Alleviate stress by taking some simple steps in your life.  You don’t want to be anxious all the time.  There are ways to bring more peace into your life.

Professionals often feel pressure at work and at home.  They can lose touch with their family.  It does not have to be this way. 

I have helped many people relieve the stress in their lives.  It does take practice.  You can notice the benefits right away.

There are 3 things you can do to have more peace and relaxation in your life.

#1: Alleviate Stress by Meditating

According to webmd.com’s Jeanette Moninger in her article “10 Relaxation Techniques that Zap Stress Fast”:

“A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. “Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress,” says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago health and wellness coach.”

I find meditation to be the most powerful way to ease anxiety.  It takes practice.  There are many ways to meditate.  You can feel relaxed.

Even if you just lower your stress level a little bit, it can be worth it.

ACTION STEP: Do a simple in-out breathing meditation.  Breathe however you are currently breathing.  As you breathe in, notice you are breathing it.  As you breathe out, notice you are breathing out.  All you are doing is following your breath.  This helps relieve anxiety and you can relax.  Go into your breathing.  Maybe you can feel your chest or belly move.  Just concentrate on your breathing.

Meditation can help you come into the present moment.  You can connect with your life.  You can lower your anxiety level.  Come out of your thoughts and your mind and come into the here and now. 

The more you practice, the better you will get.  It is best if you meditate daily.

#2: Alleviate Stress by Going into Nature

You can reduce your stress level by being with nature.  You can go outside and be present.

You can use your sense perceptions.  You can see the blue sky or the clouds.  You can hear the birds or the wind.  You can feel the outside temperature on your skin.  By being with your senses, you come into the present moment.

You can also experience the wonder of nature.  Watching a sunset can be relaxing.  Seeing a lizard to push ups makes me smile.  I love to hear birds singing.  You can listen to the wind in the trees.  You can feel the breeze come across your skin.

As you sense your environment, you can get away from your problems.  You can let go of your worries.  You can connect with your life.  The only way to experience life is in the present moment.

When I feel stressed, I often go outside.  Sometimes it only takes a minute to feel some calm.  I can feel relaxed in 60 seconds.  It does involve taking action.  I find I need to do this daily. 

I suggest to all my clients to go for a walk in nature.  It helps reduce depression and anxiety. 

ACTION STEP: Go outside and be with nature.  See the sights.  Hear the sounds.  Feel what you can kinesthetically.  Get out of your thoughts.  Come into the moment through your sense perceptions.

You can enjoy the process of being in the environment.  Joy is possible too.

The key: When you go into nature daily and are present, you can relieve your stress and experience some peace.

You will also be healthier by being with plants and animals😊!

#3: Alleviate Stress by Laughing

You can lower your anxiety using laughter.  In Mayo Clinic’s article “Stress Relief from laughter? It’s No Joke”:

• “Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.”

So, you can reduce your stress level by laughing.  You can feel more relaxed. 

ACTION STEP: Laugh as often as you can and as much as you can.  Laugh at jokes, even if they are not funny.  Find the humor in situations and laugh.  Laugh along with other people.  Laugh at the absurdities in life. 

There are many ways you can reduce your stress level.  You can meditate, you can go into nature and you can laugh.  I do them all😊.  Find one or more that you can do.  And do them every day. 

You can reconnect with your life.  You can alleviate stress in your life and feel more peaceful😊.

To Your Happiness,

Jim Twomey

Tucson’s Depression and Anxiety Breakthrough Specialist

Founder of Peace for You