Did you have a stressful day? Do you find yourself stressed when you return from a high-pressure job? If so, you are certainly not alone—8 out of 10 Americans are stressed, making us one of the most stressed nations in the world.
Stress can affect your entire body. It can lead to larger problems like heart issues, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, weight gain, headaches, and digestive issues.
Looking for ways to calm down? If so, keep reading for ideas on how to relax.
1. Laugh Your Worries Away
Laughter puts you in a good mood because it releases endorphins to decrease stress hormones. Laughing tricks your body to make you feel happy.
Find a comedy show or movie. Call one of your good friends and reminisce about some fun times. Watch some silly pet videos—whatever it takes for a good giggle.
2. Take Some Herbs and Supplements
There are some herbs and supplements that may help you calm down. These include:
- Passionflower
- Chamomile
- CBN
- Kava
- Valerian root
- Gingko Biloba
- Melatonin
- Magnesium
This is a popular choice over prescription medication. You will not have to worry about withdrawal effects.
You can also breathe in some essential oils. Great calming scents include chamomile, peppermint, lemon, orange, rose, and lavender. Place a few drops in the diffuser, and put on some relaxing music with a burning candle to calm down.
3. Learn to Breathe
When it comes to stress, it actually helps to take a deep breath. When you are feeling stressed, sit up and put your feet flat on the floor. Breathe in and out slowly.
With these deep breaths, concentrate and feel your longs expanding in your chest.
Shallow breathing can make your stress worse, and deep breathing actually helps give your blood more oxygen. This clears your mind and can help you settle down.
4. Listen to Some Music
If you are overwhelmed, take a break and listen to music you enjoy or relaxing music. Music has a calming effect on the brain and can lower blood pressure. It can also reduce a hormone linked to stress—cortisol.
Are you more of an upbeat music person? Have a dance party with yourself to some of your favorite tunes. Just stay away from anything too sad that may bring you down.
5. Talk Through It
You can either call a friend to discuss your problems or talk to yourself. Talk about why you are stressed out, what you plan to do, and remind yourself that everything will be okay.
This reassuring voice either from your friend or yourself can put everything into perspective. It gives you time to think through the situation and relax.
Get all the negative thoughts out of your head. Then figure out what you will do to alleviate the issues or help you feel better.
Find Ways to Calm Down
You will have to figure out what works best for you. There are several ways you can relieve stress, but you have to find ways to calm down that work for you. You may have to do a combination of things like watching a funny movie and talking to a friend or switch it up the next time by listening to music.
Taking care of yourself can also help you relieve stress. Check out our Health and Fitness section for advice on working out, eating right, and taking care of yourself.
