5 Natural Hacks to Overcome Stress Naturally

January 04, 2018

Nearly all of us deal with stress at one point or another. In fact, sometimes the stress may seem to be endless. After all, bills still need to be paid, our jobs still expect us to show up on time and be productive, and our families need us to be an effective and loving leader.

With all of these things on your plate, ending the stress may seem pretty difficult. Maybe you’ve even tried a few of the more common stress remedies, only to find yourself more stressed than ever. That might just be because some of the common stress relief options (for example, prescription medication) aren’t really the best way to get long term relief.

Below, we’ll discuss five unique – and totally natural – ways to combat stress effectively.

1. Work it Out With Exercise

If stress seems like it’s zapping your energy, consider fighting it with regular exercise. According to The American Psychological Association, studies conducted as far back as the late 1980s clearly demonstrate that exercise increases the levels of one of the body’s key de–stressing hormones, Norepinephrine. In addition to that, many psychologists believe that exercise helps you cope more effectively with any random stress that does manage to creep in.

Nearly any type of exercise can be great for stress relief. When you exercise, you easily fall into a regular rhythm of motion that helps calm both the mind and the body. Some of the best choices for stress relief may include:

• Walking
• Jogging
• Swimming
• Dance
• Cycling
• Yoga

Any type of rhythmic exercise that you enjoy is a smart choice for stress relief. The more you enjoy it, the more likely you’ll be to stick to a routine. This can be a good opportunity to focus only on the body, which allows you a period free from mental stress.

2. Ease Stress With Apps

One of the best uses of all the amazing technology out there today may be the apps that make your life easier. There are several great anti-stress apps that you can easily download to your smartphone or other mobile device in just seconds. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, just pull up an app and you can be calmer in minutes.

Some of the standout options include:

Simply Being: This guided meditation app ($0.99) can be used in increments of just a minute or two. It’s been recommended by both the New York Times and Self Magazine.

Stress Tracker: This free app helps you keep track of what stresses you out, and displays that information in charts. This can be a good way to learn exactly what you need to do to combat stress.

Breathe2Relax: This free app helps you fight stress by teaching you better breathing techniques. It can help you to avoid that “fight or flight” feeling that you get when stress is at its peak.

3. Eat Differently to Make it Easier

One of the easiest stress busters is also one of the most overlooked. You can tweak your diet to help you combat stress, and it might just amaze you how well this actually works. Consider the following additions:

• Tea: Try replacing your regular fix of coffee or soda with tea. Some tea blends are specially made for anxiety. You can also opt for calming varieties like chamomile.
• Leafy Greens: Leafy greens like swiss chard can help combat stress by slowing the release of cortisol, the stress hormone.
• Omega 3 Fats: The Omega 3 fats present in food like salmon, nuts, and chia seeds can help keep adrenaline levels in check when they start to surge, which keeps you calmer.
• Whole Grains: Whole grains offer not only filling fiber, but also carbs for an energy boost. These feelings can encourage your brain to release more of its “feel good” neurotransmitter, serotonin.

4. Supplement a Sensible Diet

Even if you have implemented a great stress busting diet, you can still beat back the stress even more effectively with the use of natural supplements. As mentioned above, there are plenty of good ways to get anti–stress help from your food. However, the easiest way to get the maximum level of stress busters is through supplements.

Some good supplements to look into include:

• Magnesium: Especially effective if you can’t sleep due to stress
• Vitamin B6: Good for stress related headaches
• Omega 3s: Ideal if pain is the cause of stress

5. Tapping the Stress Away: The Emotional Freedom Technique

Stress has a way of taking hold quickly, so it can be helpful to have a technique that is just as quick for beating it back. The Emotional Freedom Technique has been featured by Deepak Chopra and Anthony Robbins, and it’s rapidly gaining in popularity.

The EFT technique is a psychological acupressure method that you can perform on yourself in just minutes. No special tools required – your fingers will do all the work!

It involves tapping gently but firmly on nine specific pressure points in the body:

• Top of the Head
• Inner Eyebrow
• Temples (Sides of the Eyes)
• Under the Eyes
• Under the Nose (Just Above the Lips)
• Mid Chin
• Collar Bone
• Under the Arms
• Inner Wrists

For the best effects, you should tap each area firmly, but gently, with the pads of your fingers. Tap for about five seconds per area before moving on to the next area.

It can also be very helpful to repeat a personal affirmation as you tap. Acknowledge the issue, but give yourself credit as well. For example, say “Even though I feel stressed when (insert stressful situation) happens, I know that I’m a strong, smart and beautiful person. I accept myself as I am.”

In the beginning, it may seem foreign to use some of these techniques, but when you give them a try, you’ll be amazed at the difference you feel. The changes discussed above are small ones, but these natural anti–stress techniques can yield some very big results!

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