Many people deal with stress and anxiety. There are many factors, including genetics, work and other every day stressors that can cause anxiety and tension to build up. If you struggle with stress and feel tension building up, it is important to find ways to relax and release tension in order to maintain your physical and mental health. Here are eight ways to release tension.  

1. Eat a Healthy Diet

The first way to release tension and ease stress and anxiety is to eat a healthy diet. The food you eat has a huge effect on not only your physical health but your mental health as well. Avoid foods that are full of sugar and are processed because eating these types of foods can make you more stressed. The more stressed you are, the more likely you are to make unhealthy food choices. Therefore, in order to release tension, it is important to choose foods that are rich in nutrients, such as vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts and beans. You can also try adding certain things to your diet that are known to help people relax, such as green tea to calm you, melatonin to help you sleep at night and cannabis products from Heavy Hitters.  

2. Spend Time Outside and In Nature

Spending time outside and in nature can help reduce stress. Spending time in the sun can also improve your mood. While hiking and camping are great ways to get outside, simply going for a walk can give you a boost of endorphins that can help reduce stress. Going to a park or garden are also great options. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and begin to feel tense, find a way to spend time outside.

3. Use Deep Breathing Techniques

One of the easiest ways to release tension is to practice deep breathing exercises. Taking deep breaths can help release tension in your muscles, helping you to feel calmer when you are feeling the physical effects of stress, such as fast breathing and a fast heartbeat. There are different exercises you can try such as diaphragmatic breathing and abdominal breathing. Focusing on your breath can help slow it down and slow your heart rate, therefore lowering your blood pressure and helping you feel calmer.

4. Meditate

There are many benefits to meditation, including reducing stress, anxiety and depression, increasing creativity and improving your mood. There are many different techniques you can try. One technique is mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness involves focusing on your breathing and staying in the present moment. By focusing on the present and calming your breath, practicing mindfulness can help release tension.

5. Exercise More

Getting plenty of exercise is important for your physical and mental health. Studies show that exercising can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve your mood and help you get better sleep. Therefore, exercising more can release tension. Find some stress-relieving exercises that you enjoy and do them often.

6. Stretch

Stretching is a great way to relieve tension in your muscles and can help you feel more relaxed. When you’re feeling stressed or tense, take a few minutes to do some stretches. You can also try tensing the muscles in your body for a few seconds and then releasing them.

7. Do Things You Enjoy

Self-care is important for dealing with stress and releasing tension. One part of self-care is taking the time to do activities that you enjoy. Maybe you have a hobby such as painting or a sport or playing a musical instrument or listening to music. No matter what it is, find something that you enjoy and make time for it. This can improve your mood and help you relax and relieve tension.

8. Spend Time With Your Friends and Family

Spending time with your friends and family can help you deal with stress and is important for maintaining your mental health.

If you struggle with stress and anxiety and have built up tension because of it, try some of these ways to release tension so you can feel your best.