Your chest feels tight, your stomach have been feeling uneasy for days and your mind has decided to not get the hint to go on a much needed holiday, but decides to instead keep bringing up the fact that life is moving very fast and there’s 101, no scratch that, 501 things to do and they all need to be done right now. Welcome to one version of stress that has the ability to steal sleep and affect our daily quality of living. Each and every one of us will experience stress differently. So how do we de-stress?

 

With that being said, we thought we’d put together a list of 5 popular ways to de-stress that may be helpful to either yourself or someone you know who is trying to juggle a lot in their lives right now.

 

    1. Go for a 10 minute walk – whether it’s a quick walk around the block, or a stroll along the beach, there’s many place in the Bay of Plenty where you can stretch your legs and look at our beautiful scenery along the way! Walking not only clears your head and boosts endorphins (therefore reducing stress hormones) but it puts our minds into a meditative-like state calming us from within along the way!
       
    2. Just breathe. If it sounds simple, it’s because it really is! Breathing exercises allow our body believe it is already relaxed and all it takes is a few mindful deep breaths to reduce tension and relieve stress thanks to the extra oxygen boost. As a bonus, breathing exercises have also been scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure – how’s that for health benefits!
       
    3. Make space. Is a room you spend a lot of time in such as your bedroom, work desk or kitchen gotten a bit out of hand with clutter making itself at home? You’re not alone! It’s a common thing in the 21st century but unfortunately drowning in stuff only increases our stress hormones, overloading our senses and even affecting our creativity! Either choose 10 things to put away right now, or spend a few short bursts throughout the day or week clearing the area and it’s highly likely you’ll feel inspired and rejuvenated in no time.
       
    4. Take a technology break. While the internet is wonderful for many things, it also can keep our brains stimulated to the point where it’s hard to ‘switch off’, let alone get a good night’s sleep! Try a household ban of no device usage before a certain time in the morning and a cut off time in the evening to maximise the benefits on a daily basis.
       
    5. And lastly, laugh! Our bodies don’t actually know the difference between fake laughter versus the real thing, so permission is granted to watch all the cat videos, put on the funny movies or do a silly dance – laughter reduces cortisol and other stress hormones and releases feel-good endorphins, too!

 

These are just a handful of ways to combat stress and if your favourite isn’t listed then we’d love to hear – email us what works for you at hello@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

Manawa Ora Centre 103 Third Ave, Tauranga 3110, Bay of Plenty New Zealand p +64 7 578 6624 | f +64 7 281 1234 PO Box 13068 Tauranga 3141 hello@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

The Centre For Health