Everyone experiences some form of stress from time to time, but this doesn’t mean that stress should be taken lightly. While the human body is designed to adjust and respond to stressors, PsychCentral notes that there can be long-term effects on our physical and mental health when the stress becomes regular and severe. Over time, stress can increase heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and digestive discomfort. Stress also makes it hard to participate in daily activities due to changes in mood and risk factors for anxiety and depression.
As such, there is no better time than now to start reducing your overall stress levels and even reverse the previous effects of stress on your health and wellness. Here are five essentials that can aid you in this lifestyle change.
In this blog:
- Drink herbal teas
- Try mindfulness activities
- Invest in ergonomic accessories
- Improve sound quality
- Bask in natural light
Drink herbal teas
Water is of course important for good hydration, but it also doesn’t hurt to drink a cup of tea every now and then as it can work wonders for your overall health. While herbal teas technically do not come from the leaves or buds of tea plants, Harvard Health Publishing highlights the health benefits of ginger, chamomile, and hibiscus when it comes to promoting cardiovascular health, strengthening the immune system, relieving stress and anxiety. Certain herbs like echinacea help with soothing a sore throat or a stuffy nose, but remember that herbal teas do not serve as an alternative to medicine and must always be taken in moderation.
Try mindfulness activities
Mindfulness activities can also have a calming effect, as you get away from the outside world and instead tap into your inner self. You can try out guided meditation with the help of a video and an app, or you can further cultivate the mind-body connection by combining yoga with breathing techniques. Even journaling can be a great mindfulness practice as it unlocks your creativity and self-expression. When meditating and seeking a moment of peace, make sure to pick a spot in your home or office where it is quiet, comfortable, and free from distractions..
Invest in ergonomic accessories
You may think that only the heavy workload and long hours can tire you out, but even a poor working posture and physical environment can inflict stress, pressure, and tension on your body. PainFreeWorking thus points out the need to invest in ergonomic accessories before the daily and repetitive stress takes its toll on you. You can opt for a split mechanical keyboard so your shoulders and wrists remain in a proper and relaxed position while typing, or an adjustable laptop/tablet stand to avoid straining the back of your neck. These may seem like small investments, but they lead to huge payoffs for your long-term health.
Improve sound quality
Paying attention to the sound quality of your environment can also boost health and wellness. A previous post entitled The Sound of Health explains how noise pollution can adversely affect us by disrupting our sleep, mood, and productivity. Instead of being distracted by unwanted sounds and outside noise, try listening to soothing music, white noise, or binaural beats to calm you down and improve your brain health. You can also wear noise-canceling headphones so you can achieve the best sound quality, whether you’re trying to sleep mid-flight or working in a loud office.
Bask in natural light
Sunlight is essential not only for warmth and plant growth but also for physical and mental health. Medical News Today outlines how basking in natural light can benefit our bone health, calcium levels, immune system, and metabolism. The serotonin production aided by sunlight can also help you feel more relaxed, productive, and alert.
If taking brisk morning walks and opening up your windows are still not enough, ORIGINS offers a range of outdoor activities like hiking, bird watching, and nature walks to help you soak in sunlight and take better care of your holistic health. Afterward, you can relax in a luxury lodge while still staying in touch with nature.
Written by Alisha Christina Chalmers
Exclusive for originslodge.com
.
