Stress and anxiety have a wide spectrum that begins at worrying over a small task or something you forgot to do and reaches to a constant feeling of pressure in your chest. With the good comes the bad; there is a vast majority of the levels of stress, but there is also a vast majority of ways we can solve them. The ways to solve or temporarily mute your stress and anxiety are subjective, but can be helped through different exercises, foods, literature, and supplements. It’s not easy, it’s never just that easy. But that’s why there are many ways to do this, and we at Pure Biology would love to offer a hand:

Diet

        It has been proven time and time again that you are what you eat. Going deeper than that, your brain is what you eat. Sugar is one of the key components of stress related foods. By eating more whole foods, you keep your blood sugar more leveled, which contributes to fewer mood swings, less stress, and a happier body (runtastic.com).

Another huge one would be alcohol. Have you ever woken up after a night with a few cocktails and you all of a sudden feel anxious and like something is wrong? Alcohol may have the reputation of being able to “take the edge off” but that’s highly unlikely. Like sugar, alcohol can raise blood pressure levels, giving off stressful symptoms such as chest pressure, headaches, and the outcomes of a bad night’s sleep. And we all know what happens when you wake up after an evening of drinking!

By not drinking more than your limit and by eating healthy and regularly, stress levels will reduce insanely. No hangover, no problem.

The value of the outdoors

      When some feel stressed, they find it easiest to stay inside and “do nothing”; to hibernate in a fort of blankets and movies and maybe after a couple hours they’ll be good to go. That could be the case, but what some people neglect in their anti-stress regimens is the value of simply getting up and taking a walk outside.

        It’s healthy to take yourself out of uncomfortable situations rather than just forcing yourself to endure them. For example, if you’re sitting inside- at your desk, on your couch, in your bed- it’s like you’re physically sitting in your mental state. By getting up and physically removing yourself from a situation or an environment where you feel stressed, you are actually physically removing the stress as well.

Stuck at work and can’t physically go outside? Walk over to the elevators, grab a glass of water, call your mom! Anything you can do to just move around for 5-10 min can easily calm your nerves and get you ready to continue your day and finish strong. It’s all about movement.

Healthy distractions

Going outside and excusing yourself from stressful situations is a great way to distract

you from yourself, but there are other, more exciting ways, too! Working out, for instance, is a great way to relieve stress. By working out, your body releases endorphins which act as natural pain killers. Going to the gym, going for a run, skating, and more can:

• Give you more energy and stamina
• Lower your blood pressure
• Help control your appetite
• Improve your quality of sleep
• Improve your mood

        Another healthy distraction is cooking! Cooking a meal is a very long process from start to finish, therefore can take up a chunk of your day and eat your stress up (pun intended). Being in the kitchen is similar to painting or scrapbooking, which are also great stress relievers, because it’s a creative outlet. You have to find a recipe, go to the market, measure things out, pay attention to the time, decorate, chop, slice, dice, and more. By the time you’re eating, you will feel accomplished, relaxed, and the best part: FULL!

        Never doubt your capabilities to change your own mind. The first step in releasing anxious feelings is understanding that you can do it. Stress is a complicated thing that can take over your entire body, from your mind to your chest to your legs. The way to remove these feelings is to take yourself outside of your body and recognize that where there’s a problem, there’s a solution.

And when all else fails, try a Face Mask and soak it out in a bubble bath!