7 Ways to DESTRESS Instantly
Imagine it?s Monday morning. Over the weekend, you had a major argument with
your partner (and you?re both still sulking), your alarm clock fails to go off,
you try to get your usual breakfast only to find that the cereal box is empty
and the milk?s gone sour, and then the car won?t start. By the time you get to
work, you?re already feeling frazzled - and then yourboss dumps an ?urgent?
project on your desk. You know you? ve got a backlog of emails to deal with
from last week and you can feel your stress levels and blood pressure going
through the roof.
? Go For A Quick Walk ?
Even if you can only spare five minutes, go for a walk (it might just be to the
water cooler and back).
The aim here is to get yourself away from the immediate source of stress and to
calm down.
A few minutes to gather your thoughts is all you need to get some perspective.
? Read Some Fiction?
If I?m seriously worked up, upset or stressed, one of the best things I can do
is to grab a book.
Fiction is ideal (especially anything funny or uplifting). Reading fiction
takes you out of the here-and-now
and into a different world. You can forget everything that?s troubling you, for
just ten minutes, as you concentrate on the story.
? Meditate or Pray ?
Often, the best thing we can do to instantly de-stress is to simply stop. Many
life coaches and stress advisors
recommend meditation: there?s no mystery to it, just sit and try to clear your
mind of thoughts (perhaps concentrating on
a calming image or a word or phrase, if that helps you). I also like to pray -
if this suits your religious/spiritual persuasions, it can be a very powerful
way to get outside of your own head and call on a higher power for some
much-needed help!
? Watch A Funny Video ?
I don?t know about you, but I just can?t stay stressed out when I?m laughing.
(It?s like trying to pat my head and
rub my tummy at the same time?) If you have a favorite YouTube clip, or if
LolCats make you giggle,
then give yourself five minutes to indulge. You?ll find that you return to your
work - or whatever
the source of the stress is - feeling much better equipped to handle it.
? Make A Herbal Tea ?
If you?re feeling uber-stressed, caffeine isn?t going to help.
A warm, soothing mug of herbal tea might, though. The act of making
yourself a drink can be calming: it gets you away from your desk,
and it gives you a chance to concentrate on something physical.
You?ll probably also feel a psychological boost from doing
something positive and nurturing for yourself.
? Punch A Pillow ?
Depending on where you are when you?re feeling stressed, and on your
personality,
throwing a few punches at a pillow might help. Think of the stress leaving you
through your fist with every punch.
(If you?re in the office, please don?t be tempted to use a co-worker as a
substitute pillow
? even if said co-worker has caused your stress.)
? Take Slow, Deep Breaths ?
When we get stressed, we tend to breath more quickly, taking shallow breaths.
Concentrate on your breathing
(you might want to do this in conjunction with meditation or prayer). Imagine
breathing from your stomach, not your chest. Take slow, deep, fulfilling
breaths. Calming your body down physically in this way is likely to have
a knock-on effect on your frazzled mental state.
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