Very often, during a busy day or week, it feels like there is no time to catch your breath or connect with your inner self. Your muscles are tense, your breathing is shallow, and you think there is nothing else you can take on. Do you know that feeling? In the UK, 74% of respondents took part in a stress survey and admitted to being overwhelmed. Most were unable to cope with all the challenges their daily lives brought. They also acknowledged adopting unhealthy practices (such as smoking, drinking, and eating junk food) as a coping mechanism. If this all sounds a bit too familiar to you, let’s take a look at four alternative ways to unwind after a stressful day.
- Deep breathing exercises
You may have noticed that as you get stressed out, your anxiety and pulse rises, causing your breathing to become short and rapid. Otherwise known as hyperventilation, it has the potential to cause panic attacks in people who are prone to them. Therefore, after a stressful day, dedicate time to meditation, yoga, and other healthy controlled deep breathing exercises. To calm your nerves, take deep, slow, and measured breaths – filling deep into your abdomen and not remaining shallow in your rib cage. Continuous practise will bring you welcome relief from stress whenever and wherever you need it.
- Take some green tea
Scientific study shows that green tea has immense benefits on the body, whether it is to lose weight or treat specific conditions. But did you know it helps you to de-stress? It contains a healthy chemical called L-Theanine, a unique amino acid found in tea and a few mushrooms. Green tea, however, has a higher concentration of it, which acts as a brain stimulant. It shuts down the ‘worrying’ parts of the brain and induces calmness without causing drowsiness.
- Take a long warm soak
Your skin releases endorphins in response to a soothing hot or warm bath – and when your skin feels the warmth of the sun. Immersing yourself in a hot tub is therapeutic and reinvigorates your sore muscles, cells, and increases blood flow to all organs, including your skin. The pressure of water on your chest and increased temperature of the hot tub intensify your lungs’ capacity to take in more oxygen. So if you’ve got the outdoor space, why not consider investing in quality H2O Hot Tubs and make it a more regular relaxation routine.
- Get some more sleep
You may have underestimated the power of sleep and its significant impact on your general wellbeing. Admittedly, stress impacts your ability to sleep. However, without steps to overcome it, you may be causing further harm to your body. So how can you induce sleep? After a stressful day, and perhaps after soaking in a hot tub, your brain gets primed up to sleep. Better yet, listen to some soothing music of your choice, shut your windows or blinds, and make your bedroom one ready to sleep in. A dark room increases the production of the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin.
You can never avoid getting stressed but how you handle it determines your ability to overcome its harmful effects. Remember that your unwinding routine may differ from the next person, so try to explore as many options as possible. The earlier you start your unwinding process, the less stressed you would be.