Its easy to look online at Instagram stars, bloggers, writers and even at your friends and family and wonder how on earth they seem to have it all and yet never break a sweat. Well, like most of us, we’re a bit like swans – making it look easy and graceful yet furiously paddling out of sight to keep ourselves afloat. And with the pressure of modern life, whether it’s deadlines, a heavy workload, the kids, a social life that you need a breather from – we all experience stress.
But how can you reduce the stress in your life naturally? It’s not easy, but it can be done! Here you’ll find 4 top tips for reducing the stress in your life. Good luck!
Spend time in nature
It might not be the best weather for it right now, but studies have shown that spending as little as ten minutes a day surrounded by nature can help you combat stress. You could do a walk around park on your lunch break, or sit and have your morning coffee in your garden – for more information about trees and shrubs click here – however you manage it, you’ll notice that not only does spending time outdoors reduce your stress levels, but also lowers your blood pressure and gives you the time and space needed to think and relax. Give it a try. Don’t forget your coat!
Connect
If you’re going through a particularly stressful period right now, then it’s always worth speaking up and talking to someone about it. It could be your partner, a family member or even a work colleague. Studies have shown that simply chatting with your friends is a natural stress buster as it releases positive body hormones called oxytocin, a natural stress buster. So pick up the phone or meet up with a friend after work.
Laugh
Laughter is the best medicine, so of course it’s going to help banish those stress levels! Laughing might be the last thing on your mind when you’re stressed to the max, but it’s actually very good for your health. Laughter relieves your stress response and also helps you to relax your muscles. Try watching a viral video or that particular scene from that TV show that gets you every time. You need a break. Take one!
Learn how to say no
“Can you help with the after school club?”, “will you bake for the bake sale”, “you’ll take on these extra clients in your workload, won’t you?”
Sounds familiar, right? If you really want to combat your stress you need to be aware of what stressors are in your control. Saying no to people and being selective about what tasks you take on gives you more control over your life and your ability to cope. Try not to take on more than you can cope with. Saying no doesn’t mean you’re letting anyone down, just be polite and kindly refuse. You don’t always have to give a reason!