BRC RECOVERY BLOG

Naturally Lower Your Stress Levels with These Five Easy Tricks

naturally lower your stress levels

When you are experiencing stress, you may be tempted to turn to an artificial solution. However, to stay safe and healthy, natural methods of managing your stress are much more helpful. You can naturally lower your stress levels with these five easy tricks.

The Stress Response

When you feel stress, it is your body’s instinctive reaction to either a real or perceived harmful situation. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to act in a way that is designed to prevent injury. This reaction is known as “fight-or-flight,” or the stress response.

During stress response, your heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises. Stress can affect all aspects of your life, including your emotions, behaviors, thinking ability, and physical health.

A little stress every now and then is not something to be concerned about. Ongoing, chronic stress, however, can cause or exacerbate many serious health problems. Stress is a part of life. What matters most is how you handle it. Try these five easy tricks to naturally lower your stress levels.

Exercise

Working out regularly is one of the best ways to relax your body and mind. Plus, exercise will improve your mood. But you have to do it often for it to pay off. You can start slowly but then work up to 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise each week, such as brisk walks, or 75 minutes of a more vigorous exercise each week, such as swimming laps, jogging, or other sports. Focus on setting fitness goals you can meet so you don’t give up and so you can feel accomplished when you reach those goals. Most of all, remember that doing any exercise is better than none at all.

Practice Mindfulness

When you practice mindfulness, it can lead to much less intense stress responses. Mindfulness is a state of intentional, nonjudgmental focus on the present moment. Mindfulness techniques are often incorporated into other practices, such as yoga or meditation and have many health benefits, such as lowering your blood pressure and strengthening your immune system.

Unplug

Worrying about email or social media posts or constantly checking the news can heighten your stress response. Most people in the US, 96%, now own a cellphone. In addition, about three-fourths of all US adults now own desktop or laptop computers, while roughly half now own tablet computers and roughly half own e-reader devices. Around seven in ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information, and entertain themselves.

When you want to naturally lower your stress levels, put the electronic device away and unplug for a while. Enjoy the peace and quiet that comes when you’re not responding to posts or messages.

Get Some Sleep

You may not be able to sleep well because you are stressed; however, lack of sleep is also a key cause of stress. This vicious cycle causes the brain and body to get out of whack and only gets worse with time. Take steps to ensure you get the doctor-recommended seven to eight hours of sleep. Turn the TV off earlier, put away the electronic device, dim the lights, and give yourself time to relax before going to bed. A good night’s sleep is one of the most effective ways to naturally lower your stress levels.

Take a Deep Breath

Stopping and taking a few deep breaths can take the pressure off you right away. Deep breathing oxygenates your blood, helps center your body, and clears your mind. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel once do it a few times. Just follow these 5 steps:

  • Sit in a comfortable position with your hands in your lap and your feet on the floor. Or you can lie down.
  • Close your eyes.
  • Imagine yourself in a relaxing place. It can be on the beach, in a beautiful field of grass, or anywhere that gives you a peaceful feeling.
  • Slowly take deep breaths in and out.
  • Do this for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

CONTACT BRC RECOVERY FOR HOLISTIC HEALING

At BRC Recovery, we focus on holistic wellness. We want you to learn how to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled in all areas of your life. Our treatment plans are centered on strengthening the mind, body, spirit connection so you can experience real recovery.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we offer a safe, clean environment so you can continue receiving the highest quality of care. To learn more about our services and to get the help you need, please call BRC Recovery at 1-866-291-2676 to speak to our team.

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