7 Ways To Reduce Stress Naturally

By Chris D'C'ruz

 When stressful situations go unresolved, the wear and tear
on the body's biological systems increases. Fatigue and
damage become inevitable, and the body's ability to repair
and defend itself decreases significantly. This puts the
body at risk of long-term injury or disease.

Here are some techniques you can use to naturally reduce
your stress level:

1. Practice yoga and meditation. Yoga and meditation are
ancient arts that have been proven to calm the body and
reduce stress. They can be practiced separately or together.
Use yoga and meditation to connect the mind, body, and
spirit in a healthy, peaceful fashion in your effort to feel
more relaxed and refreshed.

2. Keep a diary. Writing in a diary or journal can help you
unload your thoughts in a private manner, keeping your
secrets safe and allowing you to vent in the process.Also,
the act of putting negative feelings down on paper lessens
their hold and impact on the mind, reducing stress and
alleviating fear.

3. Go for a walk. Walking is good for your overall physical
fitness, but it also has spiritual and mental benefits.
Staying even moderately active increases oxygen levels in
your brain, which improves your mental state and clarity. A
twenty minute walk gives the mind a chance to reflect,
process, and think creatively, which reduces stress by
increasing opportunities for new perspectives and problem
solving.

4. Get a full body massage. A massage is a great way to
relax your muscles. It also helps to get blood flowing
properly throughout the body, which naturally reduces
stress. Drink lots of water after a full body massage to
cleanse the body of unleashed toxins, which are also
contributors to stress.

5. Try aromatherapy. Many herbs have been proven over the
years to contribute to relaxation and mental clarity.
Lavender is known to treat headaches, insomnia, anxiety,
stress, and depression. Rosemary is proven to improve
memory, elevate moods, and relieve migraines. Other herbs
are popular for promoting calmness and overall feelings of
well-being, including Chamomile and St. John's Wort.

6. Make time to laugh. Laughter really is the best medicine.
It can help lower blood pressure, increase the vascular flow
of blood, and stimulate the diaphragm. In addition, laughing
can reduce certain stress hormones while defending against
respiratory infections in general and the frequency of
colds.

7. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Research has proven
that a positive attitude can tip the balance between life
and death by countering depression and anxiety, both of
which can increase heart disease, hypertension, asthma,
cancer, and diabetes. Also, grateful people experience
reduced anger, envy, resentment, and regret, all of which
are known to produce high levels of stress. Practice
gratitude on a daily basis and improve your mental and
physical condition.

There are endless possibilities for natural ways of reducing
your stress. Try a few of the suggestions listed above to
see what works best for you. Take time out of each and every
day to unwind and regroup, and you'll be well on your way to
reducing the stress in your life.

Let me know how useful this article was for you. =)