Check out these five solutions to beat the stress out of your life

Running around to finish your pending list of things to do before the year ends? Already thinking about what’s on your plate in the coming year? Well calm down and take a deep breath. It’s important to not let the stress get to you.

It is the holiday season, so it’s all the more reason to take a break and slow down. Here are five ways you can overcome stress in the coming year to ensure that while you give your best to work, you care for your body and mind too.

Early to bed, early to rise

When you are confused between choosing the jogging shoes or the cereal bowl first, always pick the jogging shoes and start the morning with a glass of water. Starting your day with breakfast followed by exercise is not as healthy as you think. The results are drastic changes in lipid metabolism and glucose transport, as shown by a recent study in the American Journal of Physiology. Exercise your muscles and grey cells for a minimum of 30 minutes and relax with a touch of meditation – this should be your first step to start your day stress-free.

What is more important at the end of the day is adequate sleep. Hit the bed around 10 PM. It can seem quite challenging initially, but you will get used to the pattern eventually. The benefits of sleeping early are enormous for your mental health and will for sure help you give a positive performance at work the next day.

A healthy start

Plan your meal such that you cover all the five basic food groups in them, such as carbs, veggies, and proteins. Avoid junk during the day as much as possible as it reduces the way your brain functions. Not just that – it’s also a reason to raise your stress levels by worrying about being obese too.

Adopt a pet

Adopting a pet is the best thing you can do for yourself and your five senses. Working extra-long hours is going to be harsh on not only yourself but all areas of your life. When you come back home, don’t you want someone to make you feel loved and greet you with joy? Pets act as a powerful antidote against stress by lowering your blood pressure and making you happy. Head to the nearest adoption centre and pick your favourite furry buddy this year.

Music for the soul

Music is an all-time soul-soother. It is known to reduce the release of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood, thereby keeping the individual relaxed. Research done by the students of Temple University showed that listening to music helps reduce stress in patients with cardiovascular disorders. Most of them prefer taking music therapy over visiting a doctor. There could be a time in your day where you need to vent your work stress and pressure. Turn to music instead of family and other staff at the workplace to vent your stress out.

Do things for yourself

Ensure that you spend time with yourself, and the best way to do that is to pursue everything that gives you joy, whether it is soaking in a tub, reading a book, cooking, a workout at the gym, a dance class, or even a movie. Anything that soothes you and makes you happy should be an integral part of your daily routine.

These are the five changes that will help you make the end of a lousy and stressful day feel much better. What stress-busters do you swear by? Let us know in the comments!