The Best Ways To Clear Your Mind
When You're Stressed
By Mikkie Mills
Today’s world is so hectic and fast-paced, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed to the maximum. But research suggests that this feeling can have negative effects on your physical health, as well as impacting your mood and mental function. But you don’t have to let stress undermine your ability to work effectively and enjoy your personal life.
Here are a few ways that will effectively clear your mind when stress becomes too much to handle...
Exercise
Working out at the gym, cycling, running, swimming or any other type of vigorous activity can help you to clear your mind and reduce the stress that is having a negative effect. Exercise produces better circulation that sends blood and nutrients to the brain and reduces tension built up in muscles.
Meditation
Regular meditation can have a beneficial effect, both on stress levels and on general health. Meditation is not difficult to learn. You can find a number of demonstrations online, and CDs of guided meditations are also available to help you learn the techniques.
Hobbies
Engaging in hobbies you love can take you away from your common patterns of thinking and can help to reduce stress. Whether you like knitting, craftwork, sports, gardening or collecting, spending time with your hobby will help you feel more in control.
Practice Being Present in the Now
Mindfulness is similar to meditation in that it can be an effective way to reduce stress and allow you to function more effectively in everyday life. Practice being in the “now,” without holding onto ideas and images from the past and without considering what will happen in the near or far future.
Manage Your Physical Discomfort
Dealing with chronic physical discomfort can dominate your mental energy and can cause increased vulnerability to stress. A quick visit to your local chiropractor can help to re-align your spinal structures, reducing pressure on nerves that cause pain. Methods like the Graston technique can relieve pain from a variety of conditions, and can free your mind from the grip of physical discomfort that can keep you feeling tense and under pressure.
Reach Out To Friends or Family
Spending time with family or friends can help to reduce stress and give you a new perspective on problems. No matter how busy you are, if you put aside some time to socialize, you will feel less stressed and better able to handle the pressure of everyday problems.
Turn Up the Tunes
Since the dawn of mankind, music has had a soothing effect that has helped reduce stress and improve quality of life. You can use this ability to relax and refresh by turning on your favorite music whenever you feel stressed or overwhelmed by events. Listening to music can help you to feel in better control of the situation and can provide the physical release that allows to you to function more effectively.
Change Your Routine
Sometimes, the best way to put your mind on reset is to take a vacation that takes you away from your normal environment and puts you on a different schedule of daily activities. Even a short getaway can help to recharge your mental batteries and allow you to engage in physical activities that relieve stress and improve mood. Even an afternoon at the park can have a beneficial effect on your physical and mental health.
Individuals should stay alert to signals from their body that stress is beginning to have a negative effect, such as minor aches and pains, changes in appetite and increasing fatigue. Also keep watch for mental signs of stress, such as depression, a feeling of hopelessness and foggy thinking. If you notice these signs, implement one or more of the strategies for dealing with stress. You will feel better, both physically and mentally.
About Mikkie Mills: “I’m a Chicago native who loves to share her expertise about personal development and growth. When I’m not writing, I’m chasing the little ones around or rock climbing at the local climbing gym.” More articles by Mikkie.
