Stress is not alien to our lives. We all suffer from stress to one degree or another. Unfortunately, negative stress can be devastating to our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

One day, when discussing stress with a psychologist, he used a very precise analogy. She compared stress to water in a bucket. Everyone has a “stress cube”. Some are very deep, some are quite shallow. All stressful events and happenings throughout the day, no matter how important or insignificant, are like drops of water slowly filling the bucket. The key to effective stress management is to empty the bucket frequently throughout the day so that it never overflows. You need to find ways to “empty your bucket”; (relax and de-stress) on a regular basis.

So what are some of the ways you can incorporate relaxation and stress relief into your daily routine?

Some may think that watching television is relaxing. In reality, the constant noise and rapid movement of television images further overstimulate the brain. Playing video games or browsing the Internet are equally challenging activities. Much more effective alternatives are:

1. Done … Done … Done!

Exercise is one of the best stress busters out there. A brisk 30 minute walk will do wonders for clearing your mind, as well as the physical benefit of releasing endorphins and detoxifying your body from the residual chemicals that stress creates in your body. Walking, jogging, aerobics, swimming, and biking are great ways to burn off excess energy and reduce stress, effectively emptying your stress bucket.

2. Ummmm …

Meditation is a very effective relaxation technique. You don’t need to learn complicated techniques to benefit from meditation. To get started, just find a quiet place with a relaxing atmosphere, make yourself comfortable, close your eyes, and free your mind from all thoughts.

3. Breathe!

Breathing exercises are one of the easiest relaxation methods. You don’t need special equipment and you can do it anywhere: at the office, stuck in traffic, walking down the street, wherever you are. By simply taking slow, deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, making sure the air goes deep into your lungs (your abdomen should spread out when you inhale, not your chest), you will begin to feel the effects of relaxation quite a bit. quickly. There are other breathing techniques you can use as well, but the long, slow, and deep breathing method is a good starting point.