In the busy modern world, stress often occurs at one time or another. And whether it is a daily or weekly occurrence for you, experts have no doubt that it is harmful to our mental and physical health. Most of us will soon understand when our lives get too stressful; we experience headaches, mood swings, and difficulty falling asleep. But did you know that the effects of stress go much further and it can slow down our digestion, increase blood pressure and even change the way we breathe.
The list goes on, so it's safe to say that reducing daily stress is something we could all benefit from. But where do we start? Well, given that we will always face stressful situations, it makes sense to me that if we can learn to manage ourselves and how we respond to daily stress, then we can learn to stay calm no matter what our day brings.
With that in mind, here are a few simple tips to help you reduce your daily stress; try choosing one to start and how it gets easier and then choosing another - with regular use you'll soon notice the difference.
TALK POSITIVE
When stress strikes, our inner self-critic suddenly becomes very loud and starts a negative thought cycle that is easy to get into. When you hear the negative begin, imagine that you are reducing the volume of these thoughts. And balance these thoughts with kindness. Remind yourself that what you feel is temporary; it will change because everything in life changes. Create a positive phrase or statement that you can quietly repeat to yourself when stress appears; try “I'm safe, and what I feel is temporary.”
SLOW DOWN
Meditation has been proven to help reverse the effects of our struggle or flight from stress. If it's not a practice you're currently using, I encourage you to try; even a few minutes can change the world. But, even if you can only find a quiet moment to take three deep breaths or watch closely the clouds passing through your office window, please. It is these little moments that teach us to enjoy a slower pace of life and appreciate the little things. To enhance your practice, light one of our NUSHAURA candles and ease deeper into the moment of mindfulness, yoga or meditation while inhaling pure essential oils.
RELEASE
A lot of the stress that we feel is the result of something outside of us, and often it's something that we can't change. Decision? Let go of the situation. The alternative will only create additional stress and harm to your well-being. So instead of spending hours (or days) thinking about what can't be changed, pay attention to something positive in your life, and you'll soon feel the stress subside.
EXERCISE
Again, it is proven to help reduce stress and it is not difficult. Take a walk during lunch, walk your dog after a long day at work, or grab a Mat and enjoy a new yoga class. Exercise costs nothing, just every minute helps your body and spirit manage daily stress.
LIVE IN THE PRESENT
After experiencing a stressful event, our minds have a habit of reproducing every detail, and then we start running everything 'what if' through our mind. To keep the stress under control, you have to close it as soon as possible because your mind doesn't know the difference between experiencing the actual event and replaying it. This means that every time you play it back in your mind, it's like experiencing it over and over and your stress response is triggered. Instead, anchor yourself in the present by focusing on your breathing, listening to sounds around you, or repeating your favorite mantra or statement.
