10-Minute Daily Activities for a Stress-Free Life
There are several types of stress that you experience to greater or lesser degrees throughout your life. Most people deal with acute and chronic stress every day. When left unattended, stress can have negative effects on your mental and physical well-being. This is why it’s important to learn how to beat stress and enjoy life more with these 10-minute daily activities.
Meditate and Be Mindful
Mindfulness and meditation are popular right now. While these two health-conscious practices can be and are often used in conjunction, they’re not synonymous and you can have one without the other.
A number of studies, such as the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at the University of Massachusetts, illuminate the positive effects of regular mindfulness and meditation practice, and it’s often associated with a sense of calm and relaxation. Researchers also have been looking into the deeper, long-lasting benefits of meditation and have found that it can alter the structure of the brain, leading to a better quality of life. Meditating for 10 minutes a day has been shown to reduce stress and worry, increase focus and productivity and help practitioners manage chronic problems like anxiety.
Check out apps like Headspace to get started and see if meditation is right for you.
Get Outside
Imagine rolling waves on a beach, the wind rustling the leaves in a quiet forest or frogs and crickets singing on a summer night. You have probably experienced the calming effects of nature. Humans have only recently begun living in industrialized locations, and nature is inherent to our mode of being. Spending time outdoors reduces blood pressure, tension and the production of stress hormones.
Try to incorporate these elements into your daily routine with short walks, lunches and breaks outdoors. Not only will you get your daily dose of vitamin D, which is known to boost your mood, but you’ll also reap the benefits that nature has on your physical and mental health.
Indulge Curiosity
Sometime between childhood and adulthood you lost your sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. But curiosity is just as important as your physical health. Cultivating and supporting curiosity helps you navigate an ever-changing environment and encourages you to keep learning. Curiosity also releases dopamine, which leads to positive effects on your mood, feelings of satisfaction and overall well-being. Plus, showing genuine interest in interpersonal interactions and what you’re doing builds strong, trusting relationships.
Set aside a small block of time every day to learn about something you’re interested in. You can choose a specific topic or change topics every day. Find a new article, blog or website to read to learn about new topics, or find a reliable and informative blog about a certain industry to get a deeper understanding of it. If you find a blog you really like or have too many to remember, bookmark them for later with a tool like Feedly.
Guest Author: Carol Trehearn
photo courtesy of Greenberg Health
