After relaxing holidays, some tips on keeping the stress away

After relaxing holidays, and having some time off from the normal every day chores, it might be a good idea to decide on continuing as much as possible in that relaxed mood that makes you feel so good and happy. Once we go back to work, kids go back to school and start with their after-school activities, deadlines, appointments, meetings, housework, sports, and other chores kick in, you may feel overwhelmed as so much is going on at one time. That is why it is good to plan ahead and think about taking care of ourselves and not let the stress take over.

Meditation
​Meditation helps you to stay grounded, and can help you to keep stressful situations at bay. Just being able to take a short time for yourself, creating a moment of stillness in your mind is a powerful way to become more relaxed. If you only have five minutes, take those five minutes to meditate, which can improve your mood, your productivity and the quality of your day.

Breathing
Something so easy to do, which is essential to life, but which we do not always think about actively. It just happens naturally, and we may not give it so much thought, but maybe we should. Breathing techniques may help with stress and improve your health, as it may lower the heart rate, improve blood circulation and promote clearer thinking.

When you are angry or stressed out it is often difficult to think about anything else than what is currently going on and the situation that has put you in that mode. However, if you take some time off and practice some easy breathing techniques, this can calm you down and reverse the physical symptoms that you are feeling.

There are many techniques which are available for free on the internet. If you only have five minutes, I would suggest you look for “cardiac coherence” on youtube and you should find some easy steps to follow. If you have some more time, here is a simple technique that can be used to put you in a more relaxed state.

·         Find an isolated spot, where you will not be disturbed for 15 minutes
·         Inhale slowly for the count of 4
·         Exhale slowly for the count of 8
·         Notice the space in between the inhalation and exhalation
·         Repeat until you begin to relax and feel calm

Much like massage, there is no doubt that breathing can encourage relaxation and healthy habits. It keeps the body/mind functioning and curbs stress. Your muscles naturally relax and you can go about your day a little easier.

Exercise
Sometimes it is difficult to find the time to exercise when you have a tight schedule. But that is the moment when it is the most important to keep at it and not neglect the planned session. It is well known that exercise can relieve the physical symptoms of stress like fatigue, pain, and moodiness. If you are not able to make it to your planned training session, do try to squeeze in a short 15 minute walk in the fresh air some time during the day. A little goes a long way when you need it.

Laugh and sing
In this study, it was shown that giggling and music can help to  lower the blood pressure. Indeed, it showed that 3 months of laughter or music therapy resulted in the same drop in blood pressure that could be achieved with a low-salt diet, losing some weight, or taking a blood-pressure-lowering medication. So, it might be a good idea to listen to music around the house, sing and laugh as much as possible throughout the day.

Massage
Regular massage can improve sleep, relieve headaches, reduce muscle pain, and improve moods. Plus, massage feels good. When you feel good, you play more, work more efficiently, and take better care of the people you love. Schedule a massage now to prepare for a busy (and fun) autumn!

Commit to taking care of yourself this autumn! You may be surprised with the results.