Stress can become a part of our daily lives at any point. But at this time of year especially we can struggle with it the most. With an endless list of things to do, gifts to buy and people to see, we can often start to feel the many symptoms that stress can bring on. This affects many of us in different ways but most commonly you will feel tired, irritated, angry and even suffer from headaches and nausea.

It’s not a pleasant feeling to be stressed and agitated. So I thought now would be a great time to share with you some of the proven methods to de-stress. So if you are starting to feel a little hot under the collar then try some of these out yourself.

1. Exercise

Exercising regularly is proven to help improve mood and the way you feel. Increasing your heart rate and the rate you pump blood around your body also has an impact on your hormone levels. Releasing endorphins and adrenaline into your body. Sometimes people find focusing on exercise, or a workout can help them clear their minds. Making tasks much easily focused on.

2. Yoga

Yoga is a form of exercise that many people consider when feeling stressed due to the wellbeing properties it associates with. Taking a lot of focus into your breathing and clearing your mind of any negative energy.

You can learn things such as yoga backbends and alternative stretches that can help ease your mind and body. Yoga is something that you can easily do from your living room, thanks to online videos on websites like YouTube.

3. Meditation

Taking the properties of yoga one step further you might want to try meditating. This is focused purely on the mind with the aim of clearing your mindset of any negativity, providing you with clarity and focus.

Mediation might seem like a strange thing to start, but once you become accustomed to it, you will start to see the benefits. Some people prefer guided meditations where you listen to a voice telling you what to do and how to think.

4. The Use of Essential Oils

Essential oils have been around for some time, and some of them are proven methods of alleviating stress. Certain scents like Lavender can help relax your mind while chamomile can ease you into a relaxing sleep. Essential oils can be added to baths, candle burners and you can even buy scented candles to help you benefit.

5. Hygge

Hygge has seemed to just burst on the scene in the last twelve months. For those of you not aware it is a Danish principal. The Danish are known as the happiest people in the world, and it is because of their practice of Hygge.

In brief, it’s all about being cozy, relaxing and enjoying family time. Lighting candles, having low lighting, enjoying hot chocolates and curling up in front of a warm fire. Creating a nice, warming atmosphere to enjoy the good things in life.

Let’s hope this has inspired you to try a few different methods of de-stressing. Especially during the busy few weeks ahead.