By Isabelle Ferguson
This article will give you advice on different ways to relieve stress. Everyone has their own preferences, so I hope that this will have something for you.
How to Relieve Stress
We are all living in a busy time, with lots to do and lots on our minds, especially since the unfortunate Covid 19 pandemic. Sometimes this can get on top of us, and we feel stress or anxiety. Give yourself a little break, and take the weight off your shoulders with my top tips to relieve stress.
Exercise
You may think that exercise is the last thing you want to do when you are stressed, but scientists have proved that it can actually help a lot. When you exercise your brain produces endorphins, which is a chemical in the brain that your body uses as natural painkillers. Exercise also makes it easier to fall asleep. This helps your body to relieve stress.
Next time you feel stressed, maybe try going for a cycle or a run. Even things like yoga, meditation and deep breathing can help!
Talking
When you are stressed, you may not want to talk to anyone - but you should! Open up about everything that's on your mind, and that's stressing you out. They might be able to help you a lot! You can talk to anyone - your friends, your family, your teacher or even a therapist! Anyone who you trust and feel safe with will be able to help you.
Soft Toys
Although you may not think about it, soft toys can really help you if you are stressed. They listen to you, there can be no doubt that they love you and - let’s face it - they give the best hugs! There are lots of types of soft toys. You can get teddy bears, and plushy figures from your favourite programmes or films as well as animal plushies too! There is a range of soft toys called Squishamallows, which are designed to be stress relieving and therapeutic. They are extremely soft, marshmallow shaped and they come in diverse designs and sizes. Next time you are stressed, don’t hesitate to give your favourite teddy a hug and tell them your problems!
Relax
The most common idea to do if you are stressed is to relax. That would be because it is a good way to relieve stress, and lots of people do it. Relaxing can mean different things to different people: for some it might mean cosying up in front of the television with a fluffy blanket and a bowl of snacks, when for others it could mean running a deep bath in a dark room with scented candles or going swimming. Whatever way you prefer, you should always try to relax wherever possible - especially in times of stress.
A Healthy Lifestyle
I have mentioned doing sports, but a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about that. You should also try to make sure that you are getting your 5 a day. This is important because fruits and vegetables contain vitamins that help you to grow, and that give you slow release energy. This just means that the energy is slowly released throughout the day, making sure that your body can make it through the day. You should also try to get some vitamin D. Your body gets this from the sun, so try to go outside at least once a day. Your body also needs water to function properly, so make sure that you are drinking enough each day. Being healthy makes you feel good, and that can reduce stress levels.
Ice Baths
I do know that not many people would want to take the plunge into an icy cold bathtub let alone a sea of it, but it is scientifically proven that going into icy water reduces stress levels and can help reduce depression. Maybe try it, and see if it helps you like it helps hundreds of other Cold Water Swimmers (CWS) around the UK. Jumping into a cold shower or an icy bath will help you, even if it does give you a shock. However, remember that cold water can be dangerous - always follow coastguard guidelines.
I hope that this article has helped you to find a way to reduce your stress levels, and helped you to relax a bit more.
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