Let’s face it. Most of us get stressed at work. Sleeping more, exploring your hobbies and catching up with family and friends can be great stress busters, but not many of us have time to invest in these activities on a daily basis. So let’s take a look at 4 sure-fire methods to beat stress in less than 15 minutes.
#1 Listening to Classical Music
Researchers from the United States and Europe have reported that classical music can help us recover much faster from stressful experiences. Listening to classical music while working also raises people’s moods and improves work satisfaction.
Classical music can also boost IQ scores by a few points, a result called the Mozart effect. Don’t get too excited though, because the effect wears off within 15 minutes.
#2 Practicing Yoga & Meditation
Yoga has been a path to enlightenment for millennia, ever since Lord Shiva, considered the first guru in yogic lore, is said to have bequeathed them to humanity. But it has something to offer for those looking at more immediate physical and psychological benefits too. Research from the University of California, Santa Barbara has shown that meditation can create better mental focus and enhance memory capacity. So check out some of the short guided meditations available online, which shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to complete.
#3 Drinking Green Tea
Green tea is a great option if you are looking for a relaxing drink. It doesn’t take more than 15 minutes to prepare and is chock-full of the amino acid L-theanine, known for its relaxing effects. It’s always best to choose a tea that’s low in caffeine because caffeine tends to increase your heart rate and metabolism. Though the helpful effects of L-theanine offset the activating properties of caffeine, lowering its intake makes green tea that much more effective at inducing relaxation and relieving stress.
#4 Having Some Dark Chocolate
Yes, you read it right! Chocolate, specifically the dark variety with over 70% cocoa content, can help you beat stress. Eating dark chocolate combats the stress hormone cortisol, and offers other health benefits such as lowered blood pressure and improved metabolism.
So the next time you’re at work and things are getting heated up, take a short break and use one of the above methods to relax and calm down.
#Bonus Tip!
If you are willing to spend a bit more than 15 minutes, recent research has shown that hatha yoga and surya namaskar can create relaxation in the body, and make a person’s perception of their surroundings less negative and threatening.
