10 Alternative Ways to Ease Stress and Anxiety

April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the importance of mental wellbeing and explore alternative methods for managing stress and anxiety. While traditional methods like exercise and meditation are effective for many, there's a plethora of lesser-known techniques that can provide relief and promote relaxation. Here are our top 10 alternative ways to ease stress and anxiety.

DIY Reflexology: Reflexology involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears to stimulate relaxation and healing elsewhere in the body. You can try reflexology yourself at home by using a reflexology chart to locate key pressure points and gently massage them using your fingers or a reflexology tool. For example applying pressure to the centre of your palm helps to realign your solar plexus (3rd chakra) resulting in creating a de-stress, relaxing and calming effect. Tip! Use Sleepy Head balm or Relaxing Face & Body Oil for added therapeutic and skin benefits.

 

Forest Bathing: Also known as shinrin-yoku, forest bathing originated in Japan and involves immersing yourself in nature to reduce stress and boost overall wellbeing. Take a leisurely stroll through a forested area, paying close attention to your surroundings and engaging all your senses.

 

Aromatherapy: Harness the power of essential oils to calm your mind and soothe your senses. Lavender, ylang ylang, bergamot, chamomile, and frankincense are renowned for their calming properties. Add a few drops to a diffuser, inhale directly from the bottle, or dilute with a carrier oil for a relaxing massage.

Floatation Therapy: Step into a float tank filled with warm, buoyant water and Epsom salts to experience sensory deprivation. Floatation therapy promotes deep relaxation by eliminating external stimuli, allowing your mind and body to enter a state of profound calmness.

 

Binaural Beats: These audio recordings use specific frequencies to synchronise brainwaves and induce states of relaxation or focus. Simply put on a pair of headphones and listen to binaural beats to experience their stress-relieving effects.

 

Sound Healing: Explore the therapeutic power of sound through practices like Tibetan singing bowl meditation or crystal bowl therapy. The vibrations produced by these instruments can help release tension and promote a sense of peace and harmony.

 

Colour Therapy: Surround yourself with colours that resonate with your emotions and energy levels. Experiment with coloured lighting, wear clothing in soothing hues, or engage in colouring activities to tap into the calming properties of different colours. Blue for example is considered a highly peaceful colour, as is green which is known to be grounding, whereas yellow can help lift moods. 

 

Breathwork: Consciously controlling your breath can have a profound impact on your stress levels. Try deep breathing exercises like the 4-7-8 technique or alternate nostril breathing to activate your body's relaxation response and calm your mind.

 

Gardening Therapy: Get your hands dirty and connect with the earth through gardening. Whether you have a spacious garden or a few pots on a balcony, nurturing plants can be a therapeutic way to reduce stress and cultivate mindfulness.

 

Energy Healing: Explore alternative modalities like Reiki, acupuncture, crystal healing or Qi Gong to balance your body's energy and promote emotional wellbeing. These practices work on the principle of restoring harmony to the body's energy systems, which can help alleviate stress and anxiety.

Incorporating these alternative techniques into your self-care routine can provide valuable tools for managing stress and anxiety. Remember that what works for one person may not work for another, so don't be afraid to experiment and find what resonates best with you. Prioritise your mental health and explore the diverse array of options available for promoting relaxation and inner peace.

For more wellness tips and holistic products to support your journey to stress relief, visit Made by Coopers.