Stress
/stres/
Noun
//a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.\\
Stress, a common and well-known word and feeling too many of us. Stress (although there are some forms of it that are good) is usually not welcomed as a friend, but when it creeps it’s way into our minds and bodies, it’s sometimes VERY difficult to get rid of. If it lingers too long can cause all sorts of unwanted problems. Some of these being breakouts, high blood pressure, hyperventilating, some skin conditions, and it even makes people sick. It’s not exactly the thing you want to bring around wherever you go… Or even want to deal with on a daily basis.
So here are our top 6 best ways to relieve the stress from your life, to regain focus, and keep on keeping on.
#1 Prayer
Praying and communicating with God is the most important thing you can do, aside from accepting Jesus into your life. Without constant communication with Him, it’s so easy to let the outside world enter your thoughts, and, from there, affect your heart and being. By going to Him first daily, and staying in Him throughout each day, you’re eliminating the opportunity for stresses to creep in.
#2 Get Creative
One of the best ways to relax after a stressful day, or in the midst of a stressful situation, is to sometimes just sit back, and allow your mind to focus fully on something else. To get out all those feelings that are compressed in you. This could be anything that allows your right brain to take the reigns, from painting, drawing, to doing makeup, or baking. Just take a break, and get creative.
#3 Music
Music is something that’s internationally widespread. It’s something that can connect the most distant and opposite people, and bring them close, give them something in common. It’s also a way people have been coping with their emotions for as long as music has been, well, music. When we read the Psalms, we see how David used music to sing out his emotions and glorify God. So what we suggest is throwing on some calming, happy music, and just listen, focusing fully on the song and nothing else. Sometimes it even helps to play an instrument because it requires your focus to be on that task. Then there’s little room for you to think of anything else.
#4 Breathe
It may sound ridiculous, but really, sometimes just laying on your bed and taking conscious, deep breaths can do wonders. When you are focusing on your breaths, your mind is there, and oxygen is flowing throughout your whole body, relaxing it and the change of focus helps you refocus your mind to the tests in front of you, and deal with them properly instead of just seeing the stress.
#5 Exercise
This one is often under-appreciated, and not fully recognized as the great stress reliever it is. But if you’re full of stress, and you just can’t escape it, try channeling that into working out. Play some JustDance, go swimming, shoot some hoops, or go for a run(my personal favorite). Just get your body moving, and working hard, then your body will have endorphins running through it. You’ll have hopefully worked out the stress, and your body will have worked hard and be accomplished, which is a major stress reliever.
#6 Read a Book
If all else fails and your world is just filled with too much stress, go get lost in another world. Read a new book and start a new journey, or read a favorite and relive a story you love. Whatever you choose, just go on and take a minute to escape to another world and enjoy it.
