The following are a few stress reduction techniques you can use to reduce the level of stress and anxiety in your life.

1) Turn off the television and stop watching the news and current affairs type programs. These ‘informative’ news programs not only pollute negativity, they increase it internally. Try watching a good news story, they’re impossible to find. Somehow they seem to get higher ratings if news stories are negative. I guess they’re more attractive to the viewer. There seems to be an addiction to negativity and it’s this negativity that only enhances stress related symptoms. Turning the news off and throwing the newspaper in the bin – better yet, not purchasing it all – will ‘clean the air’ and give you the opportunity to experience a ‘negative’ less world.

2) Exercise. Exercise not only releases good feeling chemicals throughout the body, endorphins, it gives the body a much needed workout that increases circulation as well as physical health. All processes that increase and maintain mental health. There is increasingly evidence to suggest that being in nature also increases mental health. When was the last time you took a walk in a state park with a loved one?

3) Why not take up a new relaxing hobby such as meditation or yoga? Both forms of mental exercise help the mind stay focused on one thought. Being able to be focused on one thought gives the mind an opportunity to get the job done and finish that thought. When we have too many different thoughts going on in our minds, it makes it virtually impossible to finish anything that we do, either internally or externally in our worlds.

4) When was the last time you spoke to a very old friend? Getting in touch with an old friend can be a beneficial experience for more ways than one. Going over good memories, will not only lift your state, it will increase present mindedness and manifest more positive feelings and emotions. Positive emotions and feelings that will eradicate stress and negative symptoms associated with stress and anxiety.

5) Take deep breaths. When was the last time you took a deep breath? It’s a pretty simple but a very effective technique in bringing back a sense of equilibrium and patience back the mind and physical body. Taking a few deep breaths can soon eradicate negative present feelings and thoughts.

I hope this little cheat sheet on stress reduction techniques has helped given you some positive ‘presence’.

Read More: