7 things you can do at home to alleviate stress

Life in the twenty-first century can be really crazy! Running children to sports, helping with homework, running a home and working a job can take their toll on your life. Getting stressed-out doesn't take much work.
Rather than letting the stresses of life build until you're going to lose it, find ways of managing your stress and even relieving it. You don't need to take a pill. Plenty of natural options exist. Here are 7 easy things you do to manage your stress.
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1. Massage. Go out and get yourself a massage. Everything from a deep-tissue Swedish massage to a Chinese massage is available. FOX NEWS shares that the type of massage isn't really important. It's simply taking the time to get away and help your muscles and body relax that is key.
2. Exercise. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, the "feel good" hormone, into the brain. FOX NEWS says that when your stress is high, making time to exercise is extremely important. You will help keep your body healthy and help yourself feel good by simply working out.
3. Gum. Who would have thought that chewing gum and blowing bubbles could make you feel so good? WebMD shares that research shows chewing gum helps with stress, although researchers are uncertain as to why. It could be that the chewing is therapeutic, or it could be the smell triggers good memories.
4. Smile. Just as ". . . a joyful heart is good medicine," (Pr. 17:22b) so a genuine smile will drive away the stress. WebMD shares that smiling, even when you don't feel like it, helps lower your heart rate and reduces your body's stress responses.
5. Lavender. Aroma therapy is another option. According to Health, lavender is a scent that helps the body relax. You can take a few drops of lavender oil and mix them with water in a spray bottle and mist your pillow before bed. Having lavender out at home or in the office may also help. Just remember that although it may help you, others around you may be allergic to it; so if you're in a shared space, ask those around you if it's okay.
6. Chamomile tea. A cup of tea can be very soothing, but Health says that chamomile in particular is calming. It binds to the same receptors in your brain as Valium, helping to alleviate your stressed feeling.
7. Chocolate covered strawberries. Often, when stressed, you crave sugar in various forms called "comfort food." Unfortunately, when the sugar leaves your system and you crash, you're usually even more stressed. To help alleviate the sugar craving and make you feel good, Health recommends dark chocolate covered strawberries. The strawberries meet the "sweet tooth" craving and are a good source of vitamin C. The dark chocolate helps reduce the cortisol in your system. What's not to like about this?
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You can't avoid stress in life, but you can help manage it. By being wise with how you cope with stress, you can be happier and possibly live longer.
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RemedyDaily.com does not give medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.