10 Tips to Release Stress

Like many others, I first got into holistic wellness as a way to deal with stress. I realized that my mind was often full of worry and my physical body was full of tension. At age 20, I felt the weight of taking 18 credits in school and working two jobs. One day, a friend offered to teach me simple breathing techniques to deal with my stress. After trying the techniques I felt lighter, calmer, and more clear, and wanted to learn everything I could about natural wellness. This changed the course of my life and opened me up to a healthier lifestyle.

Here are 10 key practices that have helped me deal with stress over the years. I offer them to you in hopes that you will integrate them into your daily routine and discover optimum wellness. The practices are broken down as it relates to the mind, body, and spirit, although each practice has an effect on our overall being. Enjoy!

For the Mind....

1) Breath - This is the fundamental way that we receive our life force energy. Most modern people take the act of breathing for granted, even though we can only last minutes without a breath of air. The way we breathe dictates the quality of life. We can alter our breathing by slowing it down, increasing its speed, opening our lungs, and restricting passage ways in order to relax the body, shift our mental state, and balance our nervous system. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong offers excellent breathing techniques for stress reduction.

2) Stay in the Present Moment - We are constantly between two realities: our past and our future. It is very rare when our minds are clearly focused on the present moment. This, however, is the only real truth. Our past is over with and our future hasn't begun. So why be full of regret and worry? Concentrating on our present moment opens us up to mental ease and peace. It is also where our creativity and amazing ideas dwell.

3) Meditation - Our minds are often full of repetitive chatter. Peace of mind begins with internal silence. Meditation offers a silent retreat into our selves and provides clarity, wisdom, and states of bliss. It helps to eradicate the ego and connect us with our highest selves. Meditation has proven to be an effective tool in stress reduction and can lower blood pressure, help students concentrate on tests, and help relieve anxiety.

For the Body....

4) Exercise - At least 30 minutes a day of physical exercise can improve your total health and provide an outlet for life's stressors. Looking for an alternative to the gym? Try swimming, walking, tennis, yoga, martial arts, salsa dancing, capoeira, biking, or any other physical activity that is fun to you. Keep your exercise routine fun and diverse and be sure to include anaerobic, aerobic, and flexibility practices.

5) Diet - Our foods give us the fuel to construct each cell in our body. When we understand that our foods are a key component to our well-being we can begin to have a healthy relationship with food. A proper diet is essential for stress reduction. In addition to limiting our process food intake, we can concentrate on eating nutritious whole foods that are life sustaining. Be sure to make an informed decision on what type of foods you consume according to your specific health needs. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water.

6) Rest - In addition to the recommended eight hours of sleep, give yourself some additional down time where you can relax and enjoy doing nothing. How many days off from work do you give yourself a week? During those times, are you full of errands and overstimulating activity? Sometimes, we just need some down time.

For the Spirit...

7) Spirituality - Connecting to your spiritual side provides a source of strength in all of life's situations. No matter our faith or religion, it is important to feed and nourish our spirits on a regular basis. Find a meaningful discipline that can connect you to the higher realms and develop a spiritual practice that speaks to you.

8) Positive Outlook - Energy flows where our attention goes. If we concentrate on all that we lack or the downside of situations, our upsets will only add fuel to our fires. Whenever possible, choose to put a smile on your face. Create a gratitude list of all that you are thankful for. In an uncomfortable situation, find whatever is positive and focus on that. Pretty soon you will create a positive perspective that will allow your stress to melt in minutes.

9) Self-Care Days - Part of stress reduction if finding time when you can nurture yourself. Get a massage, take a hike on a wooded trail, or sit in a bath tub full of oils. Maybe your self-care day consists of organizing your closet (that certainly makes me feel more mentally clear) or baking treats. Whatever you decide, give yourself plenty of permission to spoil yourself on a regular basis.

10) Find Your Passion - We all need interests and pursuits to make our lives worth living. Is yours music? Fashion? Helping youth? Farming? Discover what makes your life exciting and take action.

Looking for more ways to release stress? Visit www.themetaexperience.com to learn about holistic wellness.