How to Reduce Stress
You can’t remove all of the stress from your life, but there are many ways in which you can make situations less stressful and manageable. The cheapest and easiest method to implement immediately is a relaxation breathing technique.
Sit comfortably in your chair, close your eyes and take a slow, deep breath through the nose lasting four seconds, filling your belly, hold for four seconds, let out slowly for four seconds, and retain the exhaled breath for four seconds before breathing in again. There are four stages to this breathing cycle (breath in, hold, breath out, retain), taking four seconds to complete each stage. Repeat the cycle five to ten times and return to normal breathing.
Other stress-relieving techniques are not as apparent and intentional as the breathing exercise, but have serious benefits for your health, and stress-lowering qualities. Gentle exercise is always helpful.
Other techniques:
01Pets
Although most of us can’t bring a pet to the workplace, interacting with an animal via petting, playing, or talking has well-studied health benefits, such as lowered blood pressure and improved immunity.
02Earthing/Grounding
Easy and free, grounding allows the body to gain electrons from the earth to neutralize free radicals and oxidative stress; leading to a decrease in inflammation and better health. It’s as easy as standing or sitting with bare skin exposed to grass, sand, dirt, or concrete for 20-plus minutes. Details: www.earthingoz.com.au
03Meditation
A little more time-consuming than the breathing technique above. It starts similarlyy, but focuses on clearing the clutter in your brain that flashes in and out of consciousness. By concentrating solely on the air going in and out of your lungs and blocking any other thought, stress becomes non-existent with a profound sense of mental clarity.
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