Great Ways to Relieve Stress

Disclaimer: I am not a health care professional. Please seek the advice of your doctor before you change your diet, exercise program, or make any other lifestyle change.

Stress is the number one contributing risk factor of heart disease, according to the Texas Heart Institute. Yes, there are other risk factors, but stress takes the risk of heart disease to a higher level of danger. Stress also causes or exacerbates mental health diseases. It is a major cause for a virus lying dormant to become active leaving you sick...again.

The world is full of stress; all of us experience it on a regular basis. Some stress is actually healthy; motivating us to strive for better results. A friendly competition and using ambition to further your career are examples of healthy stress. It’s the day to day stress that we need to release in order to become and stay healthy both mentally and physically. There are several healthy ways to release stress outlined below.

5 Great Ways to Reduce Stress

Anger and frustration cause stress. Arguments at home or work cause stress. Feeling unheard or ignored also builds stress. Well, there are several ways to burn off that excess energy. When you feel as though you want to punch someone, try one of the following activities:

• Running
• Dancing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• baseball/softball
• Wii games are great for expelling negative energy! (My favorite is Wii boxing. It thrills me to beat someone up without hurting anyone. It feels good and nobody gets hurt.)

If you don’t feel the need to release pent up aggression, maybe something more serene and relaxing will help you to rejuvenate your mind and body preparing you for the next day’s adventures. I suggest the following list of things that can be done after a stressful day:

• Hot baths
• Aesthetically pleasing scenery like mountains, lakes or beaches (even If they are posters or images on your computer)
• Massages
• Sleeping in
• Reading a good book
• Love making
• Incense or scented candles/aromatherapy
• Taking a creative class in ceramics, crafts, sewing, crochet, etc.

It is proven that meditation and prayer on a regular basis lower your stress level. Some helpful activities may be:

• Spending quiet time with the Lord, alone and clearing the mind
• Yoga
• Listening to calming music
• Napping
• Stretching exercises
• Deep breathing exercises
• Long quiet walks in the woods or on the beach alone, again clearing the mind

Spending quality time with loved ones can release endorphins in the brain that leave you feeling euphoric and relaxed. Friends and family often provide:

• Laughter
• Reminiscing through photo albums and stories
• Playing board games or funny games like twister
• Baking or cooking meals together can make new memories

Often we return from vacation more exhausted than we were before we left home. I don’t recommend vacationing as a stress reliever. When you consider packing and unpacking, travel delays and expenses, vacation can be quite stressful.

Vacations are for fun, but not to relieve stress. If you feel the need to get away to relax, choose a place where limited work and planning are involved. For example, stay in a local hotel and enjoy the amenities. There are no time frames, no travel expenses and you can enjoy the spa, pool, lounge and restaurant at your leisure. Or maybe go on a couples retreat through your local church.

Whatever you decide to do, whether it be on a daily basis, monthly or annually, be sure that stress reduction is the primary goal. You will feel better and live a longer, high quality life.

Thank you for your interest in my writing. As always, I hope you have enjoyed the read and found it to be enlightening and entertaining. Please feel free to leave a comment.

"Be kind to one another" ~ Ellen

God Bless You ~ Margaret Sullivan