The everyday grind is getting to you, the media lies, politics is a mess, the Dems are defending anti-Semitism, the USA is on the verge of becoming a socialist country, and Trump will probably post something horrible on twitter again. There are a lot of reasons to be stressed out, but you don’t need to take a happy pill to get through it.
Find Your Center
Do a bit of yoga or even go on one of those meditation retreats over the weekend. Yoga helps with both physical and mental stress. The various poses and stretches can relieve back pain and strengthen your core muscles. A stronger core can reduce most of the problems on your back and improve your posture a bit.
Yoga exercises are relaxing, but they also improve blood circulation. The slow movements and stretches do wonders for your joints and muscles, relieving tension and pain, especially if good for arthritis. Combining yoga with meditation creates a connection between your mind and body, giving you more significant results.
Biofeedback research has firmly established a connection between the mind and body, and meditation can fortify and strengthen those connections. Even a brief session of 2-10 minutes a day can drop your heart rate and lower your adrenaline levels, allowing you to function more efficiently. Meditation can also enhance your ability to focus while also fortifying you from stressful outside forces.
Sweat Out the Stress
Exercise is one of the best tools to combat stress. Take a morning run and soak up some sunlight. The physical activity prompts your body to release endorphins, and the sunlight increases the amount of serotonin in your body. Serotonin and endorphins regulate your mood and boost your spirit. Endorphins are responsible for what is called the “runner’s high,” a euphoric feeling you get when you run for a certain period.
You can play a team sport like basketball or soccer, or some one-on-one tennis or racquetball; enjoy the game and focus more on your performance rather than the result. Exercise is also a great way to manage your weight and stress extra pounds. Weight plays a significant role in physical stress, especially when you grow older.
Sports and physical activity also makes you feel good about yourself. Whether it’s achieving a personal best or merely performing well in a team game — little milestones and accomplishments will improve your self-esteem and boost your confidence.
Spend Time with Family and Friends
Your connections define you, and your family and friends are the most important ones. Spending time with family or hanging out with friends can remind you of the essential things in life. On a physical level, making connections increase your serotonin levels as well as oxytocin production in your body. That feeling of warmth and joy when you truly hug someone you love — that’s oxytocin.
However, connections have to be personal. Sending each other messages through the phone doesn’t compare to meeting up for a coffee. Strengthen your bond with family and friends by spending a few hours connecting face-to-face.
You don’t need meds to feel good. The best pill you can take is a red pill that shows you what’s real and what’s important in life.