Stress is an almost inevitable part of our daily lives, but it is essential to find effective ways to reduce it. For this, it is important to know that there are several ways to relax and that relaxing & unloading are two very different things! Do you want to reduce your stress? Then you will not only need to relax from time to time, but certainly need to "unload" regularly. How? You can read about that in this blog!

Relaxing: a moment of peace

Relaxing is like taking a breather from the hectic pace of life. It is consciously taking time for yourself to calm down and quiet your mind. For example, you can schedule moments of self-care in your schedule, do nothing for a while and unwind.

Tips for relaxing

1. Breathing Exercises: Take deep, slow breaths to calm your body. Breathe in through your nose and out of your mouth, trying to make the exhalation slightly longer than the inhalation.
2. Yoga and meditation: Exercises such as yoga and meditation promote relaxation and improve mental clarity.
3. Supplements for relaxation: Consider orthomolecular supplements with ingredients such as magnesium for good mental balance and vitamin B12, which can help reduce lack of energy. 

Discharge: releasing built-up tension

Perhaps you recognize the following: you would like to reduce your stress so you take a nice hot bath. You turn off your phone, light a candle, but still feel restlessness and maybe even stress. It could just be that there is still so much stress and tension in your body that you can't relax yet and that you need to 'unload' first. 

In fact, unlike relaxing, discharging goes deeper into releasing the held stress and tension.

Tips for discharging:

1. Move your body: Physical activity such as walking, dancing or jumping not only helps reduce stress hormones, but also stimulates circulation, which is essential for detoxification and releasing tension.
2. Sufficient hydration: Water is a powerful tool in draining toxins from the body. So always ensure adequate hydration throughout the day.
3. Journaling: Writing in a journal or other diary can help release your brooding thoughts. Out of your head, onto paper.

Reducing stress: relaxing or discharging?

Incorporating both relaxation and release into your daily routine creates a synergistic effect that reduces overall stress. Do you feel a headache coming on, a stiff neck, stiff muscles or are you overcome with fatigue? It could just be that the tension from the past few days has built up and is working its way out. Put on your favorite song, dance along and really release any tension. Then make a nice cup of herbal tea and curl up on the couch with a blanket, or immerse yourself in a nice warm bath. The combination of unloading & relaxing is golden for reducing stress!