Simple Ways to De-Stress Yourself

Stress appears in many different forms; internally and externally. 

Job Searching and not being chosen for the job after an interview can cause tremendous amounts of stress to a person. 

Stress is a part of life, it's learning how to deal with it that is KEY!

Relaxation – Is a must.  Easier said than done, but you have to try and relax.  Take a time-out every day.  Turn off the computer and the television and whatever other noise surrounds you and just concentrate on you.  Take a hot bath, a long walk, a nap.  If you can, lay down and concentrate on your whole body feeling relaxed, breathe deeply and wash the days’ worries away from your mind and body.  Do whatever helps you feel relaxed.  Turn off your mind, don’t think about negative things.

Breathing Exercises – Air is more important than food, water and sleep – we can go without these things for days, but we can’t go without air for very long.  Close your eyes and focus on your breathing.  Take deep breaths in and out and listen to the sounds of your breathing – feel your heart rate slow and your body move into a relaxed state.

Imagine – In a quiet place, imagine your goals and how you will reach them.  Imagine positivity in your life and happiness surrounding you.  When you are feeling stressed, go back to that place and practice your breathing.  Imagery can do wonders for reaching your goals; if you picture yourself where you want to be, it’s easier to get there!

Massage – One of the greatest benefits for our bodies to relax is through massage.  Getting a professional massage can be costly; however, you can ask your partner, family member or a friend to massage you.  Self-massage of the neck, shoulders, legs, feet, etc can also be very beneficial and release tension in your body.

Slow Down – People have become accustomed to a busy life-style.  There is a drive-through for everything, there’s a ‘fast cash’ option at the bank, and everything is go-go-go.  We have lost sight of taking in life’s beauty and slowing down and appreciating what is happening around us.  When you slow down and take time to notice, you will benefit from realization.  You can reduce stress right away by simply slowing down what you are doing; driving, cooking, walking, shopping.

Get Active and Eat Better– It’s proven that exercise, combined with healthy eating, not only provides body-image results, but also reduces stress and motivates clearer thinking.   You don’t need an expensive gym membership to become physically active.  Go on a hike, take a long walk, purchase exercise videos from your local retailer, or access a recreation centre in your neighborhood (which is more cost effective then a major gym membership).  Eating healthy can be simple; look up some recipes online and start cooking!  Fresh vegetables, fruits and meats are often less expensive than pre-packaged meals which aren’t as healthy.

Yoga!  There is a reason this has become such a popular activity – it helps release tension and stress and the clutter from your mind!  You can join a class and learn the basics and then continue to do simple poses every morning from your own home.

Creative Activities - Use your creative energy to release stress. Writing, drawing, dancing....are only a few ways to reduce and release your stress. Spend time doing things you enjoy in a cost-effective way.

Remember, we can't control everything around us however, we can control, to a certain degree how we deal with stress. Making an effort to reduce stress will help you to be more focused and positive about your job search journey. Reducing stress will make finding the light at the end of the job search tunnel a lot easier!
                                                                                -Sunny + Sassy