Stress is like a chocolate. A small bite won’t kill you. It is, in fact, good for you. But eat a lot of chocolates every day and you increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Too much stress can severely damage your mind and body. And just because the funds are low, doesn’t mean to say you can no longer do something to fight stress. While a grand vacation, a luxurious spa, or some lavish shopping can give you a break from your stressful world, they can leave you feeling more anxious after finding out you almost have zero balance in your bank account. Why spend a lot when you can beat stress for £5 or less?!
Here are cheap, yet effective stress-busters:
1.Cheer up with cheese!
It’s time to overload your pizza or sandwich with parmesan! Did you know that just a hundred grams of this cheese contains 400-500mg of mood-boosting tryptophan? It is also packed with essential amino acids for better health. But you have to limit your consumption of cheese. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, you should eat not more than 40 grams a day. 280 grams of parmesan is around £4 – good for 7 days!
2.It’s movie time!
Watching movies is one of the simple yet satisfying life pleasures. If you order online, you can get great movies for just £5 or less.
3.Red, red wine
Exhausted? Darker red wines contain the highest level of resveratrol – an antioxidant found in the best varieties of grapes grown at high altitudes. Studies also found that another compound naturally found in grapes called melatonin can be effective in treating depression. There are several value red wines in supermarkets for around £5!
4.Hugs, kisses and…
Nothing makes a person more relaxed and elated than sex. When couples make love, both of them produce oxytocin – the love hormone, which counters the effects of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body. You only need to spend more or less £3 for condoms.
5.Add colours to your day
A pair of coloured socks only costs around £2. According to experts, certain colours have mood-enhancing effects. Choose red if you want to stimulate sexual energy, green if you want happiness and freedom, blue for relaxation, and purple for luxury. Don’t usually wear socks? Shop for some cheap coloured bangles or trinkets!
6.Spread the news!
A study by the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands found that people who have fewer friends have higher cortisol levels. If you can’t make friends just by approaching people, make it a habit to read newspapers on your way to work! Experts suggest that being aware of what’s happening around the world is one way for people to like and respect you. You only have to spend less than £2 to win many friends!
7.Chill with stout
Just a pint and a half of stout beer can make you feel relaxed. Not just that, it may also aid in weight loss! In an animal study, scientists found that mice fed with stout had lower stress levels and were able to metabolise carbohydrates more efficiently. Just spare £2-3 per pint.
8.Turn on the music
For just one pound per song, you can download some of the most relaxing tracks of all time: Teardrop by Massive Attack, Daydream in Blue by I Monster, American Dream by Jakatta, At the River by Groove Armada, and Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad by Moby. You can also get them for free from YouTube – with matching video!
Dear Readers,
What other inexpensive effective stress relievers can you think of?
