Stress is a feeling of strain and pressure. When stressed, the body releases a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical activity. This causes a number of reactions, from blood being diverted to muscles to shutting down unnecessary bodily functions such as digestion.
1) Play a mental Game – The Human brain has a habit of replaying stressful events even after the stress has passed. So fill the brain with some engaging stuff like mental games, counting, chanting etc. These activities are full of fun and help in gaining focus and concentration.
2) Give Someone a hug – Hugs are good stress relievers. A hormone called Oxytocin released when you hug someone which brings a sense of relaxation, trust, and compassion.
3) The 4-7-8 (or Relaxing Breath) Exercise -Sit in your chair or on the floor with your back straight. Inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of 7, then exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of 8. Repeat this for five times.
4) Smile – Smiling is contagious. It focuses on the ‘live’ face-to-face interaction between two persons. The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness. The feel-good neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face.
5) Stretch – Standing up for a stretch and a quick walk can relieve muscle tension and help us relax during a stressful workday.
6) Get a social support – Call your mom, relatives or friends. When you share your feelings with another person, it does help relieve stress. But it’s important that the person whom you talk to is someone whom you trust and whom you feel can understand you. If your family is a stressor, for example, it may not alleviate your stress if you share your works woes with one of them.
7) Treat yourself with chocolate – Dark chocolate contains compounds called flavonoids that affect mood. according to a study done by the American Chemical Society, eating a mere 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate daily lowered stress hormone levels. The key is to limit yourself to just a few bites since the sugar in chocolate can cause a crash later.