7 Easy Tips to Help You Relax and Beat Stress

7 Easy Tips to Help You Relax and Beat Stress

How are you feeling today?

If the answer is ‘stressed’, you’re not alone. A staggering 83 percent of Canadian adultsexperience stress on a regular basis, due largely to financial worries.

But there’s more to stress than just money. Research reveals work, time and family play a parttoo.

Think it’s no big deal? Stress can be more harmful than you might believe. It’s known to cause such serious physical and emotional difficultiesas:

• dependence on unhealthy food, drink and substances as a coping mechanism

• increased anxiety

• outbursts of anger/mood swings

• chest pains

• fatigue

• social withdrawal

• reduced libido

• disrupted sleep

We all need to take stress seriously and try to minimize its impact on our health. But that’s easier said than done when so many of us are so busy. Simply finding a few minutes for yourself each day can be something of a challenge.

Yet you must carve time out of your schedule to combat stress as best you can. And the following 7 tips can help you do just that.

1. Walk it Off

The last thing you might feel like doing when you’re stressed is grabbing your sneakers and going for a run. But you don’t need to pound the sidewalks to work negative feelings out of your body.

A nice, relaxing walk can work wonders. It minimizes tension in the main muscle groups and encourages deeper breathing. Take a stroll through your favorite neighborhoods or scenic routes (the local beach, a nature trail) to get away from everyday surroundings.

Walking is a great way to unwind on your lunch break too. You’ll feel revitalized and more focused when you get back to your desk.

2. List the Positive Aspects of Your Life

Grab a pen and paper or open a blank document on your computer/phone/tablet.

Ready? Start listing everything you feel grateful for in your life. This may be:

• your health

• your partner

• your children

• your pets

• your home

• your talents

• your job

Put anything and everything that brings you joy (directly or indirectly) on the page. And delve deeper, if you have time. What is it about each item that makes you so happy? How can you focus on them more to increase their positive effect on your life?

This promotes a more optimistic outlook and gives your mind a break from negative thoughts. Try this every day or whenever you have time.

3. Practice Meditation (Even 5 Minutes Will Do)

You may feel skeptical about meditating if you’ve never tried it before. But it’s been shown to reduce stress and anxiety— even in short bursts.

You don’t need to head up into the mountains or down to the shoreline to meditate. You can do it almost anywhere.

Try to find a quiet, calm spot in or around your workplace or home. You can always wear headphones or earplugs to shut unwanted sounds out. Listen to relaxing music or white noise if you need to.

Sit or lie down on a comfortable floor or seat. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Focus on the act of respiration: in, hold, out. Take each new inhalation and exhalation as it comes.

Concentrate on the way you feel in the moment, rather than anything that came before or lies ahead.

If you can only spare five minutes, meditate for five minutes. If you can spare 20 minutes, do it for 20 minutes. Don’t avoid it just because you think you need longer. Reducing your stress levels is always good, no matter how brief it may be to start with.

4. Make Time to Help Yourself Feel Special

Making yourself feel special and pampered is a simple way to relax. Don’t worry about extravagance: even the most cost-effective spa treatment can be a welcome luxury.

A manicure, pedicure, facial, or treatment offers a valuable chance to unwind. Squeeze a session into your lunch break or rejig your schedule to treat yourself, even if it’s just once a month.

Your beauty therapist may be open to talking while they work too. You might find it’s easier to discuss daily stresses with them than a friend, relative or colleague.

Simply talking about your problems, especially with someone with first-hand experience of said issues, can alleviate stress.

5. Have a Massage

A professional massage can help reduce stress and encourage relaxation.

A Swedish massage is one of the most common types. This is fantastic for relieving tension and stimulating healthy circulation. You’ll feel calmer and looser by the end.

Hot stone, deep-tissue and reflexology massageswork deeper muscles to promote positive feelings. You may want to start with a Swedish massage and work your way up to these more intense (yet still exquisite) techniques.

A good massage therapist cultivates a serene environment to help even the most stressed client relax.

6. Take an Organized Approach to Tackling Stress

Remember when we suggested making a list of the positives in your life earlier?

Let’s try this methodical approach to tackling the sources of your stress.

Make a note of the key factors contributing to your issues.

• Is your job in danger and you’re worried you won’t find another?

• Is a member of your family going through a difficult time and you’re concerned for their future?

• Have you got massive bills to pay but not enough in the bank to cover them?

Each of these scenarios is difficult, to be sure. But you may be able to find a solution or just see them from a fresh perspective that makes coping easier.

Explore the options available to you and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

7. Make Plans for a Well-earned Vacation or Treat

Start planning a vacation or a way to treat yourself right now. This might be a trip to the coast with your family or a weekend at a luxurious hotel. Perhaps you want to go see a movie or reacquaint yourself with an old hobby.

Whatever you do, give yourself something good to look forward to. This may help you endure a stressful period and feel you’ve earned your reward by the time it’s over.

We hope these 7 tips help you reduce your stress levels and feel more relaxed.

If you want to pamper yourself with a pedicure, manicure, facial treatment or massage, we’re here to help.

Astra Medi Spa’s treatments are performed by qualified experts committed to delivering a luxurious experience that leaves you feeling and looking your best.

Just get in touch or drop in and see us today!