Tension can have negative effects on your body. According to reports, tension can affect the heart, digestive system and even your immune system. Because of this, it's important to learn techniques to reduce tension.
Tension can make you feel tired and leads to a spike in cortisol hormone levels. These hormones are connected to weight gain and obesity, especially around the middle section of the body. It has also been associated with poor concentration and memory.
It is necessary to reduce tension in your everyday life to remain healthy. There are many ways you can reduce tension. Below are ten ways that have been proven to help.
Progressive Relaxation
With this method, you tense and then relax every part of your body, from your head to your toes. Focus on the parts you are relaxing. When you tense up and then relax, your body part relaxes, and your mind relaxes soon after.
The Journal of Clinical Nursing stresses that progressive relaxation has proven to help patients with mental illnesses relax and remain calm during tension filled episodes.
Meditation
The National Institute of Health report eight percent of American adults practice meditation. There are many kinds of meditation. A few include Mantra, Mindfulness and Spiritual meditation. There are also meditations that are combined with yoga, tai chi and qi gong.
Meditation can reduce tension by changing the way the brain reacts to daily stressors.
Get Creative
Whether you paint, write or produce music, your creativity can help reduce tension in your body. Creativity is a positive distraction from life’s stressors. It allows you to release negative emotions while producing a piece of art.
Art therapy is so effective that many counselors use it as a technique to improve mental health.
Drink Kava
There are many benefits of kava. Kava has been used for centuries to reduce tension in the body. It has relaxing and calming effects on the body, while remaining mentally alert. Many claim they feel more awake and aware than ever before, but also completely relaxed.
One can consume kava in supplement form and even in candy. However, most prefer to use the powder form to mix their kava tea.
Get a Massage
Millions of people use massage therapy. Reasons for getting a massage include pain relief, to reduce tension and to relax.
A variety of massage therapy techniques exist, including deep tissue, reflexology, orthopedic and acupressure. Many athletes enjoy massages also to ease tensions from sports related aches and pains.
Aromatherapy
With aromatherapy, scents can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation or by applying them directly to the skin. All these are a way of sending a message to the brain. With this method, each scent tells the brain a different message to help reduce tension or other ailments.
There are scents that produce many calming effects that can help ease and reduce tension in the body. Lavender, orange blossom, geranium, and sandalwood to name a few.
Laughter
There are many health benefits associated with humor. Laughter sends oxygen throughout the body and helps your muscles relax. Some reports say a good laugh can reduce tension for up to 45 minutes or longer.
Laughter can also be good for your heart, boost your immune system and release endorphins in the brain.
Sleep Well
More and more people are complaining they feel tired and tense, even after several hours of sleep. This may be because they are not getting quality sleep. Sleep deprivation is a common symptom. Unfortunately, it can have damaging effects.
When you get to the REM stage of sleep, or deep sleep, your body can reduce tension related symptoms. Making good sleep a top priority is important for overcoming tensions.
If you struggle to get a good night's sleep, kava can help you sleep well throughout the night.
Deep Breathing
Your body, especially your muscles, need oxygen to thrive. Deep breathing helps you get that oxygen into your body. Deep breathing lowers your blood pressure, eases tensions by lowering your heart rate.
With each breath, you can begin to clear your mind while visualizing your tensions fading away.
Self-Hypnosis
Self-Hypnosis works by putting yourself into a deeply relaxed state, easing tensions and preventing stress-related troubles.
If you are not a master at self-hypnosis just yet, do not worry. There are many apps you can download on your smartphone that can guide you to a deep state of relaxation. Practicing self-hypnosis can help you handle everyday stressors that can lead to health problems later.
The tips listed here are ten of the hundreds of ways to reduce tension in your everyday life. One important note to mention is about drinking kava tea. Kava can be combined with any of the 9 remaining tips listed in this article to provide a more unique and effective relaxation effect.
