Stress
getting the upper hand? Say no, and take control. Here are some every day tips:
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Water has been used as a stress
reliever for centuries. Go for a swim, sit in a sauna or relax in a Jacuzzi.
Twice a month, soak your body in a hot bath to which you've added a cup of sea
salt and a cup of bicarbonate of soda. It will relax your muscles and make you
drowsy, helping you have a good night's rest and ensuring you wake up feeling
refreshed and energized.
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Exercise releases endorphins
(feel-good hormones) and also burns off excess energy, which would otherwise
make you feel grumpy or irritable:
- If your body is feeling tired and stiff, lie on your back on a firm, flat surface with your feet slightly apart and your hands at your sides. Relax your arms and turn your palms upwards, with your fingers slightly bent. Lie in this position for 10 to 20 minutes while concentrating on your breathing. Before getting up, turn onto your left side and place your left arm underneath your head. Lie like this for at least two minutes before pushing yourself up with your right hand.
- Lie on your stomach with your legs slightly apart. Put your hands on top of each other, with the palms facing down and turn your head to the side so that your cheek is resting on top of your hands. Close your eyes and breathe rhythmically through your nose. This exercise is especially effective for calming you down after you've had a fight with someone.
- Sit with your feet shoulder-width apart. Rest your palms on your thighs. Close your eyes. Spend five minutes passively listening to sounds in the distance, until you feel relaxed. You can do this behind your desk or in a parked car. Try it after struggling through traffic on your way to an important meeting or after a disagreement with a colleague.
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Lie on your back in bed. Close
your eyes and place your hands in a comfortable position behind your head.
Press your thumbs into your ears to shut out the external noise. You will hear
a sound rushing through your head – that's completely normal. Listen to it for
10 to 15 minutes, then bring your arms down to your sides, relax and go to
sleep.
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It is a proven fact f that
vitamin C helps us to relax and lessens our stress levels. You can bolster your
levels of vitamin C naturally by eating lots of citrus, strawberries, broccoli,
guavas, spanspek, green pepper and tomatoes.
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Laugh your stress away. When
you laugh, feel-good hormones are released that inhibit levels of the harmful
stress hormone cortisol, and bolster your immunity.
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Some types of music, especially
baroque music, calm you down by slowing your brain waves. Try listening to
music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi (especially The Four
Seasons) or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart when you're feeling stressed.
Source: Ideas
