photo courtesy of: photo courtesy of: http://www.wolfescape.com/Humour/NonMedThumbs/Stress-ZebraStripes.gif
At one point, you just catch yourself saying "That's it! I've had enough."
Well, everyone has had that day… and for some, they don't know what to do to make things better.
Eat.
photo courtesy of: http://www.senioru.appstate.edu/Images/Etiquette2008/Dining/eating.jpgI said eat, not binge.
Your brain and your moods are connected – they're linked. So dieting won't help much here. However, don't binge because binging will cause you to gain that excess weight and that will be a new addition to your collection of stressful moments.
Eating foods that you want lightens up your mood and makes you feel happier and more relaxed.
For instance, have about 1 square of chocolate daily – this will keep your moods up, but your weight low. Remember, the more you work, the more frequent you should eat (in small amounts).
If your work is all about physical labor, that's tiring – but jobs that require the use of mental efforts – that's more exhausting.
So eat up and stay happy.
Take a break, go on a vacation.
photo courtesy of: http://www.marshapappas.com/my_images/
Okay, I said, go on a vacation. Don't go on leave from work and stay at home.
You need a fresh, new environment – a breaker from your usual sights and surroundings.
Go somewhere – go to the beach, go on a road trip to another city, go to the mountains, etc… A quick getaway can be as short as a 2-night-3-day trip, or if you can, go longer.
Just make sure you leave the office behind. Don't go on vacation if your mind is not with you on vacation.
Laughter is the best medicine.
photo courtesy of: http://www.cirkla.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/One of the best stress relievers: laughter.
Hang out with some friends and catch up – there are sure to be a lot of fun moments to talk and laugh about. Or go and see a funny movie – you'll feel tons better after the movie.
Laugh – it cures.
Indulge in foods that fight stress.
photo courtesy of: http://www.debbieseymour.com/photo courtesy of: http://www.healthjockey.com/images/salmon-omega3.jpg
Luckily, nature created its own stress antidote: bananas, leafy greens, oily fish, nutrient-dense nuts, mangoes, and avocado.
Bananas is packed with vitamin B which keeps your blood pressure and stress hormones at bay during stressful situations.
Leafy greens have relaxing and calming effects on the body.
Nuts have high content of zinc, magnesium, and vitamins B and E.
Mangoes are packed with several vitamins and sucrose – healthy sugars to keep your mood up.
Avocado lowers blood pressure (just like bananas' potassium content) and it has healthy fat.
Oily fish, which means it is packed with Omega 3 fatty acids boost your brain's happy chemicals (serotonin) and regulates stress hormones (cortisol).
Move it, shake it off.
photo courtesy of: http://www.playlaughsingdance.com/images/If you're stressed, go for a run, hit the gym, get on that bike, dance in your bedroom like no one's watching, etc…
When you move – a lot, your body releases endorphins (happy hormones) to combat the "tiring" feeling that activity brings.
Let it out.
photo courtesy of: http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/This one is a quick fix that may need some of the five suggestions above as follow up action.
If you had a bad day, or you have some things bothering you, let it out.
Vent it out by talking to friends about it, family members too. If you are not the "sharing" type, you can unload it all in a journal or diary – it transfers thoughts from your mind to paper and your mind has less load to carry and can function better – clearly.
photo courtesy of: http://www.9moisavectoi.com/gazette/images/stress.jpg
And last but not least, remember that de-stressing starts from the mind. The moment your mind starts to de-stress, your body follows. So leave the office behind, leave all your worries behind – you're on a de-stressing state.
July 1, 2011 at 1:50 PM
hi...nice entry!..i follow!