4 Priceless Stress Management Tools
When I say priceless stress management tools, I mean literally and figuratively. Mindfulness doesn’t need to be a major financial investment. When you’re stressed, you can try these four tools at no cost. In addition, these tools provide invaluable relief to your mind and body. Here they are below:
Get outside. Studies have shown that just 20-30 minutes outside can significantly reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone which essentially produces the "fight or flight” response. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or consumed by anxiety, step outside, put your feet in the grass or head to the nearest beach or park.
Yoga. Yoga has been shown to have many beneficial health benefits like improving digestion, getting quality sleep and reducing chronic pain, but one of its greatest benefits is reducing stress, anxiety and depression symptoms. You don’t need to go to a yoga studio to start receiving the benefits. You can practice in your home, backyard, the beach, or at a park. I love YouTube-ing different yoga classes on my phone or computer. There are endless classes to pick from.
Meditation. Meditation has incredible benefits. It helps reduce anxiety, helps with getting better sleep, lowers blood pressure, creates overall better mood, and better immune function. Its most powerful benefit is the mindfulness it creates. That mindfulness, in return, creates inner peace which can help people approach life in a more intentional and calmer manner. Sign me up!
Progressive muscle relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a tool in which one tenses each muscle and then relaxes that same muscle. You can start at your feet or your head and make your way to the opposite end of the body. You can guide yourself at your own pace, or listen to a free YouTube session. The theory behind PMR is that you cannot have an anxious mind with a relaxed body. PMR is specifically beneficial for generalized anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, loss of sense of control, poor self-esteem, reducing back pain, and reducing migraine frequency.
