Most of us take stress in our stride… or at least we think we do. We accept it as part of the fabric of our lives, jobs and careers. We experience it virtually everywhere from the car to the boardroom to the shopping centre. And indeed, it’s not always bad. In the right dosage, a little stress can actually help to bring out the best in ourselves in and out of work. Stress can be a powerful motivator and allow us to rise to life’s challenges with grace and aplomb.
But while stress isn’t always resoundingly negative, it adds up little by little, day by day. Its effect on us is cumulative like a boiler that keeps building and building in pressure. And if you don’t know where to reach for the release valve, you will find that it blows up.
It can cause you to erupt and lose your temper with your loved ones. What’s more, it can result in some serious long term health problems. Stress triggers the body’s inflammatory response which has been linked to a range of major health problems from depression and digestive trouble to heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.
To help win the battle against stress so that you only experience the positives, it’s important to know where to look for the most effective release valves.
The gym
There’s no getting around it. Exercise is one of the best stress busters there is. Whatever stress accumulates through the working day (or when the kids have decided they’re not going to make it easy on you) you can work it out in the gym. Exercise floods your brain with endorphins while also helping you to feel confident and empowered. Of course, getting the time to work out isn’t always easy. If you struggle to find time in the day, try setting your alarm for 5 am and going for an early morning workout or jog. It’s a great way to start your day!
Your friends
Even though we have more means to communicate with our friends than ever, we can still feel more isolated when we communicate with friends through the prism of social media. There’s something seriously underrated about humble honest-to-goodness telephones. Calling a friend up for a nice long chat (or better yet, making time to catch up in person) can help all your stress just melt away.
The park
Nature is a natural mood booster and stress reliever which is why you’ll find that so many offices are filled with indoor plants and (where possible) access to natural light and views of nature. Even something as simple as a walk in the park can be an effective natural way to relieve stress. Just remember to take a bag of oats and some seeds for the ducks (much healthier for them than bread).
Your fridge
Finally, your fridge can also help you to combat stress, so long as you fill it with the right stress-busting foods. Leafy greens, nuts and seeds, tomatoes, herbal teas, dark chocolate and other antioxidant-rich foods are all natural stress relievers. By rule of thumb, eat more plants and less processed foods and you can’t go far wrong.
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