Everyone needs a vacation once in a while. If you have had a long week at work recently, you may be interested in taking your own vacation. Thankfully, you don't need to travel anywhere in order to relax after a long week. Today, I will be going over tips on how to de-stress. There are many different ways to relieve stress. Let's take a look at some of those ideas.

Exercise

When you experience stress, one of the best things you can do for your body is to exercise. While this may not sound relaxing, there are so many benefits to exercising. In fact, those who exercise regularly are less likely to deal with stress and anxiety. There are many scientific reasons why exercise is helpful for reducing stress.

First, exercise lowers your body's stress hormones, such as cortisol. It also helps release endorphins, which are chemicals that improve your mood. Second, exercise can also improve your sleep quality. Many people who are stressed often have insomnia. You will be guaranteed a good night's rest when you exercise. Lastly, when you exercise regularly, you may feel more confident in your body, which in turn promotes mental well-being.

Take A Hot Bath

Taking a hot bath has been known to calm people down and make them sleepy. Stress can often keep you awake, so taking a hot bath will help you fall asleep quicker. Consider putting scented bath bombs or essential oils in the water. Taking a hot shower can also be relaxing, but hot baths are generally more relaxing because you get to sit down.

Get A Massage

Massages are simply relaxing, which is exactly what you need when you are stressed. If paying for a massage is too expensive, consider asking your spouse or a friend to give you a massage. Whether it is a back massage, a head massage, or a simple foot massage, you will most likely feel better after having one done.

Drink Some Tea

Before you grab another cup of coffee (which can make stress worse), try drinking some herbal teas. There are many kinds of herbal teas that can be helpful for relieving stress. Chamomile tea is a popular flavor that helps you relax and sleep better. Other flavors to consider trying include peppermint tea, lemon balm tea, passion flower tea, green tea, and rose tea. You may want to drink these teas before bed to help you fall asleep. 

Cook A Favorite Dish

For those who dread the thought of cooking, feel free to scroll down to the next idea. But for those who love to cook, this is a great idea to try the next time you are needing some relaxation. Try baking something sweet such as pumpkin custard or perhaps a recipe high in protein. You could also try whipping up a batch of these cookie dough creations. However, try to limit the amount of sugar you eat. Too much sugar can cause more stress and anxiety, as can high-sodium foods. A little sugar is ok to eat, but avoid eating too much.

Read A Book

Reading a book can be a relaxing way to de-stress. Many people choose to read a book right before bed. That way, there is no hurry to finish reading and whenever you get tired you can turn the lights out and go to sleep. Make sure you choose a book you love. Books that are boring to you can lead to mild depression. Also, don't make reading your phone an option. People who spend too much time on their phones can get depressed and stressed. Besides, too much screen time can damage your eyes. Let this time before bed be about relaxing and not having to look at the latest text messages you received.

Try Some Essential Oils

Studies have shown that specific essential oils used in aromatherapy can help relieve stress, relax the body, and promote better sleep. Ways to use essential oils include to put it in a diffuser, add it into your bath, apply it onto clothes, and to mist it onto furniture. If you are sure that the essential oil is safe, you can even add it to foods. One of the best ways to apply it is to massage an oil blend with calming scents into your temples. Here are some essential oils to try: rose, clary sage, frankincense, lavender, bergamot, marjoram, ylang-ylang, lemon, geranium, orange, sandalwood, chamomile, and vetiver.

Visit With Family Or Friends

If you have family members who live nearby, consider taking some time to visit with them. Invite them over for dinner or perhaps you could go to their house for the day. If all your family members live too far away for you to visit, then go visit your friends. When you spend time with friends and family you most likely will feel happier again. Not only will you have a good time when visiting friends or family, but they may offer some good advice for you so that you're not so stressed.

Play With Your Pet

If you have a pet, it may be a good idea to play with him or her when you are feeling stressed. A study once showed that interacting with pets may help release oxytocin, a brain chemical that promotes a positive mood. Pets also keep you active, which is another way to help you feel relieved from stress. If you don't have a pet, consider volunteering to help at a dog and cat shelter. You could also consider fostering pets if you can't have one of your own. Not only will you be de-stressing, but you will also be helping pets who desire to be loved.

Do Some Yoga

Yoga is well known for helping to relieve stress and anxiety. It helps with stress management because it involves deep breathing, calming moves, and it slows the heart rate down. Not only is yoga helpful for de-stressing, but it also helps you become more flexible and can even strengthen your muscles. Good moves to try include Child's Pose, Fish Pose, and Shavasana.

Write In a Journal

Writing down what you are stressed out about can help get rid of anxiety. Better yet, consider jotting down what you are grateful for. Sometimes when you focus on what makes you happy, you won't feel as stressed. Whatever you do, keeping a journal nearby can help bring relief and calmness to you. You may even find it calming to draw doodles in your journal.

Listen To Music

Listening to music can have a very relaxing effect on the body. Try choosing slow-paced instrumental music instead of fast-paced music. Slow-paced music can induce the relaxation response by helping lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as stress hormones. Some people have found it calming to listen to nature sounds. Try listening to different kinds of music and see what tunes you like the best.

Signs You Are Stressed

Sometimes you may not notice right away that you are stressed. However, it is important to look for symptoms of stress. Stress does a lot to your body, from causing your heart rate to go up to even causing certain serious health conditions. Here are some signs that you may be stressed.

Heart Palpitations

A heart palpitation is a sensation that your heart has skipped a beat or added an extra beat. Also called abnormal heart rhythm, heart palpitations symptoms include heart pounding, heart beating fast, or fluttering in the chest. Many people wonder what causes heart palpitations. Some reasons include if you are pregnant, have a serious heart condition, and if you have taken too much caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol. Most of the time, however, they're caused by stress and anxiety. If you think that you may have heart palpitations, try some of the tips I've given you above on how to de-stress.

Acne

Acne is another common symptom indicating that you are stressed out. Most people who are stressed out tend to touch their faces more often. This can spread bacteria and contribute to the development of acne.

Headaches

When you experience a headache, it is usually a sign that something is wrong with your body. Sometimes headaches mean you are dehydrated, while other times it means you need more sleep. One common reason for headaches is that you are stressed out. If you notice a headache, try lying down or doing some calm exercise such as yoga.

Depression

Depression is often a symptom of stress. Stress can affect your emotional well-being, which in turn may cause depression. Some of these stress management techniques that I've given you will help with depression.

Final Thoughts On How To De-Stress

It may be your dream to have a stress free life. However, in the world that we live in, stress is a common symptom. If you have been wondering how to de-stress, you have come to the right place. Today, I went over the top tips for how to relieve stress and anxiety naturally. Although taking antidepressants is an option, it is best if you can overcome stress naturally. Symptoms of stress include heart palpitations, acne, headaches, and depression. I hope this article on relaxation techniques has helped you understand how to de-stress. Hopefully, these stress relievers will help you de-stress and become a more relaxed person.

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