Seven ways to clear your mind from daily stress
If you are to ask around about what many people want to be free from in their day-to-day lives, it is for sure that stress is one of the leading answers.
Stress indeed is one of the major problems of many people. Whether you're young or old, it doesn't choose its victim. So it is important to make self-care a priority. It doesn't need to be expensive and grand, and sometimes you only need to pause for a while and do a simple activity that will clear your mind from the busy and chaotic tasks of your daily life. Here are seven ideas on how to distract your mind from worry and high levels of stress.
Unplug From Technology
The first step of diminishing stress and clearing your mind is to unplug from technology. You will not be able to focus if you face countless interruptions from apps, texts and email notifications. And when you scroll through social media for hours, you receive too much information that can clutter up your thoughts - and even negatively affect your mental health.
Also, lack of sleep, stress and depression can be associated with the continuous use of phone and computer, as well as using screens late at night. Taking a break from your gadgets and going offline at least one hour before bedtime allows you to consider your thoughts and makes it easier to let them go.
Talk To A Close Friend
Catching up with a friend and discussing your obstacles, problems, and possible solutions is also a great way to reduce stress. Talking things out and processing your worries with an empathetic friend can clear up the situation and help you realise that things aren't as bad as you imagine. Also, just knowing that you have someone who is always going to be there for you gives you additional confidence in solving any situation. In addition, the person you are talking to might help you see things from another's perspective, making it easier for you to identify a solution and cope with the issue stressing you.
So, whenever you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, be sure to call your family members, friends and loved ones or, even better, spend some quality time with them. But even if you choose not to open up and discuss your problems, the simple act of getting together and spending some time with your loved ones can be useful for clearing your mind.
Engage In Exercise
When you are overly stressed out, the last thing you would think of is probably exercises. However, regular physical activity is not only crucial for your physical health, but it also provides benefits for mental health by relieving stress, boosting your mood and increasing energy and alertness.
Exercises are known to trigger the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormones associated with pain relief and better mood. At the same time, it also lets your brain temporarily focus on something else except stress. No matter if you prefer dancing, jogging or practising yoga, make a priority of getting 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week.
Try Out CBD Oil
No matter if you prefer to take this supplement in the form of CBD vape oil, gummies, capsules or tinctures, daily intake of cannabidiol (CBD) can help you reduce stress and anxiety and promote a more calm mind.
Due to its ability to indirectly interfere with special receptors found throughout the body as part of the complex endocannabinoid system, using CBD for anxiety can help in regulating various functions, starting from sleep and pain to stress and learning. Therefore, CBD products can be a useful addition to your daily routine to not only diminish stress but also to bring better quality sleep, pain relief and improved general wellness.
Go For A Walk
Changing your environment and getting outside, even for a brisk walk, offers a great opportunity to shift your anxious thoughts away from the daily grind, clear your head and refocus.
Whether it is a park, a beach or a hiking trail, venturing out into nature has tons of benefits, including improved mood, concentration and energy levels and reduced stress. For the added benefits, you can listen to soothing music while connecting to nature to provide a sense of calm when you are bombarded with negative thoughts and feelings.
Practice Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy involves the use of different aromas of essential oils to promote health and general wellbeing. You can use this therapy to relieve stress as well. Through the sense of smell and skin absorption, particular scents serve different purposes - some stimulate the brain while others put your mind at ease.
When it comes to relaxation, chamomile, ylang-ylang, lavender, geranium and clary sage are considered the best options. You can use these soothing scents by adding a few drops of a certain oil in a diffuser, incorporating a diluted oil into a massage session or simply by placing the oil on a cotton ball for indirect inhalation.
Take Some Time To Meditate
In today's busy world, most people are caught in a web of endless to-dos, which makes them forget to pause for a minute and come back to themselves at some points in the day.
True meditation, when you can distract yourself from everything that is going on around you, shut down your brain and focus only on breathing, has amazing advantages. This practice allows you to think more clearly, see the overall picture and stay in the present. What's more, meditation is thought to help you manage stress, reduce negative emotions, improve imagination and creativity, increase patience and tolerance.
To start a meditation session, simply find a quiet place where you can sit and unwind. Then close your eyes and try to concentrate on your breathing while noticing how your body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. You can start with 10-15 minutes of daily meditation and then grow from there. Also, you can download apps like Calm and Headspace that has guided meditations or watch various videos on YouTube or Instagram to help you during your session.
