5 Natural Stress Relievers To Boost Your Immunity & Energise Your Soul

Spring is here! The weather is warming up, the sun is more prominent and uplifting and mother nature is showing off her beauty!

For Melbournians, this season could not have come quick enough. Although we are in strict lockdown with a curfew, there are ways we can lift our spirits and keep healthy as we navigate our way through the next few months.

Here are 5 natural ways you can alleviate your stress and anxiety and make the most of the warmer months ahead – even if it is in lockdown..

• Grounding

Your body produces and uses electrical energy all the time, but when it receives extra electrons (from the earth) it is able to cleanse, repair and return the body to its optimal state. When you come into direct contact with the earth eg. soles of feet, body and hands on the ground, the free electrons on the earth’s surface are absorbed through your energy field, balancing your body. 

Tip: Start with something small and incorporate a practice or two, 5 to 10 minutes per day. Remove your shoes and socks and place the soles of your feet on the ground.

• Nature Walk

Have you noticed how fantastic you feel after a walk outside in nature? Science proves that walking long distances has a positive affect on your body and mind. It is known to control depression, reduce anxiety and improve your immunity. Most importantly, being outdoors lowers the levels of your stress hormone – cortisol.

Tip: Organise a walk in your local area (for us Melbournians), perhaps on the weekend. Remember to use all your senses as you walk – smell the spring blooms, look up and around and notice the sounds of the wildlife in the area. Take note of how you feel before and after your walk.

Check out the app called AllTrails which has over 100,000 trails you can choose from in your neighbourhood.

• Declutter

With most of us spending all day at home, having an organised and tidy house is important for our mental wellbeing. Not only are we seeing the same four walls day in day but ensuring it is clean and a comfortable space to be in has never been so important. 

When things feel out of order, it can make you feel scattered and anxious. Creating order relieves that anxiety. It’s time for a Spring Clean!

Tip: Pick one room and clean it, throwing away anything you haven’t used in a while or no longer need. Finish one room before moving onto another.

• Meditation

Through mindfulness meditation we can become more aware of our thoughts. The objective in meditation is to take a step outside of your thoughts and as an observer, become aware of them. Many people make think that to effectively meditate is to have no thoughts, but this is simply not true and in fact impossible. Mindfulness meditation alleviates stress by helping us practise to be present reminding us of pleasant experiences from our past, when we’ve been able to overcome struggle and achieve personal success.

Tip: Meditation can be experienced in many ways. Yoga, Tai Chi or simply being still are all forms of meditation. When you are feeling anxious, I encourage you to try a yoga class or listen to a guided meditation. Note how you feel before and after your experience. 

• Sleep

Typically, your cortisol levels fall in the evening hours, as one element of the body’s natural preparation for sleep. High cortisol levels at night interfere with the release of melatonin, a hormone that is essential for the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. Poor sleep itself can further influence your cortisol, causing levels to rise at times when they would otherwise be low.

Tip: Improve your sleep hygiene by trying to sleep in total darkness, keep regular sleeping hours, try to get 7-9 hours of sleep and the moment you see light in the morning get up and begin your day.

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I felt it so important to share these tips with you after learning this week that we won’t be coming out of lockdown as we all might have liked. I am fully understanding and aware of the stress, anxiety and pressures that may be accumulating for some over this period of time.

This crisis has seen a rise in suicides, domestic violence, job loss and business closures. If this blog finds you and helps get you through a tough day then it has served its purpose. 

Please share this with anyone who may need this right now, because having or working towards a balanced mind to calm anxiety and promote serenity and sense of security might just be what helps get you through this difficult time.