Whether you’re having financial problems, worry about the future or any other social tension, your breath is a powerful tool to curb your stress. As much as stress is part and parcel of our lives, how we manage it greatly determines its impact on our well-being. as when stress is left unchecked, it can harm us both physically and mentally.
That's why developing your mindfulness level can be a huge step to managing any kind of stress that comes your way. While consulting a therapist can help relieve your stress, practicing self-help techniques can be particularly useful in curbing your tension and worries. You don’t have to spend a coin to shade off your stress. All you need to do is set aside some time in your busy schedule to attend to your emotional and mental well being.
Here are simple yet useful techniques that can help you live a stress-free life
Focus on Your Breath
Practicing breathing exercises can be simple yet powerful way of reaching your inner self to help you focus on the present moment. Most of the time, stress is caused by anxiety, worry, fear, regrets and pleasure seeking. If you find it hard to overcome all these negative emotions, the best thing to do is take deep breaths while focusing on your breathing. Find a quiet place, make yourself relaxed and start breathing slowly and deeply as you count your breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling the breath through the nose. This encourages awareness of bodily tension, which in turn beats any form of stress.
Practice Progressive Relaxation
When you’re stressed or tense, it’s often healthier to get enough relaxation. You can try the progressive relaxation by tensing different parts of your body and then relaxing them. Try that with your entire body until you feel completely relaxed. Be sure to incorporate slow, deep breaths in each session. The technique can take only 20 to 30 minutes and can greatly help you relax physically.
Creative Visualization
Immersing yourself into imagination that takes you to a place where you can only hear the sound of trees, winds or waves, can really help drain your stress away. You can picture yourself laying in a hammock by the beach, lying in soft green field or sitting by a comfortable veranda enjoying the evening breeze. That form of creative visualization can induce a state of relaxation and help lower your stress levels significantly. Be sure to do the following while visualising:
*Choose a time and a quiet place where you wont be disturbed to help you to maintain consistent focus.
* Follow the progressive relaxation technique above to ensure your body and mind is relaxed in order to seamlessly guide your thoughts.
*Tune into your breathing and take slow, deep breaths before you begin the process.
*Tap into your imagination and focus on the good things that appeal to your soul.
No matter the amount of tension you’re in, connecting to your inner soul is the secret that can help you to relax and to successfully mange any stress level. This will lead to both emotional and physical well-being and ensure you focus your mindset on living a happy present.