Stress Management-Sydney Spine & Sports Clinic
As chiropractors, we see the lead into summer become an overly stressful time of year. Bills are piling up, the desire to be "summer-ready", Christmas around the corner, and work is looking like a long, dark, tunnel with no end in site. Stress related illnesses are becoming ever more frequent; it can be linked to heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, and a suppressed immune system which can make you more susceptible to common illnesses. So while it may be obvious that we need to reduce stress - the question is how exactly? Here are seven ways to reduce stress that you can integrate into your everyday life for better stress management.
Breath
The first and the best tip for reducing stress levels is through breathing, whether you’re at your desk at work or sat in front of the television, you can do this anywhere, just really focus on each breath, breathing deeply and slowly. By concentrating on your breathing, stressful thoughts that may be in your head are removed, as you are no longer focusing on the stressful thoughts, but on the breathing. This should be done whenever any stressful moment arises and will stop you dwelling on these negative thoughts, and should help calm you down.
Exercise
Not only will it keep your body healthy, the heart healthy, but it's a great way to release endorphins. Exercise will help clear your mind of worries while making you feel good about yourself. Exercise is a great method for attitude adjustment, and it should help you deal with aggression in a controlled manner. It is recommended that you use exercise as a compliment to other stress reducing methods, not solely by itself.
Visualise
A good visualisation exercise would be imagining a beautiful, warm sandy beach with the waves crashing on the sand and with the surf lapping at your feet or a silent winter wonderland scene or a bubbling brook. Through visualisation in the mind’s eye, you imagine yourself in some happy, serene, peaceful relaxing environment; here you're putting yourself (in your mind’s eye) into that very scenario. Focus on everything around you in the image and really immerse yourself into the scenario. As a result, this has a calming effect on your entire body and relieves your mind of any anxieties or stress that you previously had. If you practice this regularly, you will really notice the affect, and soon, you will be able to fall into this state of relaxation in a matter of seconds.
Talk
Talk to a friend, family member or a professional about your stressful situation. Most people find that when they share a problem (and get other people’s perspective on it) they cope far better. As the cliché says, a problem shared is a problem halved, and this is quite often true. By sharing your problems, you may feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders, and may even result in you getting the support you really need.
Indulge
Treat yourself and go for a massage, this should make you feel good about yourself, and it also has great therapeutic effects.
Medidate
Meditation, like deep breathing will send your body into a state of deep relaxation and help calm and relax your mind and body. This will help your daily worries and stress drift from the forefront of your brain. There are many different types of meditation techniques, so we recommend you have a search round till you find a method that suits you best.
Stretch
The last and maybe one of the most important points for stress management is to keep your body in optimal condition by stretching daily and getting adjusted regularly to maintain optimal flexibility and optimal nerve flow throughout the body. Employ a variety of these methods to really relax and make the most of life - live to the happiest you can be. Otherwise, before you know it you may be getting dragged down into depression by stress and suffer needlessly. Good luck, take a step back and relax.
If you found these tips for 7 ways to reduce stress helpful, check out our others blogs for helpful tips and information to take care of your mind and body. Here at Sydney Spine & Sports Clinic, we offer a wide variety of treatments for stress management in Sydney. Come visit us today to see how we can help!
Want to compliment the tips above with chiropractic care? Come in and see us for a readjustment or give us a call for a free phone consultation.
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The 4 A’s of stress management are Avoid, Alter, Accept, and Adapt. You can avoid certain situations before they occur to prevent stressors from entering your life. You can also alter situations you are in by communicating your needs clearly. Accept the stressors you are facing and focus on ways to work around them. Adapt if you feel overwhelmed.
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Meditation can be one of the best ways to relieve stress. Having your mind and body relaxed and in harmony is important to maintain your mental health. Enjoy an activity that you love to do. Taking your mind off of responsibilities by engaging in activities or hobbies can be a great stress reliever. Exercise will also provide relief for your stress. Although it may seem counterintuitive, engaging in physical activities will allow you to exert your stress.
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Your body will react in certain ways if you are under too much stress. Common symptoms of stress include headaches, migraines, chest pains, shortness of breath, sweating, shaking, or digestive problems.
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Any exercise that increases your hearts BPM will help in reducing stress. It is best to choose an activity that you enjoy doing as it will decrease your stress even more.