We live in an alarming daily stress situation. And it’s not just the rush and insane schedules, but also the excess of worries and responsibilities that we acquire throughout life. There comes a time when you can’t take it anymore because stress doesn’t let you move forward. Discover the 10 daily gestures that will help you reduce stress and take life in another way.
Simple gestures to reduce stress
To combat stress, you need to have a good daily organization, do some physical exercise, eat a healthy diet, add some optimism to your outlook on life, and have a bit of good luck. But you can also manage to reduce stress with some daily gestures that will not cost you anything to do.
1. Conscious breathing reduces stress
You can do it at work, at home or on the subway; you can do it sitting or standing. You just have to breathe consciously, take a breath, hold that air inside you for a few seconds and release it while being aware of the path it takes and all the muscles involved in breathing. If you do this simple exercise 5 times in a row, you will feel more relaxed.
2. Get closer to nature to relax
One of the consequences of stress is the mental blockage it produces. Suddenly you notice that you are overwhelmed and you don’t know how to make a decision. Reducing stress is essential to clear your mind and the easiest way to do it is by getting in touch with nature. A day in the forest, paying attention to the sounds, colors and smells, will restore the clarity you need to your mind.
3. Walking in the park relaxes you
If you are thinking that you cannot afford to leave the city precisely because your stress comes from the amount of obligations you have, don’t worry. Surely you have a park nearby, right? You will get the same effect as a forest in the middle of the mountains if you take a walk, take off your shoes if you dare and discover how relaxing it is to walk barefoot on the grass.
4. The sea against stress
If you live in a coastal area, you have the best medicine against stress at your fingertips. The sea relaxes, the sea gives you back the strength that stress takes away from you. You just have to get closer, listen to the sound of the waves against the rocks and walk barefoot along the shore.
5. Write a journal to eliminate stress
Journaling may not have crossed your mind since you were a teenager, but it is a very beneficial exercise not only to combat stress, but also to improve your self-esteem and be more self-confident. By writing your life, at the same time you are putting it in order. Try it and you will see the results.
6. Listen to relaxing music for stress
Music therapy is a recommended treatment for many problems, including stress. Spend some time each day listening to relaxing or uplifting music. A few minutes is enough, but don’t do anything during that time, just enjoy the sound. You will return to the real world much more relaxed.
7. To the world for a minute
To reduce stress you are going to have to stop the world. Yes, as you hear it. Just one minute, nothing will happen during that minute if you isolate yourself in a comfortable place, if you don’t have interruptions, if you don’t have your mobile phone, if you don’t hear anything. Just a minute in which you can visualize an idyllic landscape and smile.
8. Color mandalas
Surely you have already heard about mandalas and their health benefits. Coloring mandalas improves concentration, increases self-esteem and also reduces stress. Do you remember when you were a child and you were happy coloring? Well now you can do the same.
9. Dance against stress
Dancing is one of the best therapies against stress. You don’t have to sign up for classes, you don’t even have to do it well. Play music at home and dance and sing your heart out for a song or two. Body and mind will leave totally renewed.
10. Laughter eliminates stress
Laughter therapy comes to your aid to release tension and send stress far, far away. Find a laugh video, monologue or something that fits your sense of humor and don’t stop until you’re laughing. And if you don’t have anything at hand, you can always laugh at yourself, for what reasons do we have enough.