KB03 - 5 Stress Relieving Strategies For Your Senses

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Stress is a fact of life, but that doesn't mean it has to run the show.

Sure, we all know the usual suspects regarding stress relief...

(exercise, meditation, blah, blah.)

But what if I told you some unexpected tricks could help you chill out and de-stress?

That's what we're diving into today!

Five surprising tricks to help you reduce stress, one for each of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.

So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn some new stress-busting moves.”

“You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” - Jon Kabat-Zinn

 

 

#1 - Sight - Natures Remedy

Spending time in nature is the ultimate stress-relieving trick for several reasons.

When we spend time in nature, our bodies respond by reducing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can decrease heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension.

Being in nature can also help to distract from negative thoughts and worries, allowing us to focus on the present moment and forget about our stressors for a while.

Lastly, nature is a powerful tool in promoting mindfulness, which is the practice of being present in the moment and focusing on your thoughts, feelings and surroundings.

So the next time you feel the tension, get your shoes on and get out in nature! You might also want to stack this with strategy two, which is…

#2 Sound - The “Pressure Relieving” Playlist

Music can have a positive effect on our emotions and mood.

Listening to your favourite songs can evoke positive memories and emotions, which can help counteract stress and anxiety.

Very much like walking in nature, It can also help to distract from negative thoughts and worries, allowing you to focus on the present moment and forget about your stressors for a while.

Additionally, music can also have a positive impact on the brain.

Listening to music can activate the release of feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, improving mood and reducing feelings of stress.

One massive game changer is to create a playlist of your favourite tracks that make you feel awesome.

Some personal ones of mine are “Needin' You - David Morales” and “Mr Brightside - Killers.”

Then, when you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, hit that play button and take a 10-minute break somewhere quiet where people can’t hear how terrible your singing voice is.

#3 Smell - Create Your Own “Stress Busting Scent”

I remember back last year in July, heading into my office and suddenly feeling relaxed and excited simultaneously because of a strange smell in the air.

It happened to be the smell of Cinnamon and Red Wine from a recently plugged-in Glade Air Freshener left over in a cupboard from last Christmas.

The reason for this excitement was that we only used them around that time of year, and it sent me straight into a “Festive Mood.”

This is the power of what is known as your “olfactory system”, which is responsible for the sense of smell and is directly connected to the limbic system, which controls emotions and memories.

I highly recommend you create your own “Stress Busting Scent” that you can use to calm you down and help you destress instantly, and here is how you do it...

1. Think of a time in the day when you’re the least stressed “mine is early in the morning.”
2. Think of an activity you do that time that makes you feel good. “mine is stretching”
3. During this time and activity, get yourself an Air Aroma Diffuser and pick an essential oil that you find calming and relaxing "for me, that’s lavender"
4. Over the next few weeks, keep up with the routine of switching it on during your activity and make it a part of your routine. This “scent” will then start to be associated with feelings of low stress and relaxation.
5. The next time you feel highly stressed, reach for the Diffuser and switch it on for a few minutes to instantly improve your mood.

#4 Touch - Pet Therapy

Want to reduce your stress levels? Get a Dog!

Petting a dog has been shown in research to help lower the stress hormone cortisol. This is because spending time with your furry friend can increase the feel-good hormone serotonin levels.

What’s even more incredible is a recent survey has shown that a whopping 84% of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Patients paired with a service dog reported a significant reduction in their symptoms.

So the next time you feel a bit like the world is getting heavy, reach for some “Pet Therapy.”

#5 Taste - Sipping away your Stress

L-Theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves, particularly green tea. It is known to have a calming effect on the brain, which can help to relieve stress.

L-Theanine is thought to work by increasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as GABA, dopamine and serotonin.

These neurotransmitters are known to play a role in regulating mood, anxiety, and stress levels.

Stress-related symptom scores after 4 weeks of L-theanine or placebo administration

So the next time you feel a little worked up, make up some Matcha Green Tea to ease the stress and strain.

TL:DR.

👉 Sight - Go For a Walk in Nature

👉 Sound - Listen to a playlist filled with your favourite music

👉 Smell - Get yourself an Air Diffuser filled with your very own Stress Busting Scent

👉 Touch - Find a Furry Friend to Improve Your Mood

👉 Taste - Mellow Out With Matcha Green Tea

I hope you enjoyed today's Knowledge Bomb Newsletter; see you next week for another instalment!

Jay