If you’re looking for a way to reduce stress in your life, these four easy practices can help.
1. Eat a balanced diet
Eating a balanced diet is an important part of reducing stress. Eating right can help you maintain your energy levels, avoid cravings and control your weight. It also helps keep you healthy and feeling good.
2. Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity can improve your mood, enhance your sense of well-being, help you sleep better and reduce stress. Even if you’re not an “exercise person,” there are many ways to get exercise that don’t require special equipment or expertise or even much time or effort:
- Walking: You can walk anywhere — at home, at work or on vacation — and it’s free! Walking is gentle on the joints, burns calories and improves circulation. Choose routes where you’ll see interesting things along the way so that walking becomes more like an adventure than just exercise.
- Swimming: Swimming laps is a great way to tone muscles without putting too much strain on your joints. You can swim laps in pools (indoor or outdoor), lakes, rivers or oceans — wherever there’s water available!
3. Engage in relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga are effective ways of reducing stress and improving your mental health. These techniques also help you feel more relaxed, which can make you less prone to illness. If you’re not sure where to start with these techniques, try taking a class at your local gym or community center.
4. Get enough sleep
Studies show that getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night is optimal for health and wellbeing — both physical and mental. Sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and depression, among other things. Make sure you get enough sleep every night by setting aside time for it in your schedule and making it a priority.
