10 Tips for relaxation

It seems everyone is living and breathing stress. It also seems that efforts to try and undo the tension most often just adds more stress, especially if you are taking the wrong approach.

While there are hundreds of websites that outline ways to beat stress I wanted to give you my top 10 tips that help me to D-Stress.

”According to the American Psychological Association - The Stress in America survey results show that adults continue to report high levels of stress and many report that their stress has increased over the past year." 

My top 10 Tips to Help You De-Stress (in no particular order)

1. Exercise. “Run, do some yoga, lift weights or punch a bag at the gym. If do don’t like going to the gym, statistics show that a 20-minute walk or jog around your block can yield up to 12 hours of improved mood. Bottom line: find a physical activity that you enjoy, whether it’s golfing (no cart), dancing or working out, whatever. Get active!

2. Connect with Others. Spending time with friends and family who give you a sense of belonging, purpose, and fun may provide all the stress relief you need. Engage with others and share life.

3. Pray. This sounds like a no brainer, but if we are honest sometimes this is the most neglected area of our lives. We pray for the church, our next sermon, our staff and family, yet often neglect just sitting before the Lord and being in His presence, sharing our truth and receiving His. Find a place away from the computer, tv, any distraction. Begin with some deep breathing exercises, speak to your body to relax, then invite the Holy Spirit and begin to have a dialogue.

4. Journal. When you are in that time of prayer, I encourage you to dedicate a period of that time to write out your thoughts, a situation that is bothering, a praise or even a disappointment. You will find that in developing this discipline the Holy Spirit will begin to speak to you and help you solve problems or find positive angles to deal with the stressors.

5. Laugh. Laughter really is the best medicine. It is proven to lower tension, and at the same time, improves blood flow and the health of your heart. Rent a funny movie or hang out with that wannabe-comedian pal, and lay down your worries for a while, they may not be going anywhere but when you return to them, you may find they have diminished in their significance.

6. Get Some Fresh Air. If you are cooped up inside all day, take a few minutes to get outside and see the sun. A little time outdoors can improve your mood and help you relax.

7. Give Yourself A Break. Meditate on positive affirmations from the Word of God daily. Take captive those negative thoughts, that only makes you feel bad and will increase stress. You have a choice to choose to speak life or death. Hint: Chose life! Speak it and believe it!

8. Give Thanks. Giving thanks for your family, friends, loved ones , your ministry and for the positive aspects of your life will bring a peace that surpasses understanding. Not only does it give you perspective, when you share that thankfulness, it makes other people feel good, too.

9. Sabbath. Make a change. Sometimes the best way to obtain stress relief is to remove yourself from the source of tension for a time. Scheduling a time of sabbath will allow you to completely unplug from the tension and allow you to develop margin and reprogram your body and create a new rhythm.

10. Take Care Of Yourself - When tension spikes, it can be tempting to put yourself last — that would be a mistake. God only made one of you! Prioritizing you health by eating right, getting some physical activity, connecting to those important relationships, and getting good sleep is necessary if you want to avoid the stress and stay strong for the long haul.