 13, 2015 @ 8:00 am

13 Effective Headache Remedies at Work

Body, Natural Medicine

Having a headache is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone, especially if it’s a bad one. Depending on the degree of the headache, your routine – whether at home or at work – can be hampered, or you can totally not do anything.

When at the office, having a headache is even worse. You may not be able to get your work for the day done, or you may have subpar results. All the while suffering throughout the day.

Having had more than my fair share of headaches, let me share some effective headache remedies at work. They’re effective when you’re not working, too, of course, but these specific remedies are geared toward situations when you’re in the office when you may not have the luxury of time.

Headache Remedies at Work

    1. Drink as much water as you can. One of the most common reasons for headaches is dehydration. When you feel a headache coming on, drink as much water as you can. You don’t have to drink a lot at a time – sipping water throughout the day will help.
    2. Drink herbal teas. Herbal teas are just as good as water to cure a headache. Some of the most effective teas for headaches are green tea, cinnamon tea, ginger tea, and chamomile tea. Chamomile is especially effective when you get a migraine attack, offering almost instantaneous relief.
    3. Eat the right food. For some people, certain types of food trigger headaches. Study your patterns, and figure out what these triggers are. For headache relief at work, always keep almonds handy. They contain salicin, which works to cure headaches. (This is found in aspirin as well.)
    4. Get moving. A brief, brisk walk will improve blood circulation, which in turn can relieve your headache. If you can go out of the office and spend five to ten minutes walking, that would be great. Alternatively walk around the office for five minutes at a fast pace.
    5. Do some stretching. Stretching exercises will relax tense muscles, which may be contributing to your headache. Specific stretching exercises that are effective headache remedies include scapular retraction, which basically pulls your shoulder blades together and opens up your chest. This increases your blood flow as well. How do you do this? Sit up straight. Raise your arms in front of you and press your shoulders down and your shoulder blades together. Do not to lean your head forward when doing this. Also push your neck back. Release and repeat 15 times.
    6. Give yourself a massage. Massage has been proven to be beneficial, and you can take advantage of it to get rid of your headache. Rub your temple and your head. Rub your shoulder muscles and neck. Do this for a few minutes, and repeat as often as you have to.
    7. Do some breathing exercises. Breathe slowly and deeply – either sitting on your chair or lying down. Do this for five to ten minutes to calm down and alleviate the pain.
    8. Utilize relaxation techniques. These include breathing exercises, but also cover meditation and visualization.
    9. Ventilate your area. Sometimes, headaches can be caused by lack of proper ventilation. Check your office space and make sure that you get enough air where you’re sitting.
    10. Rearrange your workspace. A simple thing such as a change of your surroundings can help you relax and lessen the pain in your head. Declutter your desk. Move items around.
    11. Use aromatherapy. What you need are soothing scents that will get rid of your headache. You can use an oil burner or stick diffuser if it’s possible at work, or you can simply sniff at a bottle of essential oil. Oils that are great headache busters include bergamot, lavender, peppermint, sandalwood, eucalyptus, and chamomile.
    12. Use a hot or cold compress. Invest in a hot/cold compress pack and keep it handy at work. Applying the pack (alternate cold and hot) on your head, neck, and shoulders will provide immediate relief. Alternatively, use a towel soaked in hot or cold water.
    13. Take aspirin or paracetamol. If you’re not averse to taking medication, then an aspirin will do the trick. Paracetamol or ibuprofen also works.

Do take note that this article is not meant to replace medical advice, so if you experience severe and recurrent headaches, it is best to see your doctor.

This will also help: 15 Ways to Relax Instantly When Stress Hits

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Originally posted on April 15, 2015 @ 8:30 am

15 Ways to Relax Instantly When Stress Hits

Body

Some people seem to be easy go lucky by nature it’s enviable. Especially if you’re the type who gets stressed rather easily and can’t relax instantly.

Stress can hit you anywhere. Whether you’re at work, you’re dealing with things at home, or you’re at a social gathering – it doesn’t matter. When you get stressed, you want – no, need – to relax.

Of course, it’s easy to say that one should do this and that to relax instantly, but it may be harder for some than others. There are, however, proven ways that do result in almost instant relaxation.

Here are quick ways to relax instantly when you need it the most.

  1. BREATHE. The first thing to pay attention to is how you are breathing. The chances are you’re taking quick, shallow breaths. What to do: Take deep, slow breaths and count them. Learn more about the importance of proper breathing here.
  2. CHECK YOUR BODY/MUSCLES. More than your breathing, pay attention to your body as well. Are your jaws clenched? Are your shoulders taut? You may not be aware of these things, but once you consciously pay attention, you can “force” yourself to relax those muscles as you control your breathing.
  3. STRETCH. If you are in a place where you can do some stretching, do so immediately. You can even simply roll your head around slowly to loosen your neck muscles. That alone can do wonders for relaxation.
  4. COUNT. This can go in tandem with breathing and stretching. Or you can simply count to calm down. Count slowly from 1 to 10, and then count backwards. Repeat as often as you need to.
  5. LAY YOUR HEAD ON YOUR DESK. If you’re at work, and you suddenly feel overwhelmed, one of the best things that will help you relax instantly is to lay your head down. If you have a small pillow, that’s even better. Close your eyes and shut everything out for five to 10 minutes. Count as well.
  6. MASSAGE YOUR HAND. Give your hands a massage for a few minutes. Be gentle but firm, and you’ll see how quickly you feel better.
  7. USE A STRESS BALL. They’re not called stress balls for nothing. Always keep one around so that you can release tension when you need to. Try not to do anything while using your stress ball. Just sit there and let your mind wander.
  8. TAKE A WALK. If you can, go out and walk around the block, go to the park, or simply walk around the building. The physical effort will clear your head and give your body time to calm down as well.
  9. LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. If you can’t go for a walk, look out your window and appreciate what you see. Sometimes, a slight change of view can make a world of difference.
  10. VISUALIZE. Don’t have a window or a nice view? Use creative visualization. Think of a “happy place” – your favorite beach, for example. Close your eyes, and see that happy place in your mind’s eye.
  11. AROMATHERAPY. Keep essential oils handy: lavender, geranium, petitgrain, sandalwood, neroli, ylang-ylang, and bergamot all help to relax. Visit a shop and test out the scents so you’ll know which you prefer.
  12. WRITE. Sometimes, all you need is to vent; and if you don’t like talking to other people, you can write what stresses you, how you are feeling, and anything that’s in your mind, really. You can even throw the piece of paper away – or burn it – after you’ve ranted on paper.
  13. LISTEN TO MUSIC. Pick out songs that you know always makes you feel better or cheer you up. Create a playlist, and put it on whenever stress strikes.
  14. EAT A BANANA. Bananas help with stress because of its potassium content, which gives a quick burst of energy. While that may not seem to be directly related to relaxation, having that energy will help you counter stress.
  15. DRINK GREEN TEA. You might be a coffee drinker, but if you’re really stressed, and you want to relax instantly, get a cup of green tea. More than other drinks, green tea has been known to dampen anger/stress thanks to its chemical properties.

Some of these things may help you, others may not. What you can do is try different combinations to see what works best for you.

20 Ways to Relax Your Mind and Body

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Originally posted on February 24, 2015 @ 8:30 am