Yes, you guessed it. It’s that time again. Students of all ages are getting ready for more tests and exams. You may be finding it hard to cope with your own stressful daily activities without having the stresses of your child piling up on top of yours. So, how can you decrease stress without adding to your day?
Stress can have a seriously negative impact on your body. It reduces your ability to concentrate and plays havoc with your immune system. If nothing is done to relieve stress, you may find yourself feeling run-down, having flu-like symptoms and an increase in allergies. Work may become more stressful as you are unable to focus or think clearly. This can lead to strain in relationships and unnecessary conflict or confrontation with colleagues.
The most common signs of stress are;
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Stomach problems
- Memory loss
- Disrupted sleep
- Heart problems (increased risk of heart attacks)
- Illness (deficient immune system)
With so much going on in your life, you may feel that there is no way you can make time for yourself to relieve the stress you are under. Even if the seven signs of stress are more than familiar to you, you may have been dismissing them as part of getting older. The fact is, no matter how old we get, we do not have to accept these symptoms as part of life; they can be avoided and averted very easily.
We have some good news for you. We have found six ways for you to reduce your stress without stressing out about where to get the extra time.
- Prioritise your tasks – don’t try to do everything at once. Completing your To-Do list in one go will lead to less than acceptable results and burn out. Speak to one of our consultants today and find out more about how you can prioritise your tasks. To book your consultation click here.
- Take an extra five minutes in the bath or shower – it’s true just taking a few extra minutes in warm water will decrease your stress. Some like to call it a liquid hug. The sensation of warm water stimulates responses in the body very similar to those provided by physical and emotional warmth. Adding soothing essential oils to your routine will increase your level of relaxation. We recommend Youngevity Lavender oil, Be At Peace™, Comfort Touch™ or why not get a variety of sensations in their 8 essential oil blends kit
- Relax your muscles before bed – massage, meditation and yoga will definitely help with that. These practices do not have to take hours. Try guided meditation or yoga breathing exercises to help you unwind. Using essential oils along with your favourite moisturisers will promote deeper relaxation in the muscles and clear your mind.
- Meet friends in person – while texts, Facebook, tweets and other social media apps keep us informed of what’s going on, they take away the human connection we all need. Being in a physical location with a friend or loved one will relieve stress. Laughter pumps endorphins into the body. This is enhanced when in the company of those you love.
- Treat yourself – most will turn to food for this one. Be careful. Some foods can and will increase stress. However, for all you chocoholics out there, there are some forms of chocolate that are good for you. Try Youngevity’s Triple Treat or Beyond Hot Chocolate. Both of these chocolate goodies contain antioxidant rich cocoa and other ingredients which help boosts the immune system, relax the blood vessels and reduce high blood pressure.
- Drink more fluids – flushing toxins from the body will definitely relieve stress. There are several blends at your local supermarket but, we recommend using real herbal teas. So, either pick your own home grown leaves and make your own tinctures or, go to Simpson & Vail and choose the best blends for your needs. Their new Literary Tea Collection has had great press and personal reviews.
So, there you have it; six simple ways to reduce stress without having to make major changes to your schedule. Everyone can and should be able to live a stress free and productive life. All it takes is a few adjustments and even fewer excuses.
