Unfortunately many women, especially busy working moms, turn to negative therapeutic solutions to resolve stress, such as, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, smoking, “shopping therapy,” or just simply being in a perpetually bad mood. Recently I share ideas with KPNX12, a Phoenix-based NBC affiliate, on healthy ways women can relieve stress, and this week’s Take 5 list is an expansion of those instant stress relief ideas:
- Walk it out. Even a brief stint of physical exercise (i.e. five minutes) will help increase the production endorphins in your brain. These “feel good” neurotransmitters are also known to lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety, which can develop as a result of stress.
- Close your eyes. When you’re at the height of stress, try closing your eyes and counting very slowly to 20. This short meditative process is calming and helps clear your mind of stressful thoughts.
- Drink a glass of water. Water is a natural way to flush your body of toxins and is also known to reduce cardiovascular stress. When done in combination with the first two ideas (i.e. take a walk to grab a glass of water, then close your eyes as you drink, and imagine the water cleaning the stress out of your body), it makes for a perfect de-stress cocktail!
- Scream, cry or rant. The key to instant stress relief is finding a way to get it out of your mind and body; sometimes that means screaming at the top of your lungs (doing this in a pillow helps), sobbing to the point you can’t speak or calling a friend to vent. Limit yourself though. Too much screaming, crying or venting may have the opposite affect by keeping you in a perpetual state of stress. Scream, cry or rant, then let it go.
- Write it out. There is something extremely cathartic about putting words to your emotions. Journaling in a wild moment of stress may feel silly, and you may be so frustrated that you rip holes in the paper as you write, but the self-exploratory process can be meditative and calming. Journaling is also a great way to solve a problem that may be the root of your stress.
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Great tips!
Thank you so much- I really needed this. Life is stressing me out so much right now. trying to build a business, the election,- I am on edge.
Of course this is nothing new, but exercise is key for me. I started jogging (at a slow pace just above walking) three months back. I gave birth to my son in April, and by August, I knew I needed to start exercising if I was ever going to see my stomach shrink again. Unfortunately I broke my ankle 6 weeks ago, and aside from hindering my exercise regime, breaking my ankle has caused me to experience a great deal of stress. Because I had been exercising everyday, I didn’t even realize how much it was contributing to my stress level. Since I have been immobile these last few weeks, I am cranky and irritable and just plain ugly. I cannot wait to heal and get back into a routine because I need it, not just for the exercise, but for my sanity!