How to Calm Down: 8 Effective Ways to Beat Stress

No one’s life is free of stress in the times we live in. This is the hard truth. We all face different levels and kinds of stress. It could be from work, relationships, family - the reasons are countless. But it is important to calm down and ease the tension in order to prevent adverse health effects. Not all of realise this but stress is the root cause of various health problems. When we take stress, it not just affects our state of mind but slowly impacts our memory and concentration, sleeping patters, breathing, metabolism,blood pressure and the release of hormones, which are crucial to carry out various functions of the body. It therefore becomes imperative that we take a break and keep calm.
 
Here are quick ways by which you can calm down -1. Stop What You Are DoingOne of the best ways to calm down is to immediately stop the activity, which is disturbing or causing stress. If you stick to the problem and keep stressing over it, you will never actually come up with a right solution. If you are speaking to someone or if you are in a company politely excuse yourself. Go to a quiet place and focus on calming thoughts.(Also read: 6 Types of Stress you Should Know About)
 _{Go to a quiet place and focus on calming thoughts​}2. Relax Your MusclesWhen an emotional or stress-related anxiety occurs, the body muscles become tight and tensed. Progressive Muscle Relaxation can help in releasing the tension by tensing and relaxing particular muscle groups. With practice PMR can actually help you bust all the stress and anxiety. You should find a quiet, comfortable and a relatively dark place to practice this. Either sit comfortably or lie down and focus on a particular muscular group. For instance, if you’re starting with your head, raise your eyebrows as far as they will go and open your eyes wide. Hold for 5 seconds, then release. Squeeze your eyes shut tightly. Hold for 5 seconds, then release. After this move to other muscle groups like neck,shoulders, arms, chest and so on.
 _{When an emotional or stress-related anxiety occurs, the body muscles become tight and tensed}3. Distract YourselfIt is the best to distract yourself from the source of stress or disharmony. If you keep thinking deeply about your problems, anxiety and depression symptoms may surface. Though distraction is not a long term solution, it can be a good way to help you calm down. Thereafter you can deal with the issue with a fresh mind. You can choose to do the following to distract yourself:

• Chat with your friends or socialise with someone you love the most or enjoy the company of. Go sit with a cheerful person who can cheer you up too!
• Watch a fun movie or a tv show. Good humor will definitely pull you from the strings of stress. Avoid watching a sad or depressing movie as it can add on to the stress you’re already facing.
• Listen to your favourite music which helps in calming your nerves. Again don’t go for sad songs as they might make you more upset.

4. Count Your BlessingsEvery night count the good things of the day that you are grateful for. It could be as small as watching a good movie to as big as doing something for our family or society. It helps in keeping you positive and calm.

 

5.  Take Deep BreathsAs simple as it sounds, this activity acts wonders in calming down the brain and the body. It works better and faster than any relaxation technique. There is a direct connection between our emotional state and breathing. An anxious, frustrated person breathes as if they have just finished running a marathon. A calm person's breathing is deep, slow and steady. Hence, the best way to bring your heart rate down and to regain your cool is to change your breathing pattern.
 
6. Shaking It OffIt is said animals release their stress by shaking. It has proven to be beneficial in case of humans as well. Shaking your body for about 15 minutes can help you calm down as it gives your brain new sensations to process.
 _{Shaking your body for about 15 minutes can help you calm down}7. The Power of Hug
 
It is said 10 seconds hug a day can change biochemical and physiological forces in your body. It can lower the risks of heart disease, release stress, boost immune system and ease depression. You can give yourself a hug by squeezing your belly and hugging your knees at the same time. It helps in calming down to a great extent. Or just hug a loved one.
 _{It is said 10 seconds hug a day can change biochemical and physiological forces in your body.}8. Zero in on Your Pressure Points There are key acupressure spots on the head, face, and hands that are really close to bundles of nerves, and pressing on them can help relax the nervous system, especially when we're stressed. You could try applying pressure to the meaty part of the hands between thumb and forefinger. It does work like magic in calming down.
 
Disclaimer:The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.