Writing down your feelings, taking deep breaths, dancing to the rhythm of a song, smelling a favorite scent, all help to quickly reduce stress.
The hustle and bustle of everyday life makes many people feel stressed and tired. It is not necessary to spend hours walking, doing yoga… to relieve stress. Some simple activities, just doing for about two minutes can also relieve headaches and reduce stress levels.
Write your feelings down on paper and throw them away: This is an easy way to release your emotions, anytime, anywhere. Write down what is affecting you, including your worries, fears, and pressures. Once you identify the factors that are contributing to your stress, crumple up the paper and throw it away. Writing down what just happened is also a time to reflect on your emotions, clear your mind, and feel more relaxed.
Dance to the beat of a song: Music helps the brain shift its attention to another issue, helping to relieve stress. Listening to music helps balance the stress response by lowering cortisol levels as well as blood sugar levels. As a result, you feel calmer and more relaxed faster.
Experts do not recommend any particular type of music. You can listen to it according to your own preferences, adjusting the volume to a moderate level, not too loud because it can easily stimulate more severe stress.
Pet your favorite teddy bear: Talking to and petting a pet increases the production of oxytocin, the love hormone that promotes feelings of closeness and happiness. This action also reduces the production of the hormone cortisol, preventing feelings of stress and anxiety.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, if a pet is not available, a stressed person can pick up a favorite item such as a teddy bear, hat, or sweatshirt and recall the good memories associated with it. A happy time is enough to prevent the production of the hormone cortisol.
Petting pets stimulates increased production of the happiness hormone oxytocin. Photo: Tran Quynh
Smell a scent: Aromatherapy has the effect of relieving stress, improving mood, reducing anxiety. Lavender, cajeput or grapefruit essential oils contain certain compounds that activate receptors that calm the brain, making you feel more positive. Essential oils can be added to a steam diffuser, placed in a cup of water or soaked in a handkerchief to smell.
Take a deep breath: Pausing to take a few deep breaths in and out can improve your mood by slowing your heart rate, preventing high blood pressure, and creating a sense of calm and relaxation. Deep belly breathing takes in more oxygen than shallow chest breathing, helping to relieve stress more quickly.
The practitioner sits up straight, takes a deep breath through the nose to expand the abdomen as much as possible. Exhale, keeping the lips in an O shape, until all the air in the abdomen is gone.