30 Ways To Relax Your Brain Even When You Are Totally Stressed Out

Each one of us faces stress. That is the reality of modern-day lives where there is no time to relax and enjoy some quality time with our loved ones. Right from dozens of unread emails to an unrelenting boss who keeps assigning more and more work, our lives have become more hectic than we can handle. However, just because there is way too much stress in our lives, it doesn’t mean you’re supposed to live in stress and anxiety all day long! To help you relax and de-stress when you feel life is becoming way too unrelenting, we have compiled a list of 30 ways that would help you in doing so. So, relax and go through the points given below.

Smile – even if you don’t feel like doing so!

I know it sounds crazy to smile when you’re probably stressed about your life, but it actually works! Like they say ‘fake it till you make it’, definitely stands true in this case. In fact, a report published in Psychological Science actually corroborated the fact that smiling even when you don’t feel like doing it reduces stress and anxiety to some extent.

During the study, researchers asked a group of volunteers to dip their hands in a bucket full of cold water, where some were asked to smile and others to react naturally. The results showed that those who were asked to smile actually had a lower heart rate and reported lesser anxiety. On the other hand, those who reacted naturally had higher levels of stress and heart rates. So, smile until you make it to a happy and stress-free situation.

Sit straight up

According to a study published in Health Psychology journal, sitting upright while you’re stressed and anxious can actually boost your spirits and bring on higher self-esteem. This is based on a concept known as ‘embodied cognition’, which states that our body affects our emotions and vice versa. So, if you are stressed out and anxious, don’t forget to stand straight, look straight and keep your back straight – it will help ease that anxiety.

Smell a sweet-smelling essential oil

If you want to have a relaxed and calm mind, consider buying a few sweet-smelling essential oils and a diffuser. According to various studies from around the world, the smell of essential oils such as lavender, chamomile and clary sage can actually bring down your stress levels. Further, the smell of oil also relaxes every part of the brain, to ensure you have a nice, deep sleep as well.

Or, smell some flowers!

If you do not believe in the authenticity of essential oils or just don’t feel like using a diffuser, you can smell flowers and feel rejuvenated and fresh as well! According to a report published in the Journal of Psychological Anthropology, touching or smelling sweet smelling flowers actually helps in reducing stress levels significantly. So, the next time you feel stressed out, go out of your home or office and spend some time in the garden – smelling those beautiful flowers would definitely make you feel better.

Doodle

You may find this funny (which is a good thing to lower your stress levels, by the way!), but drawing is actually a good solution for calming your mind. According to an article in The Atlantic, several former presidents of the United States actually used this technique to go through their daily, stressful lives. The funniest ones, apparently, were drawn by Ronald Reagan who used to draw cheery cartoons of people around him! So, the next time you feel life has been too harsh on you recently, just grab a piece of paper and a pen and unleash those drawing skills!