3 tips to immediately de-stress

Everyone experiences stress to a greater or lesser degree sooner or later. It doesn't take much for your body to produce the stress hormone cortisol. In most cases, stress is not good for you. Previously, you might have crushed it by having a drink. Now that you're pausing, that's not an option. Here you can read 3 tips that will immediately de-stress you.

Stress has a myriad of causes. From being late, to a great loss; There will be plenty of reasons why you are experiencing stress. We distinguish 3 different types of stress.

Exciting stress. This is a positive form of stress. You feel this stress when something exciting is about to happen. For example: giving that important presentation or a round on the fastest roller coaster in Europe. You need this stress to be extra alert or to perform when it matters. So quite handy.

Frustrating stress. If you are in a hurry to get home, you will end up in a big traffic jam. Or if your WiFi is out, you can't get hold of anyone at the service desk. Frustrating stress is a form of stress that you can experience in everyday situations. Not a bad thing, but annoying.

Harmful stress. Harmful stress is the most serious kind. You already read it, this form of stress leaves its mark. You can experience this form of stress if you have experienced something traumatic. Think of a sudden loss or systematic bullying at work. Tough things that can bother you a lot.

Drink the pressure off

Many people drink alcohol in order to 'relax' and 'de-stress'. After a busy day - your colleagues were noisy, your supervisor whistled you and your team back, the air conditioning was too high again - you lie in your favorite chair to relax with a drink in hand. You can feel the stress lessen with every sip. We are not telling you anything new when we say that this is not the way to deal with stress. It's like this:

3 tips that will immediately de-stress you

Laughing is healthy. That statement is absolutely true. By laughing a lot, you relax your muscles and you make the happiness hormone endorphins. So call that funny friend right away or watch hilarious videos. We give you a tip: funny animals.

Sing along to your favorite hits. And then good hard. Let go and hit all those nuts. However false. Singing breathes and clears up. But it doesn't have to be just sing-alongs. Sometimes you need songs, where the tears quickly run down your cheeks. Crying also reduces stress. Don't think about anything? Listening to birdsong, the murmuring sea or dolphin sounds for half an hour will help you through stressful moments.

Focus on your breathing. There is nothing fancy about it and it is not difficult at all. 5 minutes of conscious exhalation can make a huge difference. Sit up straight and close your eyes. All you care about is your breathing. Feel the air go through your nose and leave your mouth. Feel your chest rise and fall. Inhale and exhale. It's that simple.