There are numerous ways to reduce stress naturally, much needed in today's world. As a mother, family and friends are very high on my list. But, there there are many other natural options, some of which you may not have tried before. Yoga, Tai Chi and sport may not be something you are accustomed to doing each day. Exercise is always a great stress reliever, and there are even simpler natural remedies to relieve stress. Here is a checklist of items that can be easily done most days.
Time Outs with Family and Friends
There is no wiser investment than spending quality time with family and friends. The idea of family is not just individuals living under one roof, but being connected and sharing the good, and sometimes the bad times with each other. There is an old Swedish proverb that says, "Shared joy is double the joy, shared sorrow is half the sorrow". Nobody knows you like your family and this makes family a great source of safety and comfort. While family is not always perfect building the family bonds is important to help keep you balanced, particularly during times of stress.
Early to Bed
Early to bed, early to rise. The expression fits well into a balanced day though its more about the controlled sleeping patterns. It’s not a good thing to have only a few hours of sleep each night. Have a good night’s sleep; 7 hours each night fits well into a stress relieving pattern.
Limit Caffeine
Don’t drink vast amounts of caffeine as this disrupts your daily balance. If you are prone to drinking too much caffeine, try cutting down and fit some decaffeinated coffee and tea into your day. Yes, caffeine gives you a burst of energy to enable you to feel more alert but the effect is short.
Consume Fruits and Vegetables
Eat lots of fruit, get the needed daily vitamins. Apples and bananas are very healthy supplements as part of your daily food intake. Bananas are not fattening and apples help the immune system. Don’t eat too much processed food; concentrate on drinking and eating the required vitamins.
Minimize Salt
Salt raises your blood pressure, so keep an eye on salty foods being consumed. Higher blood pressure will contribute to your stress levels. Balance your sodium intake with potassium rich foods like sweet potatoes, potatoes, greens, tomatoes and lower-sodium tomato sauce, white beans, kidney beans, nonfat yogurt, oranges, bananas and cantaloupe. Potassium helps counter the effects of sodium and may help lower your blood pressure.
Add Laughter
Look back over the past week at the positive aspects that made you feel good. Did something occur that attracted an experience of joy and laughter? Send some time focusing on that moment as it will allow you to attract good feelings into your mind and smother any negative impact from the day.
Boost Antioxidants
If you must reach for pharmaceuticals, try some antioxidants. Speak to your local pharmacist initially about remedies to relieve stress. There are various remedies that protect you from heart disease and lower your blood pressure.
Healthy Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars
Take an Afternoon Nap
Afternoon naps can help. If you work from home, or are on the road a lot, find times in the day to relax this way. This is particularly effective if you tend to work irregular hours. This will make you feel more rested and generally more willing to face the day ahead.
Enforce these remedies to relieve stress each day to keep a healthy body and mind. Set a time that is convenient to perform the tasks, and stick to a schedule that works around your other daily commitments.
Don’t let stress control you. If you do feel stressed try some of these simple activities to destress.
