5 Things that Can Put Your Mind at Ease

Lisa Franchi July 28, 2014

It’s Monday again. And for most of us, this marks another STRESSFUL week. From having to wake up early even though you slept late, to getting stuck in the traffic and doing the same old routines you do at work – you probably wish it’s already Friday.

But life’s like this.

Fortunately, each of us possess skills that help us fight and overcome stress. However, we just don’t often use them.

There’s no magic formula to beating stress. Basically, it’s all about finding ways to feel good. Here are some things that we do which puts our mind at ease and helps us fight stress.

Connecting with Your Loved Ones

Positive social interactions can help you manage your emotions. Whether you are hugging your spouse, playing with your children, or having a nice conversation with your friend over the phone, connecting with people you love can significantly boost your sense of wellbeing.

Exercising

Experts encourage us to exercise to lose weight, strengthen our muscles and improve our immune function. But did you know it can also boost our mental health? Same with connecting with others, exercising stimulates the release of feel good chemicals in your brain, thus, improving your mood and calming your body.

Finding Your Centre

Often, the best remedy for stress is finding our centre. That is, getting connected with your body. If stress is making you feel anxious, tense and worried, consider practising meditation. Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, make you calmer and bring you inner peace. Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. It produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind.

Breathing

We breathe every second of our life. But too often, we miss breathing deeply – restricting the flow of oxygen throughout our body. We don’t breathe the way we should, especially when we’re overwhelmed. You probably notice that when you are angry or anxious, it feels like you are running short from air. But by breathing in and out deeply, you are keeping tension in your body low, calming yourself down and improving your mood.

Eating Right

Researchers from the University College Cork in Ireland found that a bacterial strain found in some types of yoghurt called lactobacillus rhamnosus, affects the brains of mice, reducing their stress hormone levels and making them act calmer than those fed bacteria-free meals. They found that the probiotic boosts receptors for the soothing neurotransmitter GABA, travels from bowels to brain via the body’s long vagus nerve.