| If you're stressed out, it's good to know that there | | | | 4. Get a good night's sleep |
| are tools available that will help you reduce your | | | | Quite often when we're stressed, we'll literally lie |
| stress naturally, without the help of prescription | | | | awake at night worrying. It's important to get |
| drugs. Here are some natural stress reducers you can | | | | enough sleep as this is the time your body uses to |
| use: | | | | repair and renovate itself. Don't use alcohol as a night |
| 1. Meditation | | | | cap - this actually makes your sleep patterns worse. |
| Meditating on a regular basis is quite normal and | | | | Instead, adjust your habits so that you give yourself |
| studies have shown that it is very helpful in reducing | | | | time to unwind before you go to bed. Don't stay up |
| your stress levels as well as often helping to reduce | | | | too late reading those business reports. Taking a |
| your blood pressure. You can join a local meditation | | | | long, relaxing bath before you go to bed is one way |
| class, use a guided meditation MP3 or one of the | | | | to naturally encourage your body to go to sleep. |
| modern meditations which are combined with binaural | | | | 5. Change your routine |
| beats to take you into a deep meditative state with | | | | If certain things are stressing you out, consider |
| no effort on your part. | | | | changing your routine to lessen their impact. For |
| 2. Eat Your Stress Away | | | | instance, if your work place offers you a range of |
| Nutrition is important. A proper diet will go a long way | | | | times to start work, adjust your daily commute so |
| to reducing your stress levels. Often when we are | | | | that you miss the worst of the traffic. If one of |
| stressed we eat junk food to comfort ourselves. Be | | | | your co-workers constantly stresses you out, talk to |
| careful of your diet, drink plenty of water, cut back | | | | your boss to see whether you can be split away |
| on the caffeine and alcohol. All these will go a long | | | | from them or explore other ways to reduce the |
| way to helping your body naturally, reducing the | | | | tension between you. |
| stresses and strains it has to deal with. | | | | 6. Take a vacation |
| 3. Get some exercise | | | | Even a weekend away will help. They say a change |
| Sure, you're busy. You haven't got time to spend | | | | is as good as a break and a couple days away from |
| hours in the gym. But you don't need to unless you | | | | your regular routine could make all the difference. |
| want to. You can get exercise by walking more or | | | | Taking a short break will allow you time to recharge |
| maybe going for a swim once or twice a week. It's | | | | yourself and let the stress drain away. |
| important that you give your body regular exercise - | | | | 7. Get a hobby |
| powerful "happiness" drugs start getting created by | | | | Hobbies are a good way to change the direction your |
| your body. These endorphins are produced by your | | | | mind takes. Whether your hobby is an art, a craft or |
| body and will help you to feel happier completely | | | | even just playing your favorite video games. Feel |
| naturally. Just by exercising! | | | | free to indulge yourself. |