Stress has become a common part of working life. In a survey, nearly 1 in 3 adults reported experiencing extreme stress due to work, financial difficulties, and other issues.
Stress may lead to a myriad of illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, and Alzheimer’s. It can also negatively impact your quality of life.
As a regular employee, how can you decompress after a busy day at the office? Here are a few suggestions:
Get a Massage
You sat in front of your computer all day. As a result, your back or shoulders are now aching.
A massage, whether done by a professional or using an Osaki massage chair, can offer relief. This non-invasive process works by relaxing tense muscles and, therefore, reducing nerve compression. It also improves blood circulation, especially in the affected area, which promotes a better delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells, helping them recuperate faster.
In addition, a massage slows your heart and breathing rate, your blood pressure goes down, and you release more serotonin — a.k.a. the happiness hormone. In short, it boosts your mood, too.
Get Off of the Couch and Start Sweating
If you want to clear your mind of all stressors, exercising is a great way to do it.
First, you forget the problems that you have to face when you exercise. You will be forced to focus on pushing your body’s physical limitations and become stronger.
Exercise has also been scientifically proven to lower the body’s levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress, and adrenaline, which is responsible for your fight-or-flight response. In addition, it releases endorphins, the chemicals in the brain that serves as a natural painkiller and mood booster.
Aerobic exercises, in particular, are great in calming the body and mind. However, any kind of sports can provide you the solitude you need to reinvigorate yourself or have fun with friends/teammates.
Start Meditating
Meditation is an ancient practice. However, do not make the mistake of dismissing it as “woo woo wellness.” Studies have been done to prove its benefits.
In one paper, researchers found evidence that practicing meditation consistently lessened the participants’ physiological and psychological responses to stress. They become more resilient to stressors.
It works by dampening the activity of the amygdala and increasing its connection to the prefrontal cortex. This makes you less reactive to stressors and allows you to recover faster when you face stressful situations.
In addition, meditation improves your overall mental health, especially when done alongside regular exercise and therapy.
Eat Your Favorite Food
A good meal will feel like a reward after working hard at the office. A delicious dinner, whether you prepared it yourself or you ordered it from a restaurant, will relax you by boosting your levels of serotonin, a chemical in your brain that calms you down. Carbohydrates, in particular, push your brain to make more serotonin.
Other food can lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Drinking black tea, for example, calms you down and helps you recover from stressful situations more quickly.
However, do not overdo it. Many people tend to eat more unhealthy food when they are stressed. Try to munch on complex carbs or healthy snacks to prevent yourself from creating bad eating habits that may lead to a slew of other problems.
Take a Hot Bath
When all else fails, take a hot bath. Soaking in warm water will instantly relax and reinvigorate your body and mind. Let your mind wander and your stress to melt away.
It works by lowering your blood pressure and improving blood circulation throughout your body. The best part is, after your bath, you will be able to immediately fall asleep.
These are only suggestions to manage stress at home. If you want to stop being stressed, you need to approach the problem you are experiencing head-on and make changes that will make you happy.
