Holistic Ways to Help You Deal With Stress
Life as an entrepreneur is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.
By: Tatiana Cortes
The pressure to succeed and manage the everyday flow of a business can be very stressful – The long hours, the endless to-do lists, and the financial unsteadiness can leave you feeling like you can never keep up.
Unfortunately, anxiety and stress are common for most people, 70% of adults in the US say they feel stress or anxiety daily. We have complied a few holistic ways to help you deal with stress and anxiety:
Exercise
One of the most important things you can do to combat stress. Exercising regularly helps relieve mental stress by lowering your body’s stress hormones and releasing endorphins. It can also improve your sleeping quality and boost your confidence by feeling comfortable with your body.
Spend Time with Your Pet
Interacting with your pet also helps releasing oxytocin, promoting a positive mood. Spending time with your fur-buddy gives you a sense of purpose, keeping you active and providing companionship.
Spend Time with Friends and Family
A study found that spending time with friends and family, helps release oxytocin – a natural stress reliever. Having strong social ties can help you go through stressful times and lower your risk of anxiety.
Take a Yoga Class
A popular method for stress relief, often used to join your body and mind. Yoga may help lower cortisol levels, your blood pressure, and increase gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which is a neurotransmitter that affects mood disorders.
Meditate
Meditation helps you lower symptoms of anxiety and stress, by anchoring you to the present moment and helping you combat negative thinking.
Deep Breathing
The goal of deep breathing is to focus your awareness on your breath, making it slower and deeper. Slowing your heart rate can help you feel more at peace and grounded.
Journal
Whether your writing down what you’re stress or anxious about or what you are grateful for, writing helps you process your thoughts and emotions. It also helps you think critically and review situations with a different perspective. It could be therapeutic as it helps you deal with things you feel you can’t disclosed to other people.
Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
High doses of caffeine can increase anxiety and complicate an existing anxiety disorder. If you notice that caffeine makes you jittery or anxious, is time to cut back!
Cuddle
Cuddling, kissing, hugging and sex can all help relieve stress. Positive physical contact also releases oxytocin and lowers cortisol, reducing blood pressure and heart rate – symptoms of stress and anxiety.