Stress is a natural response from our bodies to protect us when it perceives that we’re in a dangerous situation, and it’s something that would have kept our ancestors safe from the many dangers that they faced.
But in today’s world, stress has become an almost-every day occurrence – from the work that we do, bills we need to pay, and a million other worries, our stress levels have never been higher, and it’s simply not good for us.
Fortunately, there are a number of different ways of reducing stress – many of these are simple and straightforward and can be done in a few minutes, while others are long-term and require some commitment.
1. Exercise
Collectively, humans don’t get nearly as much exercise as we’re meant to on a daily basis.
Our bodies are designed to constantly be moving, but with our modern era of office jobs and computer games, we’re getting less exercise than ever before, and it’s contributing to our skyrocketing stress levels.
Some of the key areas that exercise can help include the quality of our sleep, the amount of confidence we have, and how many stress hormones our body is producing. More exercise leads to an overall better life for us.
2. Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant most often found in teas, chocolates, and coffee, and while small amounts of caffeine have found to have some benefits, it’s easy enough to begin abusing it, which is when it begins to cause us problems.
Caffeine addiction is a real problem that many millions of people unknowingly suffer from, and it’s been linked to higher levels of anxiety and stress.
Cutting back, or even completely cutting caffeine out of your diet can lead to dramatic improvements in stress levels, although some may still have to first battle through caffeine withdrawal.
3. Nicotine and Alcohol
Nicotine is the addictive chemical that smokers become reliant on over time, and while many swear that a cigarette calms them down, in reality it’s doing incredible amounts of chemical and physical damage to our body and our brain, and it’s something that everyone needs to try and cut down on as much as possible.
Similarly, alcohol is almost as addictive, and causes many of the same problems – and has been shown to increase stress levels over time.
4. Avoiding Procrastination
Spending too much free time doing nothing leads to higher stress and anxiety, which is why it’s recommended to always keep yourself busy when you have free time.
Taking up a hobby such as online bingo NZ, or watching a new TV series is recommended.
5. Comedy
Laughter has a powerful effect on those that are suffering from high levels of anxiety: it’s difficult to feel anxious while laughing.
It’s also good for your health in a number of different ways, such as relieving the stress response of the body and relieving the tension when you relax automatically during a bout of laughter.
For these reasons, it’s a good idea to try and seek out some genuine comedy to keep yourself laughing as much as you can.