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  Life   Health  20 Oct 2017  Expert reveals tips to relax after work

Expert reveals tips to relax after work

THE ASIAN AGE
Published : Oct 20, 2017, 12:27 pm IST
Updated : Oct 20, 2017, 12:27 pm IST

Ditch the junk food and drinking for healthier strategies.

Representational Image. (Photo: Pixabay)
 Representational Image. (Photo: Pixabay)

Work life can be tougher than most days.

Working with different kinds of people or the job itself can cause a lot of anxieties for millions of people around the world.

When your day is over you may want to come home and relax. But maybe you can't because you replay the day's events in your mind.

Junk food or alcohol becomes part of your way to de-stress. However, stuffing your face with fries may not be the answer. If you’re looking for a healthy way to cope, make a change or have a more relaxing experience at home, the following tips by an expert, reported by the Daily Mail, may just do the trick.

It may even help you gain new perspective on your troubles and life.

1. Walk where there is green

Take a walk where there are open spaces or trees. It will help you feel refreshed and gain a little movement which is always good for the body.

2. Matcha tea

This powdered green Japanese tea helps improve emotional regulation and reduce stress, as it contains levels of amino acid L-theanine.

3. Find out what workout works for you

Everyone knows the benefits of working out regularly. But making time for it is the hard part. That is why it is important to find an exercise that you enjoy. Maybe it's swimming or yoga. The important thing is to explore until you find the right one for you.

4. Massage

Give yourself a massage to relax your muscles as long-term stress causes cortisol levels in your body to be high. It will also help increase the body's levels of oxytocin and serotonin, as well as improve your mood.

5. Talk it out

You may not be someone who likes to talk about their problems. But letting out your troubles to a family member or friend can help you blow off some steam. Keeping it in will make the issue seem bigger than it actually is.

6. Get creative

Music, art or writing can help you emotionally and physically as it reduces stress and anxiety. If you are not naturally creative, try colouring in.

7. Check in with your thoughts

When situations get tough, the world can seem bleak and you can get into a vicious cycle of negative thinking. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help tackle this issue. A study at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found chronic occupational stress can cause a person's brain to react to stress by “changing its circuitry".

8. Make your home a sanctuary

A 2010 study found women were more likely to fee depressed or exhausted if their home was “cluttered or full of unfinished projects". While women with a home more in order felt “restful and restorative". Remember that your home is your sanctuary away from the outside stresses of life.

9. Meditation

While mindfulness meditation may sound like a popular trend, there are a lot of benefits you can get from it. The goal is to help an individual stop worrying about the past or getting worked up about the future and instead stay in the present and live in the moment.

10. Seek a counsellor

If the stress of it all is taking a toll on your life and you can't manage, then seen professional help. They can help you sort out your feelings, gain perspective and learn manageable ways to deal with life's obstacles.

Tags: stress, work, work life, mental health, fitness, exercise, physical activity, meditation, health, art