There’s a fine line between stress and anxiety. Both are emotional responses, but stress is typically caused by an external trigger. The trigger can be short-term, such as a work deadline or a fight with a loved one or long-term, such as being unable to work, discrimination, or chronic illness. People under stress experience mental and physical symptoms, such as irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive troubles, and difficulty sleeping.
Anxiety, on the other hand, is defined by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away even in the absence of a stressor. Anxiety leads to a nearly identical set of symptoms as stress: insomnia, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, and irritability.
Tips reduce stress and Anxiety
1.Exercise
You don’t need a gym to exercise. Do jumping jacks. Run in place. Find an at-home routine on YouTube. Just 20 minutes of exercise can reduce stress by up to 50%.
2.Go outside
Connect with nature in your backyard. Exposure to nature is proven to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the production of stress hormones.
3. Aromatherapy
Pull out those old scented candles and inhale a calming scent. Studies show it can improve sleep and reduce anxiety.
4. Journal
Write down your negative thoughts then cross them out and replace them with positive thoughts. Write down the things that you are grateful for.
5.Listen to calming music
Research shows that music can help you through your lowest moods.
6.Sing
Singing is proven to lower stress and increase endorphins.
7.Laugh
Laughter helps you put things into perspective. Try googling for humorous memes or videos.
8.Connect
Email, call, or write a letter to a friend or family member. Connection helps relieve loneliness.
9.Pet your dog or cat
Studies show that petting an animal decreases stress hormones and increases serotonin production, the happiness neurotransmitter.
10.Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is about living in the now. Sit and close your eyes. Take 5 slow deep breaths. Focus on your surroundings and identify 5 smells, 5 touches, 5 tastes, and 5 sounds.
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