Feeling stressed out? It happens to the best of us and too much stress can have long-term consequences like weight gain, increased inflammation and a higher risk of getting sick. Plus, it can have a negative impact on our moods. So when you feel stress sneaking up, it’s important to have strategies for dealing with it. Sure, there are all kinds of pricey wellness gadgets and supplements that claim to help, but there are also affordable or free ways to improve your state of mind, like these.
- Walking- It’s not only free, it can be done just about anywhere by most anyone, and it can even add years to your life, if you pick up the pace. Walking can boost energy levels, clear your head, get you outside for fresh air, and reduce stress, too.
- Meditation- Tweak your morning routine to make time for some mindful meditation and you’ll get benefits including decreased stress, improved focus and even lower blood pressure. Just 10 minutes of it goes a long way and you can do it on your own or with a free app to guide you.
- Breathing- Looking for something even simpler than meditation? Try some deep breaths. Research shows that slowing down your breathing - think taking 10 breaths over the course of a minute - helps improve attention, lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and improves mental well-being. Plus, breathing is free, easy, can be done anywhere and it can relieve stress in as little as a minute. And not feeling stressed is definitely a mood-booster.
Source:Yahoo
Photo: Getty Images