Are you feeling stressed?

Stress is often underestimated, yet this issue can lead to a wide variety of health problems that can really affect your quality of life. Thankfully, there are many things that you can do in order to manage your stress levels and prevent them from raising in the first place.

As with many things in life, you might find that less is more. Starting from a simple set of calming activities could be a great way to reduce stress and improve your life. One of the many reasons why people get stressed in the first place is due to a lack of self-care. By taking the time to care for yourself and engage in stress-relieving activities, you might find that you’re feeling much better, both mentally and physically. Read on to learn about five amazing ways to reduce stress, right now!

1. Relax in a Hot Tub

Hot tubs aren’t only great for leisure. They are very well-known for the relaxing atmosphere they offer, as well as for a wide range of wonderful health benefits that they bring to the table.

With relief from muscle pain and joint soreness, reducing stress is one of the top health benefits of relaxing in a hot tub. Relaxing in a hot tub is just that, an opportunity to relax and unwind. If your lifestyle is always ever-changing and overwhelming, it can be really difficult to make time for yourself just to breathe and unwind at the end of the day. With a hot tub, that’s a possibility.

Not only that, they can also help reduce stress by providing you with an outlet to exercise, feel better physically, improve sleep patterns, and spend time with friends and family. Ultimately, it’s up to you to create the time for self-care and spend some time de-stressing in the comfort of the jet-driven water.

2. Exercise

Going out for a run is a great way to release stress, while staying active and healthy in your daily routine. Even if you have only 15 minutes to spare, a quick run could make a difference in your day-to-day routine and help you stay focused and grounded in your emotions.

It’s not just running that can help reduce stress. Any form of exercise is great for stress relief. Regardless if you take to the swimming pool, hot tub, trails, or local gym to break a sweat, you’ll be feeling the benefits in no time at all.

According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise can help reduce stress in several different ways. First, by improving your circulation, your body’s natural production of positive endorphins is boosted. These endorphins can help encourage feelings of happiness, while reducing feelings of pain and anxiety.

Exercise is also a great way to burn energy and take out your frustration and anger in a positive way. Not only that, it can offer you a feeling of confidence and relaxation, lowering the symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, while improving sleep patterns, how you feel about yourself, and your overall quality of life.[i]

3. Go Swimming

As mentioned earlier, some might feel stressed because they have no opportunity to practice any physical activity. Exercise is an excellent way to let loose and reduce stress by allowing your body to release some steam.

A swimming pool is a great place for stress relief. There are many benefits of using a pool regularly. You can easily move from one activity to the next. After spending some time swimming laps or engaging in water-based exercises such as flutter kicks, squats, jumping jacks, lunges, or reverse crunches, you can jump right into a recreational activity with kids or friends.

Even just taking ten minutes out of your day to wade around in the water or float around on a blow-up chair could be extremely helpful in reducing your stress. As mentioned above, it’s all about taking some time out of your day and dedicating it to self-care.

4. Practice Yoga

Yoga is very popular throughout the world, because it can be done just about anywhere, it’s easy to perform and can be tweaked to be a low-impact activity. While practicing yoga, you have a chance to really focus on your breathing and let the stress and tension from the day simply fade away.

Practicing yoga regularly can also provide you with a sense of confidence and achievement. It can help tone and strengthen your muscles, improving the way you feel about yourself. If you have a hot tub or a swimming pool, you can kick it up a notch and practice water-based yoga, to reap even more health benefits.

5. Listen to Music

We explored a wide range of physical activities that are beneficial when it comes to stress reduction, but if you don’t want to or can’t really work out, listening to the right music can help you relax, focus, and reduce feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety.

For additional advice or other information related to pools, hot tubs and spas in Wichita Falls, feel free to get in touch with the knowledgeable team at Outback Pools & Spas.

 

[i] “Stress Management | Mayo Clinic” [Online]. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469. [Retrieved: 2018-01-19].