nzgirl Quickies: Top 5 Ways to Beat Stress

A balanced diet is important when it comes to beating stress. Research has shown that vitamins like B complex, C and E along with minerals such as manganese, selenium and zinc are helpful in relieving stress. Load up on fresh fruit and veggies, which are naturally full of these fabulous health boosters – in particular green, yellow, orange and leafy veggies. Avoid junk foods and caffeine products like coffee and energy drinks.

Work It Out
Regular exercise has been proven to help keep stress levels in check. It’s a great way to release tension and get the endorphins pumping. So whether it’s hitting the gym or going for walks in your lunch break, make sure that you set aside sometime to exercise.

Get Enough Sleep

Make sure that you are getting enough sleep each and every night, no matter how busy and stressed out you are. Figure out how much sleep you personally need, then devote that much time to sleeping every night and stick with a consistent sleep and wake schedule. Getting enough sleep will ensure that you are rested and able to deal with challenges much better. It will help clear your head and recharge your batteries – exactly what you need to fight off stress.

 

Dedicate enough time in the week to clear your head with some quality one on one time with yourself. Try carving out 20 minutes a day to do something by yourself that you enjoy doing, and that enables you to relax, chill and get your thoughts together. It might be as simple as soaking in a hot bath, reading a book or just meditating. This will help you to escape from all the things that may be causing you stress – just focus on relaxing and letting all your worries float away!

 

It may seem a little too good to be true, but just by smiling feel good hormones will be released into your body, while the stress hormone, cortisol, will be reduced! It’s an easy way to help you feel calm and in control, and it also lowers your blood pressure and makes your feel good about yourself. So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, take a deep breath and smile – focus on the positives instead of the negatives and you’ll notice an immediate difference!