Say goodbye to stress
I feel stressed out. Who hasn’t heard or said that before – today, stress has reached epidemic proportions. At the same time, stress is an ingenious invention of nature. In prehistoric times, if something rustled around in the bush, cavemen would sense danger. They had to be completely alert in a flash leading their blood pressure, pulse and rate of breathing to increase. Today, we don’t have to worry about dangerous animals on the prowl, but instead about the demands of our jobs and everyday life. Pressing deadlines, responsibilities, noise and sensory overload quickly place non-stop stress on our bodies. Nervousness, stomach disorders, tension, back pain and sleep disorders are the result – stress, originally designed to protect us, has become a burden. But you can do something to counteract it. Dedicate a day to wellness from time to time, take time off for yourself and do something for your body and mind.
1. Sleeping In
This refers less to sleeping as long as possible and more to waking up in a relaxed, stress-free manner. In many cases, we don’t have enough sleep and if we have a lot to do, the quality of our sleep suffers. Thus, sleeping in is sheer luxury for our body.
2. Drinking tea
A warm, aromatic bath with natural essential oils indulges all your senses. A full bath gives you a feeling of harmony, heat and security while helping you unwind. At the same time, the effects of the essential oils range from stimulating and refreshing to relaxing and balancing up to and including mood boosting.
3. A warm bath
There’s something relaxing about drinking a cup of tea in the morning – it’s the perfect way to start a relaxing day. The pleasant heat, inspiring aromas and stimulating colors give you a sense of security. The kind of tea is not important, it’s more about how it is enjoyed.
4. Facial mask
While you relax in the bath tub, you can also take time for a nurturing facial mask. The heat of the bath opens your pores and your skin readily absorbs the nurturing ingredients from the mask.
5. Breathing freely
Though it may sound strange, many of us have forgotten how to breath properly. Just look at a small child: When it breathes, its stomach rises and falls. But with adults, only the chest and shoulders move. Breathing in the chest is much flatter than belly breathing as the lung is unable to expand as much. In stressful situations when you have to breath faster, we deny our body of important oxygen, which creates even more stress. We can counteract this with simple breathing exercises. Take 15 minutes of time for the following exercise at least three times a week: Lie down comfortably on your back, gently bend your knees and take a deep breath through your nose. At the same time, make sure you breath into your belly. Then gradually exhale through your nose while thinking of a two-syllable word like “silence” or “relax”.
6. Enjoying nature
A walk through nature can do wonders. Moving around in the fresh air is much more relaxing than a day on the couch; after all, our muscles are made to move. Sitting means stress. Relaxed walking, swimming or cycling helps our body to break down the built up energy of stress much more effectively. Your metabolism and circulation speed up, endorphines are released – and you stay fit at the same time. Daylight also lifts your spirits.
8. Massage
Enjoy the wonderful indulgent feeling of a massage while breathing in the delightful fragrance of the massage oil. A massage stimulates the circulation of your skin, your breathing relaxes and your muscles relax.
9. Preparing a delicious meal
Often, we eat something on the go without really enjoying the moment. Take time to cook and prepare a fresh meal. Bustling in the kitchen is gentle movement for your body, which also doesn’t overload us. The key here is mindfulness. Be mindful of routine tasks and discover a new side of them. Of course the most important part is to savor your meal to the fullest.
10. Autogenic Training
Autogenic training is a scientifically proven relaxation method based on autosuggestion. By repeating phrases like “my legs are getting heavier” or “warmth is flowing through my body”, deep relaxation is possible with a little practice. This noticeably calms your autonomic nervous system, improves your circulation and ability to concentrate. However, it is best to learn this technique from an instructor!
11. See you later smartphone
We can be reached around the clock and are always up-to-date on everything. This is both a blessing and a curse. After all, always being on call triggers underlying stress in us. Try switching off your smartphone for a whole day and forget about everything around you for a change.
7. Laughing
Laughing is likely the best medicine when it comes to getting rid of stress. When you laugh or smile, you body releases the happiness hormone serotonin.
Say goodbye to stress
I feel stressed out. Who hasn’t heard or said that before – today, stress has reached epidemic proportions. At the same time, stress is an ingenious invention of nature. In prehistoric times, if something rustled around in the bush, cavemen would sense danger. They had to be completely alert in a flash leading their blood pressure, pulse and rate of breathing to increase. Today, we don’t have to worry about dangerous animals on the prowl, but instead about the demands of our jobs and everyday life. Pressing deadlines, responsibilities, noise and sensory overload quickly place non-stop stress on our bodies. Nervousness, stomach disorders, tension, back pain and sleep disorders are the result – stress, originally designed to protect us, has become a burden. But you can do something to counteract it. Dedicate a day to wellness from time to time, take time off for yourself and do something for your body and mind.
1. Sleeping In
This refers less to sleeping as long as possible and more to waking up in a relaxed, stress-free manner. In many cases, we don’t have enough sleep and if we have a lot to do, the quality of our sleep suffers. Thus, sleeping in is sheer luxury for our body
2. Drinking tea
A warm, aromatic bath with natural essential oils indulges all your senses. A full bath gives you a feeling of harmony, heat and security while helping you unwind. At the same time, the effects of the essential oils range from stimulating and refreshing to relaxing and balancing up to and including mood boosting.
3. Warm bath
There’s something relaxing about drinking a cup of tea in the morning – it’s the perfect way to start a relaxing day. The pleasant heat, inspiring aromas and stimulating colors give you a sense of security. The kind of tea is not important, it’s more about how it is enjoyed.
4. Facial mask
While you relax in the bath tub, you can also take time for a nurturing facial mask. The heat of the bath opens your pores and your skin readily absorbs the nurturing ingredients from the mask.
5. Breathing freely
Though it may sound strange, many of us have forgotten how to breath properly. Just look at a small child: When it breathes, its stomach rises and falls. But with adults, only the chest and shoulders move. Breathing in the chest is much flatter than belly breathing as the lung is unable to expand as much. In stressful situations when you have to breath faster, we deny our body of important oxygen, which creates even more stress. We can counteract this with simple breathing exercises. Take 15 minutes of time for the following exercise at least three times a week: Lie down comfortably on your back, gently bend your knees and take a deep breath through your nose. At the same time, make sure you breath into your belly. Then gradually exhale through your nose while thinking of a two-syllable word like “silence” or “relax”.
6. Enjoying nature
A walk through nature can do wonders. Moving around in the fresh air is much more relaxing than a day on the couch; after all, our muscles are made to move. Sitting means stress. Relaxed walking, swimming or cycling helps our body to break down the built up energy of stress much more effectively. Your metabolism and circulation speed up, endorphines are released – and you stay fit at the same time. Daylight also lifts your spirits.
8. Massage
Enjoy the wonderful indulgent feeling of a massage while breathing in the delightful fragrance of the massage oil. A massage stimulates the circulation of your skin, your breathing relaxes and your muscles relax.
9. Preparing a delicious meal
Often, we eat something on the go without really enjoying the moment. Take time to cook and prepare a fresh meal. Bustling in the kitchen is gentle movement for your body, which also doesn’t overload us. The key here is mindfulness. Be mindful of routine tasks and discover a new side of them. Of course the most important part is to savor your meal to the fullest.
10. Autogenic training
Autogenic training is a scientifically proven relaxation method based on autosuggestion. By repeating phrases like “my legs are getting heavier” or “warmth is flowing through my body”, deep relaxation is possible with a little practice. This noticeably calms your autonomic nervous system, improves your circulation and ability to concentrate. However, it is best to learn this technique from an instructor!
11. See you later smartphone
We can be reached around the clock and are always up-to-date on everything. This is both a blessing and a curse. After all, always being on call triggers underlying stress in us. Try switching off your smartphone for a whole day and forget about everything around you for a change.
7. Laughing
Laughing is likely the best medicine when it comes to getting rid of stress. When you laugh or smile, you body releases the happiness hormone serotonin.