It seems that pretty much everybody is under stress right now. Heck, even those meditation gurus who are writing self-help books are probably popping pills to keep their cool.
And while the world is spinning faster and faster, we’re all just trying to keep up and get ahead.
But that can a heavy toll: stress-releated illness is at an all-time high.
You need some downtime. You need to keep your life in balance. You need to recharge your batteries every once in a while.
But where to find the time to relax?
After all, you’ve already got enough on your plate. Maybe your to-do list is longer than a Harry Potter novel, and your schedule already bursting at the seams.
Here are five ways to calm down faster. Simple relaxation hacks that you can incorporate into your everyday life, without losing more time.
On Hold Time
Are there times in your day where you are basically just waiting for something? I’m sure there are. Maybe it’s a traffic jam, waiting for the bus, waiting while on hold at the phone, waiting in line… it’s just part of everyday life, and it can be a major source of stress, especially if you’re already squeezed for time.
But the thing is: you have the power to turn this thing around. You can use these times as an opportunity to calm down and feel grounded.
Don’t think: When’s that light going to turn green?! When is someone going to answer my call?! When is that bus coming?! Why does that person have to pay his $3 potato chips with credit card?!
Instead, think: Ah, a nice opportunity to take a couple of deep breaths and relax! Oh, I’m just going to relax my shoulders and neck and arms for a minute here and really allow that relaxation to spread throughout my body.
Belly Breathing
When we’re stressed out, we tend to develop a pretty flat and shallow breathing pattern. That prevents our lungs from supplying our bodies and brains with lots of healthy oxygen.
So simply make a habit to regularly remind yourself: Hey, breathe deeply, breathe fully, breathe relaxed… Even while you’re reading something (like this text) you can simply breathe more consciously and fully, and it will lower the amount of stress hormones in your body and help you to be more relaxed and energized.
Super Smiles
Believe it or not, but smiling at others actually has physiological effects on your body. It changes your hormones for the positive and makes you feel relaxed.
Gratitude
Gratitude is another of those simple things you can do in your mind to change your body for the better. When you feel grateful, your brain causes your body to pour out “happy hormones”.
Take a moment and think of 5 people who you feel grateful for. You can do that while driving somewhere, while being in an elevator or wherever.
Hypnosis
You can listen to a relaxing self-hypnosis download that will help you to really relief all the stress in your mind and body. And you can do it while going to sleep, just listening to it in bed when your brain is already shutting down. You don’t need to be listening consiously to it. Just try one of these relaxing and stress-busting self-hypnosis downloads.
