If you?re like most adults, it seems like there aren?t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything in your busy life. Often times we feel overwhelmed by all of the tasks at hand, are stressed out, and crave a moment of peace. Well there are many simple and quick ways to have ultimate relaxation and stress relief, and no it doesn?t mean you have to find an hour in the day to take a bubble bath, although that works too! Here are 5 simple relaxation techniques that will keep you calm in your busy life:
Drink tea!
If coffee is a part of your daily routine, consider switching to tea for a while! Chamomile tea is a traditional favorite for calming the mind and reducing stress. And black tea may be a stress-fighter too. Participants in a London study who drank regular black tea displayed lower levels of cortisol, and reported feeling calmer during six weeks of stressful situations than those who drank a placebo with the same amount of caffeine.
Massage
Ease the physical tension and give yourself a massage!? When you are on edge, along with the mental strain our body creates, our muscles become stressed too. Simply massaging your neck and shoulders for as little as 5 minutes can greatly reduce mental stress as well as physical tension.
Music
Let the music take you away!? According to a recent study published in the British journal Heart, slow or meditative music is a proven stress buster, so put on a soothing station to unwind with the music!
Stretch it Out
Simple stretches can immediately help relax tense muscles which result from stress. The feeling of relaxation brings a sense of well-being and relief from tension. These easy stretches can be done anywhere and is a quick fix when stressed! Interlock fingers and extend arms upward, behind you, and from side to side for at least 10 seconds. These stretches elongate the spine and release tension from the areas where stress physically accumulates.
Remember to Breathe
Feeling stressed creates tense, rapid breathing, while calm is associated with deep, relaxing breathing. Try this: Let out a big sigh, dropping your chest, and exhaling through gently pursed lips. Now imagine your lower belly as a deep, powerful place. Feel your breath coming and going as your mind stays focused there. Inhale, feeling your entire belly, sides and lower back expand. Exhale, sighing again as you drop your chest, and feeling your belly, back and sides contract. Repeat 10 times, relaxing more fully each time.
Supplements
Take a natural supplement geared toward stress relief.? Look for supplements with all natural ingredients to enhance your ability to cope and combat physical, emotional and environmental stress.? Finding a good anti-stress supplement can be the beginning of the end of your stress and help reduce all the awful physical and mental side effects that stress can cause.