Why do we get stressed? Well, you can thank your ancestors for that. You see, way back in the day, during a time when we roamed the land alongside bears and beasts, this feeling that we today call stress is what gave us the ability when threatened to either stay and fight, or run for our lives.
The extra oxygen, increased heart rate and adrenaline were necessary if we wished to survive these dangerous encounters, but these days things are somewhat different. Very few of us have to worry about an imminent bear attack, but our bodies haven’t quite realised this yet, and as a result we experience these intense feelings and bodily reactions to events that pose us no real physical harm.
Most of the time our symptoms of stress are disproportional to the actual event, but can have a lasting effect on our overall health, both mentally and physically. Conditions like insomnia, high blood pressure and asthma are exacerbated by high levels of stress, which in turn adds to your stress and creates a vicious cycle.
The good news is that science has been investigating stress for some time now, and while we may not be able to get rid of it completely, we certainly can minimise its effects. Here’s how:
1. Learn some breathing techniques.
Learning to breathe deeply and rhythmically can help you relax, as it helps your body feel the way it does when you are already in a state of relaxation. Check out some cool breathing techniques here: Breathing exercises.
2. Go for a stroll.
Walking is great for your health – it gets you breathing well, gives you exercise and helps you feel a bit more in touch with nature. If you can, take a ten minute stroll in a park or other “leafy†area and let your mind wander. Chances are you’ll feel far less stressed by the end of it.
3. Put your phone away.
With the introduction of WhatsApp and other messengers, coupled with the constant notifications from Facebook, Twitter and the like, you might feel like you’ve hardly finished typing your reply when *beep beep* somebody else wants your attention. Save yourself the trouble, simply put your phone away.
4. Listen to some music.
Cranking up the tunes when you’re feeling stressed, particularly if it’s music you like, has the effect of increasing dopamine (the happy hormone) and lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. What better reason to rock out could you ask for?
Staff Training presents Stress and Time Management Training nationwide. Contact us at (021) 839 3021 for more information or drop us an email.