With a myriad of things like work obligations, relationships, and errands calling for your attention every day, you may find yourself stretched thin. While a fair amount of stress can push you to be productive, too much stress can paralyze you, keeping you from completing even simple tasks. Learning to relax when you are stressed is essential to having a healthy, productive lifestyle.
Listen to Calming Music
Although music is typically only experienced through one of the five senses, hearing, it has great effects on the entire human body. Your heart rate correlates directly with the tempo of the music you listen to—upbeat music quickens your heart rate, while calming music slows your heart rate. Slowing your heart rate is an effective way to combat stress and anxiety. Have you ever had a song or jingle stuck in your head for a long time? Consistently listening to calming music may cause you to remember these soothing tones instead of more upbeat songs, slowing your heart rate and combatting stress even when you are not necessarily listening to music.
Spend Some Time in a Hot Tub
When you are stressed, your muscles often tense up, causing uncomfortable aches throughout the day that can persist late into the night. Hot tubs can reduce your insomnia and help you unwind after a long day. Soaking in a hot tub will help you relax your tense muscles and prepare your body for a restorative night’s sleep.
Talk to a Friend
Sometimes the most stressful thing about a situation is being overwhelmed by your thoughts or responsibilities and not knowing where to start. In these cases, it can be very helpful to talk to a trusted friend to unload these debilitating feelings. In the process of explaining your situation to another person, you may come across a solution you didn’t notice before. Talking to a friend who knows your strengths and weaknesses can also help you realize you are capable of handling a stressful situation.
Stress is becoming an increasingly common part of everyday life, and it has many negative effects on productivity, physical and mental health, and quality of life. While it may seem counterintuitive to spend time relaxing instead of on the stressful task at hand, resting your mind and body is essential to performing anything well. There are many different ways to relax, and finding what works for you will greatly reduce your stress.
Check out this article on 5 ways to improve and maintain your mental health this year!