10 ways to de-stress

Stress filters in to the mind, body and soul through many different channels. It can feel like a constant dripping, or even a giant wave thrusting upon your soul, taking you deep into murky waters. So what can you do to calm the waves? Here are some great tips....

Stress can knock us down like a powerful wave and shatter our emotional calm.

1.

Use rational thinking versus irrational thinking.

When stress waves hit, rather than use catastrophic thinking, apply rational thought. Look at the evidence presented to you, and ask yourself how big the problem is on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is of little importance and 10 is of significant importance. Doing this exercise will help you put the issue into realistic perspective. Try to think of a time when you experienced a similar situation and practice the skills and competencies you developed to solve the problem back then. Most people tend to think the worst when a problem arises, however, we can use problems to improve our critical thinking skills, and problem-solving ability. Problems also provide opportunities to improve decision-making, so get the most out of your issues because they will improve your intellect in the long-term.

2.

If the problem feels overwhelming, break it down into smaller, more manageable parts.

Often a problem can feel gigantic in nature but if we break it down into parts, we can often find solutions that can lessen the impact of a giant wave. Breaking issues down into parts makes problem-solving more manageable and allows us the belief that we can tackle whatever comes our way. By solving one part of an issue, we might be able to reduce the effects of other parts of the issue.

Break problems down into smaller more manageable parts.

3.

Share the problem with a friend, colleague, or professional counsellor.

So many times we wallow in our own wave of suffering. This can lead us to feeling helpless and overwhelmed. If we open up and share our insecurities with others this may bring us comfort, courage, and much needed support. Sharing our concerns with a trusted other can help relieve some of the tension we are experiencing. We may also gain important knowledge and insight from individuals who have had similar experiences. Wisdom is a great resource that can be shared for free, so if in doubt, consult with others.

A problem shared is a problem halved.

4.

Take time out for yourself, away from all distractions, social media, and societal triggers.

Society can be severely damaging to our psychic core. It can hurt our souls in irreparable ways and damage our spiritual selves beyond repair. So often we are caught up with societal standards and protocol which often go against our true human nature. Taking time out for ourselves and simply being human allows us to reset our intuitive selves and remember our spiritual path. We are human beings, and as such, we are free to experience life and nature in equilateral ways. Society's expectations dim our purpose, so when we are stressed, taking time out to reconnect with our humanness and accept that we are full, embodied beings of flesh and blood can help us detoxify the restrictions that social constructs impede upon us. When you're feeling stressed, remove yourself from society - including social media, for just one minute, one hour, or one day, and you will feel immediate refreshment as a human being.

Take time out from social media and social pressures.

5.

Treat your energy as sacred.

We are all energetic beings. We each carry energy within our souls, and we express our energy to the world, and equally receive energy from our environment. Stress is the negative energy we pick up from others and our environment. A great way to relieve ourselves of this negative energy is to channel its release through creativity. Being creative allows us to express positive emotions which help to counteract negative thoughts and feelings brought on by stress. We each mobilize creativity in different ways, so whether you enjoy, music or art, gardening or DIY, painting or hiking, dancing or yoga, daily creativity is an effective process for reducing negative vibes.

Reiki Healing can also help alleviate tension and negative energy in the body. This alternative therapy has been practiced over centuries to help calm the moods of many, so it may be worth a try to help keep your energy sacred and intact.

Reiki Healing can alleviate negative energy.

6.

Engage in regular self-care.

We've all heard the phrase "self-care" but what does it actually mean and how does it reduce stress? Well, self-care is a process whereby we give love and compassion to ourselves. It's a necessary form of human and spiritual love which allows us to ground ourselves and function better. When we give ourselves self-care we honour our mind, body, and soul unconditionally; we forgive ourselves for our deficits and flaws, and accept who we really are as individuals. This process helps remove negative stigmas placed on us by society, and enables us to feel more in control of ourselves. Self-care is anything healthy you do to feel good. For women this may be going to a spa, getting your hair done, or having date-night with your partner. For men, self-care may be playing sports, taking on a new project, or watching a movie with your buddies. Self-care also means paying attention to your lifestyle habits, and making sure you eat properly, get adequate rest, and exercise regularly, but don't stress yourself out if you can't meet this expectation every day! As human beings we are all imperfect, and therefore will always be striving to be the best we can. It's useful to set up a self-care diary so that you can monitor the love and compassion you are giving to yourself each week. When our love tanks are empty, we are likely to feel depleted and worn out. Such symptoms are indicators that we need to refuel and positively energize ourselves. Giving ourselves self-care empowers us, and enables us to better balance any stress that comes our way.

Healthy eating, adequate rest, and regular exercise are all part of self-care.

7.

Connect with relevant resources.

In today's world, stress is everywhere, particularly with the presence of Covid-19 on our doorsteps. However, there are numerous resources available to help ease our worries. Most communities offer specialized services to the public, it's just a case of getting referred, which you can do through your family physician, or you can register at a walk-in clinic. Professional counsellors and therapists are also available via private practice venues. Receiving regular therapy is one way to detox your mind, body, and spirit, and relieve yourself of stress.

Other resources such as internet websites, books, and pamphlets, are easily accessible. If you don't have access to a laptop, then inquire at your local library or community universities to determine if IT services are available.

Countering stress and anxiety can be achieved through attending individual therapy, and specialized workshops and group therapy. There are many different types of therapy available. If you're feeling the effects of stress as a result of experiencing trauma, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Observed Experiential Integration (OEI) are very useful therapies, while Complicated Grief Therapy is an effective remedy for individuals experiencing tension due to complicated grief. Different therapies work for different people, so if something does not work for you, try something else.

Often, pharmacotherapy is an effective form of relieving stress and anxiety. In today's pharmaceutical world, there are numerous prescriptive medications available for improving our mind, body, and soul. Drugs such as Sertraline, and Fluoxetine, are common antidepressants prescribed for people experiencing depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. Your family doctor will be able to discuss whether pharmacotherapy is the best option for you.

If you're not into taking prescriptive medication, natural remedies such as hypnosis, and acupuncture are also helpful activities for reducing stress.

8.

Find a quiet place in nature and connect with the surroundings.

One of the most calming activities for reducing stress is to connect with nature. Find a place that is free from other people and simply touch the natural surroundings such as grass, tree bark, flowers, water, sand, and rocks. Nature is natural beauty at its best, so when we connect with this type of environment, it can bring a sense of instant calm into our world. If you're able, take off your socks and shoes to allow nature's energy to penetrate your feet. Not only do our feet house many different nerves, but they are the grounding pillars of the body, and they carry all the weight contained in our mind, body, and soul. Allowing our tootsies time to connect with nature, is a soothing and healing experience, and will surely help you relieve stress.

Connect with nature.

9.

Find humour in life.

As the old saying goes "laughter is the best medicine." Laughing is a physiological process that stimulates the release of endorphins - the body's feel-good chemicals. When we laugh we improve our immune system, boost our emotional well-being, and reduce stress. Laughing with others also brings us human and emotional connection, and helps us overcome difference. When we are angry, laughter can help shift our consciousness into a more comfortable state, and help us replace resentment with forgiveness. Finding the funny side of things is not a difficult task, and it's an approach that is free to us all. If we practice humour on a daily basis, we are going to feel better every day.

Laugh every day.

10.

Be a child and have fun.

One of the best ways to relieve stress is to have fun. Having fun, connects us to the child spirit within, which is always present in our consciousness. According to the theory of Transactional Analysis, we each have ego states that reflect our states of mind and emotions, and we carry these ego states into our relationships. One particular ego state is the"child." When we enter into a child ego state we automatically bring forth a personality that is playful, vulnerable, and open. Allowing ourselves to be kids again can help us experience the richness of life from a happy stance. Being a free-spirited child once in a while, will allow you to let go of the burdens and pressures of living in the adult world, so go ahead - sing, dance, play, and have fun!

Have fun.

#Happy#Healthy#Having fun