Many gyms these days offer many ways of relieving stress, aside from your regular workouts. There are martial arts workouts that let you relieve stress by hitting and kicking bags. You have yoga classes as well. And many gyms like ClassPass have spas and even salons to help you relax and make you feel better.
Of course, we can feel some stress at any time, and we can’t always have time to leave work and get to the gym in the middle of the work day. If you’re feeling especially stressed, here are some ways to relieve the tension quickly and simply.
Take a Deep Breath
Sometimes this is all you need, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just stop, and then take a deep breath. When you’re stressed, you may be taking shallower breaths (which in turn adds to the stress). But deep breathing oxygenates your blood, clears your mind, and helps center your body.
- Here’s an easy exercise you can do in the office or at home. Sit up on your chair, with your hands on top of your knees while your feet are flat on the floor. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply. Focus on your lungs, and notice as they expand fully as you breathe in.
- You can also try to breathe in through your nose, and you count slowly up to three as you inhale. Hold that for a single second, and then slowly count to three again as you breathe out through your nose again.
Move Around
You don’t really need a half-hour workout to reduce stress. If you’ve been sitting at your desk for hours, then walk around the office. The effort helps to relieve stress, and it also helps when you change the scenery.
Even just standing up from your chair and stretching for a short break can be good for you. You’ll get your blood moving, and this will release endorphins that can lift up your mood right away.
Play Calm Music
When you take break, take a deep breath and then listening to some calming music. Plenty of websites offer really relaxing music. Other websites may even offer calming sound effects like ocean waves, rainfall, and other calming nature sounds.
Go to Your “Happy Place”
This is when you imagine that you’re in a place where you really can relax. It can be anywhere. Popular options include taking a walk in a forest, enjoying the bird calls and other nature sounds. Another common happy place is the beach, where you have the waves coming in, you smell the salty air, and there’s a nice cool breeze.
This can be effective if you take it seriously. Just close your eyes and imagine. What would you be seeing, hearing, smelling, and touching right now, if you’re there? Imagining these details really helps. Just a few minutes of this and you should feel a lot calmer.
Meditate
There are many different ways of meditating, and that’s true if you Google the topic. Some gyms even have meditation classes, where at least you have actual trained experts to help you get started.
You can try to close your eyes and take deep slow breaths, even as you mentally repeat a mantra in your mind. Another common meditation technique is to be mindful. Sit back, take a deep breath, and pay attention to what’s around you.
What are you seeing, and what details are you seeing now that you’re paying more attention? What are you hearing and smelling? As you find out the answers to these questions, you may find your stress levels going down.
Get A Hug from a Loved One
Go hug a close family member or a buddy. Hugging feels great, and there’s actually a scientific reason for this. When you hug someone, you’re releasing oxytocin. This is a hormone that’s associated with lower stress levels and higher happiness levels.
This even works when you hug your pet dog or cat. It’s probably one of the reasons why having a pet dog or cat helps a lot with anxiety and depression.
Aromatherapy
You can do this at home, or at work if you have your own office room. You can use an essential oil diffuser or light scented candles.
Try these scents:
- Lavender. The most popular option for relaxation.
- Sandalwood. It’s great at reducing stress levels.
- Clary sage. It’s a very calming scent, and it can help reduce cortisol levels.
- Orange. Many find this an excellent scent for meditation.
- Chamomile. This can help with anxiety, and also helps with sleep issues.
- Lemon. This is a natural mood lifter, and it helps with anxiety and sleep issues. It may also boost concentration and cognitive performance.
Final Words
True, you can enjoy some time in a sauna or get a massage to relieve stress. Even regular workouts will help. But take note of these tips so you can relieve stress when you’re at home or in the office.