Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

Today's complex lives have lead to an increase in stress for the average person. Many families are headed by either two working adults, or a single parent. This lifestyle has created less time for relaxation and more reasons for stress. Many may consider stress a mental condition, but it can have damaging effects on a person's health.

STRESS REDUCTION

The way to reduce stress is best handled by a two prong approach.

One: reduce stress quickly through easy methods

Two: identify and address the underlying causes of stress

QUICK AND EASY METHODS TO REDUCE STRESS

Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing is important is because it increases oxygen flow and slows the heart rate down.

Breathing Exercise One

Sit up straight or in a cross legged position if possible

Take in breath, filling your stomach, then your diaphragm, then your lungs, allow your shoulders to raise up and you draw in breath

Hold the breath for as long as it took to breathe in

Let the breath out in the same amount of time

Let your shoulders lower down and pull your stomach in to push out all the breath

Breathing Exercise Two

Sit up straight or in a cross legged position if possible

Bring your thumb to your right nostril and your ring finger to the left nostril

Close off your right nostril with your thumb

Inhale through your left nostril

Close off your left nostril with your ring finger

Open your right nostril and exhale

Leaving your right nostril still open, inhale through your right nostril

Close off your right nostril with your thumb

Open your left nostril and exhale

Repeat process

Laughter

Laughter heals the body, mind, and spirit. It helps to reduce stress and tension as well as stimulates your immune system and reduces blood pressure. Laughter creates an increase of natural painkillers in your blood and reduces blood pressure.

Massage

Massage therapy enhances immunity, lessens depression and anxiety, improves circulation, and helps your body to release endorphins. A cost effective alternative to a spa or massage salon is to check out a local massage school. Massage therapist students usually give practice massages at a discounted rate.

Counseling

Talking out your problems to someone can be very therapeutic. You can select a licensed professional, or simply talk to a good friend.

ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF STRESS

The best way to alleviate stress is by incorporating stress relieving techniques into your life.

1. Learn to say no. Say no to extra projects, social activities and invitations you don't have the time or energy for.

2. Don't procrastinate.

3. Set your clock ten minutes ahead to arrive on time.

4. Discover ways to make life simpler for yourself. Buy paper plates so you won't have wash so many dishes, use paper towels and a spray bottle for quick clean ups. Use weed killer spray for your garden instead of weeding.

5. Organize your home and workspace. Put things away so you can quickly find them later.

6. Write things down. Keep a "to do" list so you don't have to try and remember everything in your head.

Working properly, the body's stress response enhances a person's ability to perform well under pressure. But in a prolonged state stress can negatively affect the body. By using some of the above techniques, a person can learn how to handle stress effectively.