Positive Ways to Relieve Stress

From LoveToKnow Stress

There are dozens of positive ways to relieve stress, aside from breathing exercises. If you're willing to try new and effective ways to relieve your stress, consider these popular ways to lower blood pressure and bolster a positive attitude.

Meditation calms nerves.

Meditation

Meditation is one of the most effective and positive ways to relieve stress. The best way to meditate is to find a quiet place to sit down and close your eyes. There are many types of meditation, but the basic idea is to clear your mind. One way to do this for those who are just beginning meditation exercises is to use meditation CDs or a sound machine that has several settings, such as white noise, waterfall, and evening sounds. Meditation should be done for a minimum of five minutes to be effective.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is a new way to help people deal with stress in their everyday lives. Music therapy may involve simply playing certain types of music that help people relax, using music with other art techniques, such as painting, or using music with movement exercise.

Take a Walk

Most everyone can find time to take a walk for a few minutes a day, even while at work. Some businesses have areas where people can walk, both indoors and out. The simple act of just walking away from a desk for five to ten minutes once or twice a day can help to alleviate stress. Taking a walk helps to clear the mind and reduce muscle tension that occurs during the course of a stressful day.

Work in a Garden

There is something to be said about planting and caring for a garden. It helps people get in touch with the earth; something many people don't do anymore after they are too old to play in a sandbox. There is therapeutic value in nurturing living things and it is easy to forget problems when you're caring for seedlings and plants in a garden.

Reduce Caffeine

For some, the simple act of reducing caffeine in the diet can go a long way towards reducing stress and high blood pressure. Caffeine increases blood pressure because it is a stimulant. When your body becomes over-stimulated it can lead to confusion and anger. Don't try to quit your coffee or other caffeinated beverage intake cold turkey because you could end up with a stress headache. Instead, slowly wean yourself from the substance until you're only drinking one or two caffeinated beverages each day. You'll soon realize that you don't need caffeine in order to function.

Proper Diet

Eating a balanced diet can go a long way to reduce stress. Certain foods will fill you up and bog you down, making you feel lethargic and unable to accomplish goals and simple daily activities. For some, this leads to an over-consumption of caffeine. Instead of reaching for snack foods and caffeine, try changing your diet. Include more fruits and vegetables, especially in the morning. Eat a light, well-balanced lunch and dinner full of whole grains, a small amount of protein and vegetables. Within a week, you'll start to feel better and have more energy.

Plan Ahead

How many times have you been upset with yourself or a family member because they have procrastinated? Perhaps you have been left holding the bag (think making two dozen cup cakes for school late at night before a bake sale) or maybe you have a business presentation that you waited until the last minute to pull together. Planning ahead can help you to reduce the stress that will occur when things are left to the last minute.

Assertive Communication

Sometimes we should say "no," even when we want to help other people out. Take control of your life and be assertive, even if it means disappointing someone. If you always say "yes," people will begin to assume that you'll always bail them out.

For example, if you have a child who neglected to tell you that he needed cupcakes the next morning; don't break your neck making the cupcakes. Be assertive and let your child know that you don't have the time to make them and that he needs to let you know in advance when cupcakes are needed. In the future, the child will remember to give you advance warning.