The Secrets to Living Stress-Free

Stress. We all know that dreaded feeling of it. We wake up everyday with so many responsibilities and duties. Errands to run, work or school, things to plan for, when does it end? Why is there so much to do?

Stress is horrible for us. We know that it feels horrible, but it is also horrible for our physical health. Your body, mood, and behavior can all be negatively affected by stress. According to Mayo Clinic, some symptoms are fatigue, depression, chest pain, and social withdrawals. There are many more side effects of stress that millions of Americans are dealing with everyday.

According to Heathline, people are experiencing more stress today than ever before. That makes sense, too. There is so much more to worry about now for the average person than there used to be. Americans are facing a national divide, a global pandemic, and crazy politics. We’re also facing the normal things like school or work, bills, responsibilities, and thinking about the future. Not to mention the fact that social media is putting all of these things in our faces, 24/7. It seems like people can’t catch a break nowadays.

Despite all of this, how do some people seem to keep it together so well? We’re all going through similar things, but some people seem to be unaffected by stress. How do these people keep it together? How can you pull off something similar to live a life free of stress? Let’s find out.

Relieved body, relieved mind

People with relaxed bodies have relaxed minds. There are so many massage services out there that provide great services. Unfortunately, it isn’t safe (or even possible in some places) to visit a massage place right now. The pandemic has its grip on massage services for a while. However, there are other ways to relieve your body.

Heat therapy

There is a very popular massage style that uses heat in order to relieve the body and mind of tension. It’s called heat therapy. Also known as thermotherapy or warmth therapy, the name is very self-explanatory.

Heat therapy is so popular because it really works. Heat relieves muscle pain or tension for better blood flow. This blood flow increases cell count in different parts of the body. An increased blood flow could even speed up healing. Injury recovery, joint and muscle stiffness, inflammation, and more are all accelerated by a better blood flow.

There are different ways of performing heat therapy. There’s dry heat and moist heat.

Moist heat is just what it sounds like. Heat with water or steam. The most common examples of this are saunas and warm baths. Wet towels are also a (messy) method of performing moist heat therapy. This is why hot showers or baths feel so great at the end of the day. A con to most methods of moist heat therapy is that it’s very messy. Most people pay to get access to a sauna or hot tub, but right now that just isn’t possible for many due to the pandemic.

Dry heat therapy includes hot packs, hot gels, wraps, heating pads, and heated blankets. This is a lot easier for people to do. Products for dry heat therapy are not expensive at all and last a long time. Applying one of these items to your back or shoulder could do wonders for your body. Relieving all that tension is going to make stress disappear.

Putting a heated object on yourself or having someone else do it for you is going to feel amazing. Try using some heated therapy while you’re watching a movie or eating a snack. A few minutes a day is going to help you destress.

Getting better sleep

People often overlook sleeping. Many Americans don’t see sleep as a vital part of our day. However, sleep can be the difference between a stressed mind bulging with worries and a clear mind ready for productivity.

The American Psychological Association reports that stress and sleep are very intertwined. We all need sleep. If you’re anything like most Americans, then getting an extra 1-1.5 hours of sleep can make you happier, healthier, and safer. Adults that sleep less than 8 hours a day experience much higher levels of stress than those who sleep more.

Knowing how to sleep better is difficult. Everyone is different. You can try going to bed earlier. Going to sleep earlier gives you more cushion time to fall asleep and get more rest. Definitely put your phone away thirty minutes before bed to read a book or write in a journal.

Getting a heated blanket is a great idea for better sleep. The warmth is scientifically proven to help people fall asleep faster. The blanket stabilizes body temperature throughout the night as to keep the user asleep. These things are also insanely comfortable and easy to use. With many adjustable heat settings, you can find the perfect setting for you and your sleep. Find your key to better sleep here.

Today’s causes of stress

Identifying the causes of stress could really help. If you know the cause, then you can stop the effect.

Most stress comes from money problems. While there isn’t a magical solution for this, just remember to keep first things first. You already know how to manage your money, but just try to reevaluate how you’re doing it more often.

Practice taking breaks. The modern world is a very, very busy place. Things are moving faster than ever before. Try stepping aside a few times a day to take a nice walk or just breathe a bit. About ten collective minutes a day can really do wonders for you.

And of course, social media. We’re all more connected than ever before. While this is great for many reasons, it also comes with so many downfalls. We often instinctually compare ourselves to the people we see on our feed. Remember that people, including you, post highlights. The highlights of life are great to share, but it isn’t our whole life. We go through many lows as well. Remember this when you find yourself getting jealous at someone’s vacation post. Social media is making more adults and teens stressed. Don’t let it bring you down, too.

Other ways to stop stress

There are many other ways to destress. Some of the most common include journaling, meditating, and self-improvement.

Journaling is a great way to reflect on the day. You can often find patterns in your daily reports. For example, you can get stressed every beginning of the month because rent is due soon. While this won’t stop stress, it’s a great first step. In this example, you can try to plan a date night every 2nd day of the month to alleviate some stress.

Meditating is a very common method of destressing. Just 5-10 minutes a day can change your mindset and life. Try getting some quiet time to yourself to meditate. There are many extensive guides on the internet that will show you how to get the most out of meditation.

Self-improvement includes going to the gym or working on a passion project. Anything to make yourself better and get your mind off of everything going on. It’s really tricky to find time to do these things, as they take up about an hour of time. However, it is possible. Try sleeping and waking up earlier. Remember to still get your 8-10 hours, though! Getting better sleep with a heated blanket can give you the energy to wake up earlier and fit more time in your day.

The stress-free life

Hopefully you have an idea of what to do now. Without stress, you’re going to feel a big weight off your shoulders. Reading this article isn’t going to magically make your problems disappear, but now you know how to adjust. Reading this was a great first step.

Stress-free minds are more productive, happier, and healthier.