The holidays should be a time for relaxation, catching up with friends and spending time doing the things you love. However, shaking that feeling of mental stress and worry that is often synonymous with this time of the year is easier said than done. Whilst everyone is different and may have their own tips for coping with feelings of anxiousness, we share some of our tips that will help to relieve the spiral of worry of fretfulness and get you back to enjoying this time of the year.
Drinking Herbal Tea
A warm mug of herbal tea is abundant in a number of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that have various short and long term benefits for your health. Along with being one of the healthiest things that you can drink, they have been used for thousands of years for their medicinal, healing and stress relieving properties, dating all the way back to Ancient Egypt and Ancient China. Tea drinking is not only a relaxing ritual in itself, but also contains an amino acid that produces a calming and soothing effect. Drinking a cup of decaffeinated tea is great evening custom for this reason as it can help relax you and encourage sleep. Green tea in particular has been proven to decrease stress levels and promote a better nights sleep. Other non-caffeinated teas such as chamomile, ginger and peppermint are great options as well.
Yoga
A mind-body practice that combines controlled breathing, meditation and physical poses, it is easy to see why yoga has fast become a popular way to keep active and unwind. An exercise that almost anyone can do, it can be enjoyed with friends, family or on your own if you are looking for quality me-time. As yoga combines mental and physical practices, it has a number of benefits for the mind and body. It allows you to stretch targeted muscle groups, work on progressive muscle relaxation, focus on deep breathing and clearing the mind to achieve a sense of peacefulness and calm, which can help you to manage stress and feelings of mild anxiety.
Massages
It’s the holidays, which means it is the perfect time to reward yourself for all the hard work you have put in and the goals that you have achieved over the past year – and what better way to treat yourself than booking in for a body massage. Along with being a fantastic way to relieve muscle tension, increasing flexibility and joint mobility, studies also suggest massage therapy can be incredibly beneficial for improving your mood and combatting feelings of stress and uneasiness. During a massage, your brain realises natural endorphins, relaxing you and calming your mind, whilst working on improving both mental and physical components of your health.
Time To Self-Reflect
Whilst it is important to maintain connections and socialise, sometimes you just need some me-time. Whether this involves having a bath, listening to your favourite music or podcast, catching up on the new must-see TV show or being outdoors. These activities can improve your sense of self and provide clarity on your own wants and needs. Self-reflection can be a perfect opportunity to push aside your daily worries and focus on other components of your life that you enjoy.
Naturally Derived Supplements
The debilitating feelings of mental stress are often a result of an unhealthy cycle of worry, irritability, nervousness and sleeplessness that can have a large impact on your state of mind and overall quality of life. Breaking this sequence is not an easy thing to do, which is why Bod Australia have developed an effective plant-based, non-addictive and non-drowsy solution to help assist the 4.9 million Australians suffering from mild stress related symptoms. With the help of a high quality, soothing, remedy naturally derived from the passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), can help to restore your equilibrium, alleviate mental stress and help aid a better night’s sleep.
Help put your mind at ease this holiday season with these simple, effective relaxing techniques. Follow our Instagram, for more tips and tricks to help manage feelings of stress and get back to living the life that you deserve.
