How To De-Stress In 5 Effective Steps

Words by, Peter Minkoff

Photography by, Kenny P Chen

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The article below is a featured guest post enunciated, and written by lifestyle writer at Men-Ual magazine UK, Peter Minkoff. Specially written for www.igeeokafor.com. Edited and Approved by, Igee Okafor.

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Working all day long and not having enough time to spend with your friends and family can really take a toll on you mentally, physically and emotionally, and you need to do something about it as soon as possible. Finding effective ways to de-stress and take your mind off work-related things is crucial, and you need to spend as much time doing these activities as you can. If you’re still unsure what some of the ways to de-stress are, here are five suggestions you could try.

• Sports Activities

There’s nothing better than spending time with your friends playing a sport you’ve always loved, and then going for a round of beer or some amazing food afterwards. This way, you can feel relaxed and enjoy your free time more than before, but you’ll also do something good for your health as well – playing sports regularly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and type-2 diabetes, so start doing it as soon as you can.

Tennis and squash are some of the sports you could explore if you don’t have a huge group of friends required for a game of football or basketball. All you need is one person, some equipment and a few hours of your free time, and you’re good to go. Keep in mind that tennis, for instance, comes with an entire range of health benefits, such as burning calories and boosting your brain power, so it’s good for your mental and physical condition as well.

• Road trip

If you’re not into sports, you surely are into taking a weekend off and hitting the road with your best friends. After all, there’s nothing better for your mood than cranking up your favourite song in your car and singing loudly with the people you’re comfortable with, and there’s no way you’ll feel stressed after that!

Some of the favourite road trip destinations in the USA include San Francisco, Las Vegas and Florida, but don’t forget the Hamptons – if you’re looking for a good time, this is the place you simply must visit this summer. From crazy parties to some alone time in a Jacuzzi, you’ll feel much better after a weekend at the Hamptons and definitely leave all your stress behind.

• Brunch

If you’re not a fan of an early breakfast, you must surely appreciate the opportunity to gather all your friends and spend an afternoon having brunch. In order to fulfill everyone's wishes, you need to choose the right restaurant. One option is checking out some waterfront restaurants and enjoying both the food and the view. You can also make brunch at your place and prepare some delicious food and turn on some relaxing music, your friends will enjoy it like you’re at a 5 star restaurant for sure.

• Yoga and Meditation

This is another idea that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re already into these activities, they’re going to do amazing things for your stress level. Of course, you don’t have to meditate and practice yoga every single day, but you should come up with a schedule that works for you and brings you a peace of mind.

The reason why these activities are so effective when it comes to reducing stress is quite simple: they calm you down, restore your inner balance, minimize negative emotions and increase your mindfulness. And the more you do them, the more peace are they going to bring your way, so don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try yoga and meditation.

• Take A Nap

This might seem like the worst idea ever, but it’s actually quite effective if you’re stressed out. Yes, most people who are under tension can’t even sleep at night, let alone during the day, but forcing your body to do so can be hugely beneficial to you and your stress level.

Some of the health benefits that come with a nap include being well-rested and completely fresh all day long, keeping your mind focused on important things, boosting your productivity and improving your mood. Also, you’ll forget all about the stress that’s been bothering you, which is why you need to start power-napping during daytime immediately!

Some of the other ways to de-stress include playing video games, going on a shopping spree, taking a mini-vacation, hitting the gym, having more sex, listening to soothing music, drinking green tea and eating some amazing food. Ultimately, you should do whatever relaxes you and restores your inner balance, so find a couple of activities you enjoy and you’ll notice your stress level rapidly dropping.

Thank you for reading!