
Stressed out this week? Join the club! With yesterday being tax-day (I get stressed out just saying it!) for some of us, it’s an extremely stressful day. Leading up to tax-day is an extremely stressful journey for me and many of you. So I’ve come to learn some natural ways of outsmarting the effects of stress!
1) SLEEP. The more sleep I get – the better I am! I find that if I get a good night sleep on Sunday night, I’m doing much better come Monday morning. About 60 percent of people who are stressed say they don’t get enough sleep, according to a National Consumers League survey. If falling asleep is your trouble, it’s time to start a calming bedtime routine. Start with a soothing shower and some lavender body wash. Then slip between the covers with a light novel and you’ll be asleep in no time.
2) BATH! Lock the door, work up a lather, and forget the world exists. Add a few candles — sage is a soothing scent, or try sandalwood incense — and maybe a good book or some classical music, and you’ll be well on your way to forgetting your horrific commute.
3) TEA: Whether it’s chamomile or chai, try to take time, relax, and put your feet up when enjoying your favorite brew. In the warmer months you can chill a pot of freshly brewed green tea for a calming and cooling treat.
4) REDUCE CAFFEINE: In small, irregular doses, caffeine can be medicinal. It increases bile flow, which stimulates the gall bladder and reduces cholesterol. But in regular doses, it can hinder a number of body systems that are responsible for responding to stress.
5) EXERCISE: Physical activity is necessary to remove waste products, particularly lactic and uric acids, from the muscles and nervous system.
In excess, these acids help make you feel edgy. Mild to moderate activity can both prevent and reduce anxiety for up to two hours.
My favorite stress buster is to get up and go for a walk. If I’m having a hard time, or stressing out – I grab my dog and go for a walk. It reduces my stress, and gets me back on track.
6) VITAMINS: The B vitamins – especially B6 and B12 – help regulate the body’s response to stress and maintain a healthy nervous system.
St. John’s Wort works as an antidepressant. It also relieves chronic anxiety. You must take it for several weeks before you feel its effects.
Research shows it lowers anxiety levels as well as Vallium does without fogging thinking. It decreases the uptake (rate of removal) of serotonin in the brain, thereby increasing serotonin levels, which induces calm feelings. It is not addictive and has few side effects.
7) HEAD TO THE BEACH! This is my own personal stress buster. When I’m not doing well, or I’m stressed out, I head to the beach. The picture above is me and one of my sons at Cannon Beach in Oregon in January. NOTHING and I mean NOTHING makes me happier, or more stress-free than being at the beach. It clears my head and makes me a very happy lady. In fact, I’d like to NOT work today – and head to the beach instead!
TELL ME: What do you do to relieve stress?
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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by AVEENO® SMART ESSENTIALS™ via Glam MediaThe opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AVEENO® SMART ESSENTIALS™

Posted Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 at 8:08am
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