3 Tips to Managing Your Stress Levels
Don’t let stress and anxiety take over your life. Use our three handy hints in your daily routine to reduce your stress levels and bring feelings of happiness back into your world.
Stress is a natural human emotion. However, some people struggle more than others to keep stress at manageable levels. Whilst completely normal, prolonged or extreme periods of feeling anxious can have negative effects, both physically and emotionally. Fear not, there are proven methods to help with stress management. Here are our top tips to handling stress!
- BREATH IN
People may laugh at this suggestion because breathing is an innate, unavoidable part of our lives every couple of seconds. However, many of us are unaware of how a few long, deep, slow breaths can help in alleviating feelings of anxiety. When we are stressed, our breathing patterns change, and we are likely to take shorter, sharper breaths from the chest rather than longer inhalations from the diaphragm. These shorter breaths can prolong the period of anxiety. Conversely, when a person is calm, they breathe through their nose in a slower and gentler way. Deliberately mimicking a comfortable breathing pattern seems to calm the nervous system that controls the body’s involuntary functions.[i]
- EXERCISE
Exercising naturally releases endorphins, which leads to feelings of happiness. This simple fact explains why people who regularly play sport or workout are more likely to feel calm and well. Not only this but exercising also has the benefit of acting like a natural form of meditation. When we are breaking a sweat our body and mind become focused on the task at hand, which can alleviate our mind’s concern for our daily stressors. How many of us have gone for a long run, only to forgot what was stressing us throughout the work day? Exercising is a great way to keep feelings of stress and sadness at bay.
- EAT A WELL BALANCED, NUTRIENT-RICH DIET
A nutritious diet is vital to maintaining physical and psychological health. When people consume a steady supply of nutrients like essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, amino acids, probiotics, prebiotics and antioxidants, it assists our brain in handling stress. We feel more energised and well when we are eating a balanced diet, high in nutrients, which is a great way to battle feelings of anxiety and / or stress. If you think your diet is lacking, our Vital All-In-One high nutrient supplements can assist in filling the gap of your dietary needs. On top of this, drinking lots of water and living a healthy lifestyle will help. Conversely, it is wise to avoid caffeine and alcohol, both are stimulants which can lead to dehydration, increased heart rates and you guessed it, feeling stressed.
It is important to remember stress is a natural feeling that all people experience at some point in their lives. Equally, when feelings of stress or anxiety are extreme or prolonged it is important to acknowledge and take steps to minimise the detrimental effects. Living a healthy lifestyle, which includes taking care of oneself mentally and physically, can help to alleviate stress.
If you want to add everyday supplement powders into to your diet, find out more about our Vital All-In-One and Vital Protein products today.
[i] https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breathing-to-reduce-stress