Frazzled with office work and social commitments?

Constant stress — whether from a traffic-choked daily commute, unhappy marriage, or heavy workload — can have real physical effects on the body. It has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including mood, sleep, and appetite problems — and yes, even heart disease.

Yet stress may influence heart disease in more subtle ways. Stress does cause some people to act in ways that increase their risk for heart disease. For example, when stressed, people often eat unhealthy food and don’t have the energy or time to exercise. Stress can also lead us into other heart-damaging behaviors , such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Take a minute out of your schedule and try these simple tips.

Light a scented candle
If you’ve come home after a long and tiring day at work, indulge in some aromatherapy. Light a scented lavender candle and revel in its fragrance. The herb’s scent will rejuvenate you and soothe your nerves.

Brew some green tea
When things get hectic at work, instead of reaching for a cup of coffee, sip on green tea. Green tea has several kinds of antioxidants that help lower stress level hormones. Its ingredients help transport glucose through your body, so that you feel less tired, stressed and depressed.

Shrug your shoulders
Just before a big meeting or presentation, if you’re feeling nervous, give your shoulders a quick massage to feel relaxed. Stand comfortably and lift both shoulders up to your ears, as you breathe in through your nose. Pause as you exhale through your mouth, drop your shoulders back down vigorously to shake off the tension. Repeat five times.

Take 2-3 deep breathes
Closing your eyes, take a few deep breathes. Breathe in from your nostrils and exhale with your mouth wide open.
This kind of breathing helps to quickly de-stress and get balanced.

Say ‘Thank You” to Yourself:
Gratitude always helps to relieve stress. When stressed out remember atleast one thing you are proud of yourself or grateful for and say ‘Thank You’ three times.

Meditate
After following these quick steps, try sitting down and meditate for atleast 2-5 minutes.
If you have learnt techniques like Reiki, feel free to incorporate Reiki along with meditation.

You can do this!

Life can be very stressful sometimes, but we have to make a conscious effort to come out of our negativities and get back on track.