You Dont Have To Go Into The Wilderness To Experience Nature
The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.
John Muir
Although John Muir here is saying that you need to go through a forest wilderness, it turns out you dont even have to trek that far out into the wilderness or find some pristine, undisturbed patch of land to truly experience nature and for it to benefit you.
Even urban nature, your city park, can promote pleasant moods1. Take a twenty-minute stroll through an urban park or woodland and it can help relieve stress, according to a Finland study6. But it is nice to get away from too much noise like from cars, sirens, and shouting.
I have noticed that research papers have tended to focus on the visuals of nature, but I think the other senses have a part to play, too. I think the sounds or lack of certain sounds in nature are calming and the woodsy or floral smells are refreshing.
So, with these aspects in mind, you can find your own patch of peaceful nature that is not too far away or difficult to access.
Always Be Ready For Change
Life is all about change. Most people dont like it, but it is something that you have to learn to adapt to.
Some change can be good, but not all of it.
Whether you are dealing with a move to a new city, a change in jobs or a parents divorce, there are a lot of things to fear and worry about. In fact, the only certainty you have in life is that unexpected things are going to happen and they usually happen when you are already stressed.
This is just something that you have to learn to adapt to.
This is why Dr. Travis Bradberry, the author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, recommends you not only prepare for these situations, but make a list of the potential changes that could happen in your life.
Proven Ways To Worry Less And Feel Happier Right Now
Getting worked up over a mixed message from your boss or a 3-pound bump on the scale isn’t going to solve a problem. But being told to “stop worrying” is about as effective as trying to control the weather. Instead, you can use worry to your advantage, advises Kimberly Medlock, a professional organizer, time-management coach, and author of What Not to Do at the Office: 44 Annoying, Time-Wasting and Unproductive Habits in the Workplace. “Learn how to recognize worry, and then replace it with thinking,” she says. “Worry is when your thoughts are stuck on the problem. Thinking is when you are focused on finding a solution. Worry is useless and counterproductivethinking is progress.”
Follow these tips to switch off your worry response.
Worry with purposeChances are, your problem isn’t that you have too many worries but that you have too few strategies for dealing with them, says psychiatrist Edward Hallowell, MD. Sit down with a sheet of paper divided into three columns, he advises, and list all of your worries in the first column. In the second, write down the worst thing that can happen if what you’re worried about comes true. In the third, list three or four strategies for dealing with “the worst” and circle the one that you think you can handle. Then do it!;An actionable game plan is almost always an antidote to worry.
Imagine the best-case scenario
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Stress Management That Works: How To Be Less Stressed
Medically Reviewed By: Lori Jones, LMHC
Stress is just a part of life, right? While its true that everyone experiences stress from time to time, theres a difference between managing stressful situations that are out of your control in a healthy way, and feeling overwhelmed by stress on a regular basis. Learning how to be less stressed can go a long way in improving your mental and physical health.
Types Of Relaxation Techniques
However, a whole range of relaxation practices can help you power down and de-stress.
There’s no one shoe that fits all, Smith says. He points to five or six approaches based on scientific observation and experience that really do work for stress reduction. There are other therapies, too, that you might find helpful. You can do one at a time or you can practice some together.
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How Can Nature Help Us Be Happier And Less Stressed
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- In Mental Wellbeing
If youve been feeling stressed these days, I am with you. I toss and turn at night and then wake up just to walk over from my room to the kitchen to get food and then plop myself down in front of my computer to work. Day in and day out like this.
Surrounded by doom and gloom from the news. And uncertainty about whats all going to happen. Its getting on my nerves.
Lately, Ive incorporated going out every morning to work on my garden even if that just means watering the growing plants.
Spring is always an extra pretty time of the year because you get to see the world in a state of growth. Watching the buds on my grape plant growing ever larger, seeing the roses in all their glory open, and smelling the sweet, sweet scent of orange blossoms. Whats not to love?
One great way to decrease your stress, refocus and refresh yourself is to get out into nature. But can there really be such a simple answer? Science says yes. Nature can help us.
In celebration of Earth Day, lets not only appreciate nature, but also learn how it can give back to us even more. Nature is just that great, isnt it?!
Quick Stress Relief On The Go
In traffic. Play music or listen to an audiobook. Take a different route to see something new. Do neck-rolls at stoplights. Sing in the car to stay awake and happy.
Public transportation. Take a break from reading, cell conversations, and music to tune into the sights and sounds around you. Try noticing something new, even if youre on the same old bus ride.
Running errands. Wear a special perfume or lotion so you can enjoy it while you rush from place to place. Carry a stress ball in your pocket. Take a mental snapshot or postcard at each destination.
Waiting in lines. Instead of worrying about time slipping away, focus on your breathing. People watch. Chat with the person ahead of you. Chew a stick of minty gum.
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Do A Rhythmic Breathing Exercise
, a Harvard and Yale-trained psychiatrist, recommends a simple breathing exercise to relax while at the office.
“I do actually work with a lot of professionals who come to me to try to reduce stress,” Dr. Wei tells CNBC. “The first thing I tell them is a very portable, easy-to-use strategy. It’s two to three minutes of simple, rhythmic-paced breathing,” she says.
- Take a deep breath through your nose while you count to five.
- Hold your breath for five counts.
- Exhale for five counts.
- Repeat for the remaining time, and notice how your breath becomes deeper.
Rhythmic breathing has a mental effect, says Dr. Wei, who co-authored “The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga.” It draws your attention away from what is stressing you and toward what you’re feeling, which has a calming effect. In addition, you trigger positive psychological changes.
Listen To Soothing Music
Listening to music can have a very relaxing effect on the body.
Slow-paced instrumental music can induce the relaxation response by helping lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as stress hormones.
Some types of classical, Celtic, Native American and Indian music can be particularly soothing, but simply listening to the music you enjoy is effective too .
Nature sounds can also be very calming. This is why theyre often incorporated into relaxation and meditation music.
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Talk It Out With A Friend
When youre feeling stressed, take a break to call a friend and talk about your problems. Good relationships with friends and loved ones are important to any healthy lifestyle.
Theyre especially important when youre under a lot of stress. A reassuring voice, even for a minute, can put everything in perspective.
Dont Get Down On Yourself
Stress can really weigh you down, especially if things can go off-schedule or go missing throughout the day. While it sounds easier said than done, its important not to be so hard on yourself. Minor errors can happen. These little snags shouldnt compromise your mental health to the point where youre relying on coping mechanisms to get through your professional work. If theres a particular issue that arises, see what you can do in your life to make for a better situation. Sometimes, issues at work can be rectified by airing them out to a higher-up or a peer to relieve the workload. At home, having conversations with family members may make for some accommodations to allow you to feel as though less is on your plate.
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Laughter Is The Best Medicine
You have probably heard that laughter is the best form of medicine. Well, that is exactly what Jeff Bezos believes, as he makes it a point to laugh every day.
Since he is the founder of Amazon, this kind of makes sense given that the Amazon logo resembles a smiley face.
Laughter has been shown to relax the whole body, boost the immune system, and release a plethora of endorphins. If you need something to laugh about there are tons of practical jokes and funny animal videos online. You can find anything from a dog skateboarding to a cat that likes to scare its owner.
Natural Ways To Lower Your Cortisol Levels
Cortisol is a stress hormone the adrenal glands release. It helps your body deal with stressful situations, as your brain triggers its release through the sympathetic nervous system the fight or flight system in response to many different kinds of stress .
While the short-term release of cortisol can help you run quickly from danger, when cortisol levels are too high for too long, this hormone can hurt you more than it helps .
Over time, this can lead to an array of health issues such as weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, insomnia or difficulty sleeping, mood irregularities, and low energy levels (
This article discusses 11 ways to help naturally lower your cortisol levels.
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How Can Work Stress Affect Well
Long-term exposure to work-related stressors like these can affect mental health. Research links burnout with symptoms of anxiety and depression. In some cases, this sets the stage for serious mental health problems. Indeed, one study shows younger people who routinely face heavy workloads and extreme time pressure on the job are more likely to experience major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
High levels of stress at work and outside of it can affect physical health, too. Repeated activation of the fight-or-flight response can disrupt bodily systems and increase susceptibility to disease. For example, repeated release of the stress hormone cortisol can disturb the immune system, and raise the likelihood of developing autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimers disease. Chronic stress can also affect health by interfering with healthy behaviors, such as exercise, balanced eating, and sleep.
Work stress can also harm companies or organizations. Burnout reduces job productivity and boosts absenteeism and job turnover, and also leads to conflict between coworkers, causing stress to spread within a workplace.
Ways To Become A Less Stressed Person
Home » 12 Ways to Become a Less Stressed Person
Are you getting frustrated and rundown from the daily grind? Of course you are. But, its just become a part of life, right? No.
I like you get stressed from time to time. Being an entrepreneur that works 10+ hours a day, family of 4, and active in my community doesnt leave me much personal time and life can get very stressful.;While it may seem like you never have the chance to kick your feet up and unwind, there are plenty of ways to help reduce all that pressure in life that has made you one stressed out person.
Here are;12 things that I do that can help you to become a much less stressed person.
This is one of the easiest, and most effective, places to start. Instead of trying to juggle twenty things at a time, only focus on what needs to be done right now. While it may seem that multitasking can be productive, it actually prevents us from completing the task at hand, which in turn stresses us out. Work on your;single tasking;skills instead.
While there are definitely times when being late is inevitable, like your car getting a flat, this is another area that adds unneeded stress. You have to rush to get ready, speed to get there, and worrying if you look presentable. Reduce this stress by leaving earlier and estimating time more efficiently.
Bonus tip:;Save some time in the morning by packing your bag or getting your clothes ready the night before.
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Get Comfortable With Saying No
Although we don’t want to get a reputation for being less than a team player, agreeing to take on too much could be a recipe for disaster. “Don’t give a quick ‘yes’ to anything,” says , author of Survival of the Savvy. “People always lowball the time a task will take. Suddenly you’re overcommitted.” Instead, practice the art of the “soft no,” says Seldman. “Say, ‘I don’t have time to commit to this, but let’s grab lunch and I’ll tell you what I’d do.” By approaching an ask like this, you’ll come across as supportive and keep your schedule realistic. While you’re at it, work these 8 Game-Changing Strategies Every Boss Should Know into your daily routine.
Tip To Avoid Or Minimize Stress
Can You Teach Me To Be Less Stressed
Who doesnt want to live a life without stress? In all of my years of work as a somatic practitioner, this request repeated itself in different ways: Can you teach me to be less stressed? It seemed to me that some of the people who expressed this request, almost had to work hard to be more relaxed. They went to workshops, they meditated, they ate well, and drank the right drinks. They also came to me and still had the same question: can you teach me to be less stressed?
Over theyears I learned what is now so obvious to me, and maybe also for you: stressis only a word. It doesnt say much if we dont ask many more questions. If wedont try to understand the source of it, if we dont try to touch its cause.Some people hardly breathe in times of stress, while others get migraines orbelly aches. There are people who get confused, or lose orientation, those whocant sleep and those who cant stop sleeping.
What stresses you?
Our life is full of challenges and things we need to accomplish, and stress is one of the common results of that life. We become stressed for many different reasons. There are people who get stressed before an important exam, while others feel that this is just a game. Some people become super relaxed in times of crisis, while others can hardly breathe. Our source of stress, just like any other thing in our life, is unique. And understanding that, and what causes us to feel stressed is a significant part of the answer.
Finding the source
Say No To Others So You Can Say Yes To You
Are you turning down distractions disguised as opportunities? Are you being asked to join social sites that are leaving you no time to network with the people under your roof? Are you still knocking yourself out to host the annual Labor Day party when all you see is the labor ahead?
Its not selfish to say no to others when the intent is to clear some space to say yes to you. Life does go on even if you arent involved in every activity, party or event. Look at it this way: Being missed makes you more interesting and appreciated when you do show up.
