Everyone experiences stress at one time or another. If you need a quick stress-reliever, try these science-based stress relief strategies.
Stress and anxiety are common in our society – especially during these particularly hard times because of the pandemic. To effectively deal with stress, many are trying tried-and-true self-help strategies like good sleep, exercise, mindfulness, socializing, and positive reframing. However, if you want to try some outside-the-box strategies that are still based on science, then read on.
1. Diving Reflex
If you submerge your face in ice-cold water while holding your breath for 15-30 seconds, you’ll activate your diving reflex. As a result, your heart rate will slow down and redirect blood toward your heart and vital organs, decreasing anxiety. However, you should talk to your doctor before attempting this strategy if you have heart problems or an eating disorder.
2. Mental Games
Since stress makes us focus solely on the negative, having a quick distraction can help you to reset your thoughts. While long-term distractions lead to distress, occasional ones that use strong sensory input or engage in mental games can help. For example, you can listen to music, chew on a hot pepper, or make a list of your favorite movies.
3. Fractal Shapes
Research suggests that looking at images online that mimic certain natural patterns can be as calming as nature itself. To illustrate, fractals are shapes that repeat on finger scales and they are usually found in nature. Some things that contain fractals include snowflakes, tree branches, leaf veins, and the paintings of Jackson Pollock.
4. Speak in Third Person
When we’re in a negative mood, we often hear a critical and hopeless voice in our head that never ends. However, you may be able to get out of this downward spiral by talking to yourself in the third person. Some studies show that this practice helps take the edge off stress and defuses it by changing your perspective.
5. Chew Gum
The earliest study on the effects of chewing gum shows that it has beneficial effects on stress-related muscle tension Moreover, recent research suggests that it can help reduce stress, anxiety, and cortisol levels while also increasing alertness. However, a review of studies shows that these stress-lowering effects are inconsistent and more research is necessary.
The Outlook
If you want to reduce your stress levels, feel free to try these creative strategies to see if they help you. You can also try them alongside the more traditional strategies like exercise, good sleep, and mindfulness.
In addition to helping to reduce your anxiety, these tips may help improve your overall health. If you want to give your heart health an extra boost, try L-arginine Plus.
As a daily heart supplement, it promotes healthy circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, energy, and more. Give yourself some peace of mind by supporting your heart health with L-arginine Plus.