Do you lay awake at night letting worry eat away at you, or run around all day feeling highly stressed?
When we experience feelings of anger, stress, worry, guilt, anxiety and the like we flood our body with acids that damage our cells. In fact, Dr. Robert O. Young has found that negative emotions can have a more detrimental impact on the blood than eating even the worst of foods.
Stress can manifest physically and show up as tension, headaches, back pain, lack of concentration and lack of productivity. It weakens our immune system and makes us more susceptible to heart disease.
Here are some ways that you can de-stress naturally:
1. Develop an Attitude of Gratitude
Gratitude can have such a powerful impact on our mood and way of thinking and should be felt on a continuous basis–not just once every November. Aim to take a moment each day to reflect on at least one thing you are grateful for. Feeling stressed about your job? Be grateful that you have one. Worried about your daughter’s grades? Be grateful that she is getting an education.
2. Learn to Forgive and Forget
When we hold onto feelings of unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment, we are the ones who suffer. Letting go is not always easy, but can feel like a weight being lifted off of your shoulders. Who in your life do you need to forgive? What steps can you take today to get closer to forgiveness?
3. Become an Optimist
Pessimists often refer to themselves as “realists” and snub optimists, believing that they are living in a fantasyland and can’t possibly be that happy and naive. But we get what we put out into the world according to the law of attraction, so focusing on what you want instead of what you don’t want is the key. Remember, the only difference between a weed and a flower is a judgement. Even if you’ve lived your entire life as a pessimist, it’s never to late to change your way of thinking and feeling and experience growth.
4. Laugh a Little (Or A Lot)
We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine and that watching funny movies is a good way to de-stress. But did you know that laughter is powerful enough to even reverse diseases like cancer? Here are some other benefits of laughter:
- Improves mood, memory & sleep
- Boosts problem-solving ability and creativity
- Reduces anxiety and depression
- Bolsters immune system
- Raises pain tolerance
5. Get Moving
Exercise has long been linked to stress relief. Some of the easiest and best forms of exercising for relaxation are walking, stretching and yoga.
6. Just Breathe
There are many breathing exercises that you can try when you feel stressed or anxious and need to calm down. Inhale deeply and focus on your desired outcome or just the simple fact that you are filling your lungs with beneficial oxygen. Meditation is also very healing.
7. Cut the Crap
Try reducing sugar, caffeine, alcohol and simple carbohydrates from your diet in order to get back to a healthy balance. Processing these foods is very taxing on the body.
8. Connect with Nature
Something as simple as looking out the window when you are stressed or putting a vase of fresh flowers on your desk or kitchen table can do wonders to calm and relax you. If you have time to go for a hike or even just soak up a few minutes of direct sunlight and breathe fresh air you will feel revitalized.
9. Stay Hydrated
We are 70% water and when we are dehydrated everything from our mental focus to our energy levels is depleted. Because stress wears on our physical as well as mental body, staying hydrated can play a huge part in boosting mood and helping us to not run out of steam. Aim to drink a minimum of half your body weight in ounces daily, and drink filtered ionized alkaline water for best health.