There are 2 basic methods to struggle with stress. Physical exercises and Meditation are probably the best methods that available to you. Try them and you’ll notice some improvement in your stress levels.
Exercise
Physical exercise contributes to keeping your body strong, but how can it serve as stress relief? Again and again stress is caused by having too much energy and no escape – the mind then decides to spend that energy on worrying over something and converts it into stress. In this case, physical exercise channels that energy into a constructive activity, and exercise becomes something akin to meditation which helps prune away dangling thoughts.
In case there is a lack of energy (maybe if stress lasted too long and resulted in a state of depression), physical exercise can help build up motivation and focus.
Athletics is about reconnecting with your body, becoming more aware of your rhythms, limitation and capabilities. It puts your mind back into HERE and NOW, this point in space-time where you are yourself (and not the things you stress about).
Exercise also makes other forms of stress relief easier: after physical exercise it is easier to settle back, meditate, or at least have a good night’s sleep. It is much more good, natural and easier to have a healthy mind in a healthy body than to have only either one.
Meditation
Even a newbie can use mediation for stress relief, and with some training meditation can become a main tool for completely clearing stress as well.
What exactly is meditation? Depending on who you ask, meditation can be anything from a breathing exercise, visualization exercise, relaxation exercise, emotional introspection, deep thought to even faking meditation by assuming a stereotypical posture (this one is not recommended).
The most basic form of meditation is simply to contemplate about your thoughts. You will notice that thinking is not linear – thoughts are jumping all over the place. Noticing that and ‘pruning’ unnecessary thoughts is a basic meditation method. If you mix this kind of calming of the mind with taking deep regular breaths, you got yourself a nice tool for stress relief.
Advanced forms of meditation working with stress include visualizing stress (in a sense of giving form to your tension and fears), and then imagining a way of reducing it. This kind of visualization exercise creates
a connection between your emotions and your mind, and can show you ways you can use to deal with the stressful situation.
