10 Quick Stress Busters
Stress! Everyone seems to be so stressed these days!
Stress is incredibly bad for your health and too much stress can lead to long term problems. I know, I am currently healing my body from the effects of stress and fatigued adrenals.
I am going to write more about my adrenal fatigue journey and what is working for me, later down the track, but today I wanted to give you a few, very simple things you can do to alleviate daily stress, instantly.
Here are my 10 tips for you:
1. Breathe. Well yes, I know we breathe all the time, but deep, relaxing breaths? Make it a habit to have a breath break at work or at home. Sit or lie down and take ten very full breaths, right to the bottom of your lungs, hold it and then release.
2. The ‘Centering Button’. I recently came across this fabulous technique in a book called Your Personal Tuning Fork by Deborah K Bates. This very easy technique can be done anywhere, anytime and nobody will know you are doing it – very handy in meetings or when you are in a tight spot!
About 0.6cm (or quarter of an inch) behind your top teeth, place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth gently. This has the effect of being centred, strengthened and relaxed.
3. The ‘Stress Release Button.’ Also from Deborah’s book, this releases stress from the adrenal glands. Find the spot three finger widths below your navel and apply pressure. Hold for 30 seconds and then release on the outward breath.
4. Flower Essences. Australian Bushflower Essences work on the emotions and can quickly calm you down in a tense or upsetting situation. I don’t leave the house without a bottle of Help in my handbag.
5. Tense and Relax. This is a popular relaxation technique that I love doing. Most of us store a lot of tension in our bodies without realising it! You simply tense all your muscles that you can very tight, hold for a moment and then let everything go. Repeat as often as you like.
6. Essential Oils. I can’t live without my essential oils – many are wonderful stress relievers. A whiff of lavender can calm you down or go for a blend like Destress and Revive. It can change the way you feel within seconds!
7. Earthing. Get outside and take your shoes off, connect with the ground and soak up all the electrons. It will not only relieve stress, but it has a whole host of other benefits. Dr Mercola says “when you ground to the electron-enriched earth, an improved balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system occurs.” I also use an earthing sheet and mat.
8. Smile. Even if you don’t want to or don’t feel like it, do it anyway. The very act of smiling creates a lowered heart rate and more relaxation. They have even done studies on it!
9. Herbal Tea. Don’t reach for a coffee or caffeinated drink, this will only exacerbate the stress. Have a calming cup of herbal tea and watch the tension melt. A great one to try is Calming by Love Tea Organic.
10. Hug. Hugging is a powerful anti-stress reliever! “Austrian scientists discovered that the important hormone, oxytocin, was secreted into the bloodstream when a person hugged, or was hugged by, a trusted person. Oxytocin is produced by the pituitary gland, and its release can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve our memory.” Natural News.
So that’s my 10 quick stress busters! What do you do to relieve stress??
I don’t think 6cm is 1/4 inch…
thanks – it’s 0.6 cm, typo!! 🙂
Cool bananas, you just saved me from a sprained tongue!!
Love love love Pukka teas!
I am addicted Jules! x
Simple things can make all the difference can’t they? Especially when practiced consistently.
Coming back to my breathing and slowing it down is my go to stress prevention practice, as well as tapping and I do like my cuddles 🙂
Yes, the tapping is fantastic. Trying to get NNAD to do a blog post for me – it’s a powerful tool!
I think stress is something that is becoming more and more important, and something we really need to work on. Managing stress and the whole concept of mental wellbeing has become a real focus of mine lately. I don’t think we pay enough attention to it!
Oh, the power of essential oils!
Stress is like a globabl epidemic! It’s always mind, body and soul for optimum wellness. xx
May I add, go to bed early? It is so tempting to stay up as mum of small children as is only time is quiet and can be alone….but it definitely increases stress levels for me if I go to bed too late. By which I mean, any time after 9pm is very late lol. Which is now. Night night! Off to spray my lavender 🙂 xx
You are so right Pam – I fell into this trap. I felt I needed lots of quiet time and would often stay up late! Trying to be in bed before 10pm most nights!
Apart from the Chamomile tea which I cannot have on a fodmap diet, all these ideas are very helpful. Yoga and meditation, gardening, and walks on the beach all do it for me.
gardening is a great one as you are connecting with the earth! xx
Great list! I need to work on this more! Pinning!
Thanks Renee x
Great list. So practical and helpful. I also love Rescue Remedy.
Yes, Rescue Remedy is similar to Emergency Essence, but I find I resonate better with EE as it’s Australian bushflowers 🙂
Great tips especially the mentions about earthing, hugging, and the first one – breathing. When we are adamant about deep breaths they can do so much for our immune system! Pinned. =)
it’s such a powerful tool to wellness 🙂
Thanks! I always need more tips for stress relief, it is especially important for me as I am trying to heal an autoimmune disease that is very sensitive to stress.
me too Samantha – it really is so important! take care x
Love it! So important to slow down and take care of ourselves in this over-stressed world!
Self-care is an often overlooked necessity – especially if you are a mum!
Someone told me today that if you put a pen in between your front teeth, it tricks your brain into thinking you are smiling…are smiles really that card to come by these days? Love this post Sonia x
Love these! Especially love earthing lately.
What an excellent list of de-stress tools. I will definitely share this with my readers!
What works for me is reducing the stress to begin with rather than just focusing on ways of coping with my stress levels: simplifying my life, learning to say no, accepting what I can and can’t cope with and trying to live life at a slower pace 🙂
Fabulous list Sonia. I regularly use a lot of these. Some pats of the dog and lapping up his unconditional love is also a quick calmer 🙂
Oh yes, that’s true! I always find patting our little dashy is nice and calming 🙂
Hi Sonia, How are you feeling these days? Wondering if you did a follow up blog to this about Adrenal Fatigue?