How to destress?
Our current society is today at the origin of the evil of our century, namely stress: regardless of the areas that govern our lives, we are governed by the desire to do well and to do it quickly.
We see it, for example, with mothers and the “perfect mother syndrome” who want to achieve excellence, but also among students who wish to achieve excellence in terms of results while having the coolest student life. etc
Today’s society leads us to set goals that are impossible to achieve: all of this is a source of stress.
If we talk about stress regularly, we must not forget that stress does not only have a negative connotation; indeed, there is also a good stress that helps us to surpass ourselves: it is the famous adrenaline rush that allows us to surpass ourselves.
Today, however, stress is still known for its harmful effects and in order not to bear the full brunt of its multiple consequences, we must learn to de-stress.
De-stress: why?
As we have just indicated, when we talk about stress we mainly talk about bad stress.
This bad stress causes a reaction of our organism which will differ according to the individuals and which is caused by a situation which one considers dangerous or agonizing.
Just as the cause of stress varies according to individuals, according to each person’s experience, the effects on each person’s body will vary from one person to another.
We know that stress and in particular so-called chronic stress will lead to or accentuate illnesses.
It is the cause of many ailments such as: acne, eczema, insomnia, constipation, diarrhea, back pain, muscle pain, ulcers or even migraines and even dental pain.
When an individual is in a state of permanent stress (we also speak of chronic stress), cardiovascular disorders are accentuated.
Similarly, chronic stress is an aggravating factor for diseases such as diabetes or hypertension.
Stress is also the cause of so-called panic attacks (found in particular in spasmophiles) and also influences our behavior.
A stressed person may have eating disorders (loss of appetite or, conversely, increased appetite), excessive behavior which may result, for example, in an addiction (alcohol or tobacco) or even have relational difficulties (the stressed person will tend to withdraw into itself or be in perpetual conflict with others).
Given the harm it is likely to cause, it is essential to know how to de-stress.
Discover our 10 methods to de-stress
If we know that de-stressing is necessary to avoid any discomfort, we know less how to be more zen, to de-stress.
So let’s take a look at the methods, the tips that have already proven themselves.
1) Happiness also goes through your plate
Magnesium is a mineral recognized as being the anti-stress par excellence: it is therefore necessary to enrich your diet by favoring foods known to concentrate a high rate of magnesium.
Among the foods to favor, two of them are known for their rich magnesium content: bananas and chocolate.
To these are also added wholemeal bread, nuts, but also lentils and even seaweed.
Vitamin B but also vitamin C are also to be sought: they are of course found in oranges but also in parsley, kiwis, almonds or even in raw vegetables (tomatoes, salads).
Some oily fish also help to reduce stress, the most famous of them is salmon.
2) The use of herbal teas
Many plants have soothing properties and today some are rediscovered and researched for their anti-stress effects.
Among these plants, a time forgotten, we find chamomile.
Long associated with a habit of old, of “grandmother”, today, no one hesitates to make a chamomile infusion in particular to sleep better (and yes, remember that stress is often the cause of sleeping troubles).
Also very popular, tea, especially green tea, is also known for its anti-stress properties.
3) Lavender essential oil
Lavender helps especially to fight against the stress that causes sleep disorders: it is indeed known to facilitate the phase of falling asleep.
4) Practice Buddhism
Buddhism is a practice which makes it possible to detach oneself from the material aspect which governs the life of the individuals of this century.
Also, by practicing Buddhism, the individual develops his “self” and detaches himself from unimportant things.
By getting to know himself, the individual will regain control of his life and will therefore let go: the source of his stress will thus gradually disappear.
By practicing Buddhism, the person will become aware that he is master of his own happiness, that he is master of his karma, of his destiny.
This awareness will influence his behavior; if a stressed person tends to blame the other for his misfortune, a person who believes in Buddhist teachings will rather seek to act on the cause of his misfortune and therefore will be less stressed since he is aware that his actions are decisive.
Remember that Buddhist practice is not necessarily a religious practice.
5) Meditation
From Buddhism, meditation is the anti-stress technique par excellence.
Today, there are “religious” methods of meditation (those attached to Buddhism) and so-called secular methods, of mindfulness.
Whichever method is chosen, meditation acts as a real antidepressant and fully contributes to reducing stress.
The many thoughts that each individual has in mind are often the source of significant stress: the individual dwells, thinks about such and such an event and this is not without consequence because it exhausts the person.
To overcome this stress, meditation is effective because it allows you to focus your attention on something specific: it therefore allows you to live in the present moment, not to think about things past or things to come.
By preventing the mind from scattering, meditation makes it possible to apply the famous Carpe Diem and to live serenely, therefore without stress.
6) Relax with alternative medicine
Acupuncture, plantar reflexology or sophrology are all alternative and complementary medicines to traditional medicine that allow you to relax and therefore to distress.
Acupuncture will release the energy that circulates in the body and therefore will allow you to feel better.
Plantar reflexology is similar to acupuncture except that the points that will be pressed are located, as the name suggests, on the arches of the feet.
Sophrology reminds us that to de-stress, it is important to breathe and above all to breathe well.
Indeed, faced with a situation that is considered stressful, a trick is to relax by breathing properly: it is a question of inhaling slowly through your nose, closing your mouth, blocking the air for a few seconds in the cage. chest then exhaling slowly through the mouth.
This breathing exercise allows you to de-stress fairly quickly and has the advantage of being able to be exercised anywhere.
7) De-stress using “the power of stones”
The power of stones, designated by the term lithotherapy, is directly associated with the chakras.
For an individual to feel good, it is believed that these 7 chakras must be balanced.
Depending on the source of the stress, one of the chakras is blocked; to release the energy center blocked by stress, lithotherapy is one of the recommended solutions.
However, it is necessary to know the source of your stress in order to be able to choose the stone that will make you feel better.
8) Yoga practice
If it is established that any sporting activity can release tension and therefore de-stress, one of them is often associated with its anti-stress power: it is yoga.
A practice of oriental origin, yoga is the most recommended anti-stress sport because it is established that it acts both on the physical state and on the emotional and mental state of a person.
Combining exercises of flexibility, meditation, concentration but also breathing and relaxation exercises, yoga is a complete sporting activity which is not reserved only for followers of meditation.
9) Go for a walk
Walking, strolling in nature allows you to air your mind and therefore relax.
Remember also that getting in touch with nature allows you to release the first chakra which allows you to have your feet on the ground, to feel safe and therefore not to be anxious or stressed.
10) Feng Shui
A Chinese discipline, Feng Shui optimizes the circulation of energy (the famous Chi) and improves the well-being of the inhabitants of the home where it is applied.
This technique requires you to follow different rules when fitting out your interior or office (for example, in the living room, the living room armchair should not turn its back to the doors, as well as the worktop in the living room). a kitchen should not lead you to turn your back to the door etc).
There is no shortage of tips for de-stressing; So it’s up to you to see which one suits you best.
