Cheap Stress-Reduction Exercises and Techniques

Stress has been linked to multiple health problems, from high blood pressure to irritable bowel disorders to mental health disorders and more. What stress doesn't cause in health problems, it certainly can exacerbate if you have an existing health condition. Therefore, it stands to reason that reducing stress in your life can help improve your overall health and might significantly improve any existing health conditions.

Meditation for Relaxation and Stress Reduction

I've written a lot about meditation, because I believe so strongly in its health and healing properties, for physical, mental and emotional health. Now, I'm not talking about the sitting cross-legged and chanting type of New Age meditation that might be intimidating to some and feel silly to others. Rather, I'm talking about the type of meditation that simply makes you stop for a moment, slow yourself and your body down, and relax, clear your mind, and focus on health and healing.

To learn more about beginning meditation and how to incorporate that into your life, check out the article I wrote about meditation for beginners.

Sleep and Rest for Stress Reduction

Nothing can hurt a body and mind faster than being sleep deprived on a regular basis. Just think about how you feel when you've tossed and turned all night, and imagine what is happening to your body if you do that to yourself on a regular basis. It's important to attempt to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. The good news is, you can 'catch up' on sleep some, if you can't get enough at night. Take a nap! If nothing else, allow yourself to relax and meditate during the day some when you know you haven't slept well.

Keep in mind, though, your body heals itself at night, re-hydrates, refreshes, and resets. If you don't allow yourself to get enough sleep, your body can't completely repair itself and reset for the next day, so you end up damaging your body in the long run. If you feel you have trouble sleeping, consider talking to your doctor about a sleep study or sleep aids.

Exercise (Walking) for Stress Reduction

Walking is one of the best and healthiest things most people can do for their body. It's been proven to reduce stress, but it also helps with weight loss, weight management, muscle tone, blood pressure reduction, cardiovascular health, and more. Plus, you can sort of meditate while walking, clear your mind, and that helps you work out minor problems and reduce mental stress as well. If you have a friend or family member whose company you enjoy, you can socialize while walking too, which can be fun and help reduce stress.

Massage for Stress Relief and Stress Prevention

Ah, massage: good for the body, soul and mind. But another thing massage is good for is reducing stress, both in the body and mentally. Massage forces you to relax and slow down, to stop and do nothing but enjoy the massage, which is a good time to add more meditation to your life. As for your body, one of the main goals of deep tissue massage is to reduce muscle stress and strain.

When your muscles are relaxed and your stress is reduced, regular massage can help you prevent stress flare ups too. Not only will your body feel relaxed and stress-free, but you'll feel fantastic. You can read more about massage for stress relief in one of my previous articles here, and if you're new to massage and don't know what to expect, this article will help you know what to expect when getting a massage.

Eat a Healthy Diet to Reduce Stress

Good foods fuel your body the right way. Fresh fruits, fresh veggies, good fats, low sodium, and eliminating anything that is processed or not natural can make a huge difference in how you feel, how you think, and how your body responds. Food is fuel, so you should give your body the best fuel it needs to run properly. Fresh fruits and vegetables are exceptional for helping to reduce stress. Avoiding caffeine and sugars and other processed foods and chemical preservatives can help prevent some disease and improve others.

Aromatherapy for Relaxation and Stress Reduction

I've written about aromatherapy before, and I'll likely write about it again, because I believe it's an overlooked component of healthy living and living a stress-free, or at least a reduced stress, lifestyle. Think about how scents can link to your memory, how the smell of coffee might remind you of a grandparent when growing up, or how the smell of watermelon might make you remember a summer day with friends, or how a certain cologne makes you remember a magical date.

If your memories are so tied into scent, and you experience such emotions when you smell certain things, then it stands to reason that you can change how you feel, improve your mood, and reduce your stressful thinking. You can read my article on aromatherapy for relaxation, which will help get you started, but the best way to use aromatherapy for reducing stress is simply to smell things and decide which ones make you feel less stressful. That's the scent you want to use!

Experiment with other things in your life to see how much you can eliminate of the things that stress you out. Avoid what you can, change what you can, and learn how to deal with what you can't. In the meantime, eat well, sleep well, meditate and stay as healthy as you can, and you're a step ahead in reducing or even eliminating stress from your life.