Stress is unavoidable, but there are plenty of ways to fight it.
If you are a working mom like me, you know that stress is an inevitable part of your life. If you add on top of that all the terrifying things that are happening in this country, and the irrational fears that come with having children out there in the world, it is not at all surprising that the American Psychological Association reports stress levels are increasing in Americans with every year.
We all know that things like yoga, exercise, and eating right can help combat stress, but there are other, easier ways to do it too. Here are a few of those nontraditional ways to reduce stress in your life and relax more.
Get more Vitamin C. A 2015 study that looked at a group of 500 students, showed that student who were given Vitamin C over a placebo showed reduced anxiety levels. Fresh orange juice in the morning is a great way to get this vitamin, and reduce your stress level.
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According to an established theory, using the other side of your brain can help reduce stress. So if you are using the organizational side of your brain on overdrive, take a break and do something creative. Adult coloring books are great for this, because just 10-15 minutes of coloring can greatly reduce any bubbling feelings of anxiety from working too hard.
Inflate a balloon. I know this may sound crazy, but inflating a balloon forces you to breathe in and out slowly, and focus on those breaths. A study in 2005 showed that taking just six deep breaths over 30 seconds can reduce blood pressure by over 3.5 units.
Eat oatmeal. Again, I know this sounds funny, but oatmeal boosts serotonin and makes you happy because it contains tryptophan. It also contains magnesium, which has a calming effect.
Enter nature, or at the very least, look at nature. Even if you take a few minutes out of your day to look at the nature screensavers that came with your computer, it will have a calming effect on you and help make your day a little less stressful.
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