08 Sep Try These 5 Speedy Stress-relievers to Reset During a Busy Day
Thriving and flourishing include the experience of positive emotions such as joy and happiness.
But thriving and flourishing also involve minimising the less positive emotions such as stress and anxiety.
There will always be a level of stress and distress; that’s life. But doing all you can to deal with stress will free up space and energy for more happiness.
Check out this Thrive Global article by Rebecca Muller
Going through times of stress is inevitable, but when you don’t feel equipped to manage that stress, it can quickly become overwhelming. Researchers have even found that this can lead to “meta-stress,” where we worry about stress in advance, leading to a buildup of anxious thoughts that can take a toll on our well-being and productivity.
Luckily for us, there are so many science-backed Microsteps and tools that we can arm ourselves with so that we can better handle our stress and reset during an overwhelming day. Here are five in-the-moment stress-relievers that can help:
Try “box breathing”
Research shows that focusing on the rising and falling of our breath activates our parasympathetic nervous system, lowering our levels of the stress hormone cortisol. One breathing exercise that you can try in a stressful moment is called “box breathing,” which is used by Navy SEALs in times of stress to help calm the nervous system. Here’s how it works: Expel all the air from your chest, and keep your lungs empty for four long counts. Inhale through your nose for four long counts, and hold the air in your lungs for four long counts. Then, exhale through your nose for four counts. Want a guided experience? Try our Box Breathing Reset.
Take a minute to move
Even if you don’t have time for a traditional workout, taking just a few minutes to move around (even doing a few jumping jacks in between calls or tasks), can help reduce your stress. “After our cortisol levels spike during a workout, they’re brought down during recovery time, and can even go lower than before you exercised,” Anthony C. Hackney, Ph.D., a professor of exercise physiology and nutrition at the University of North Carolina, tells Thrive. Studies show that even a few minutes can make a difference…
… keep reading the full & original article HERE