Penni Jones
Better Living Staff Writer
As much as I love summer, I have to admit that this
time of year gets pretty stressful. The kids are home all day for a couple more
weeks, I’m trying to cram in all the things we planned to do but haven’t before
school starts, plus we need to go back-to-school shopping and have I mentioned
that I have work to do?
I’m not alone in my end-of-summer-stress-out.
Fortunately, stress can be reduced easily with a little effort. Here are 5 ways
to tell your stress to take a hike:
Breathe
deep: Taking a few deep breaths
tricks your body into feeling relaxed, and increases your oxygen levels,
helping you shed tension and stress. Deep breathing is something you can do
anywhere at any time!
Have a
snack: Hunger puts stress on the
brain, so try a small, healthy snack like nuts or fruit to fill you up and help
you de-stress. A healthy snack will also deter any inclinations to binge on
junk food just because you’re stressed.
Go for a
walk: Taking a walk can help lower
stress hormones by increasing endorphins. Even a short walk of about 10 minutes
can help you shed stress. If you can, walk in a park or the woods. Natural
sunlight boosts your mood, and nature has been shown to help reduce stress and
allow for calm reflection.
Take a
break: Walk away from your phone and
computer. Research has shown that continuous computer usage has been linked to
depression, loss of sleep, and high levels of stress in women. Give yourself
several breaks from your computer during the day, and try to turn it off at
least an hour before you go to bed. Studies have also shown that cell phones
increase stress as you feel pressured to answer every call and text.
Take it easy
on yourself: Thinking positively can
help calm you down and get you through each challenge. Instead letting negative
self-talk take over, remind yourself that you can get through it by taking the
task one step at a time.
For more ideas on tackling stress and living your best
life, contact Better Living at (734) 747-0123.
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