Stress is a part of everyday life for most people. Whether it’s work, family issues, money or health, stress affects many aspects of our lives and the results of poor stress management can be devastating.
The lines between our work and personal lives are now blurred and the work day extends well past the usual 9 to 5, so it comes as no surprise that many of us are looking for ways to feel calmer, think more clearly, be present in the moment and live happier lives.
The key to achieving a calmer, clearer mind is by managing stress effectively. Esha Oberoi is a mental health advocate and founder and CEO of Afea Care Services. Here are her top tips for reduce stress levels in ten minutes or less.
1. Meditation
“My number one piece of advice to anyone looking to reduce their stress levels is to go into a room by yourself, close the door and just sit in silence and observe your thoughts. You can start off with five minutes and then build it up to 10-15 minutes a day to improve clarity and gain greater control over your feelings.”
2. Breathing
“There are many different exercises that help with emotional cleansing, such as belly breathing, which encourages you to breathe right down to the abdominals then release all the way out through the diaphragm and lungs. When you’re stressed you’re usually operating in fight or flight mode, which means you have shorter, quicker breathing. Breathing exercises – even five minutes of intention and awareness towards the breath – allows us to breathe deeply and feel safe. Good breathing habits can help reset negative emotions very quickly.”
3. Journaling
“I have spent years conditioning and intention-setting via journaling, which has reduced the amount of stress and self-doubt I experience whenever a challenge comes up. Journaling is a physical action which helps to affirm intentions and thoughts. Positive journaling is an amazing way of de-stressing and a good, quick gratitude exercise.”
4. Solo-tasking
“Giving up multi-tasking has created a huge shift for me. I’m now very present; if I’m doing one thing then that’s all I’m doing. A lot of stress that most people experience is due to meeting deadlines and working across multiple projects. By focusing on one task at a time you’re more productive and the work is of a higher quality.”
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