Singapore comes up as one of the top few in the world with many things like our airport, internet speeds and wealth. But with all the pressure to do well, it’s no wonder that Singaporeans are one of the most stressed people in the world.
The stress starts young in the classroom. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conducted a study that found that Singaporean Students have a higher level of anxiety about test and grades as compared to their international counterparts. It continues in the workplace with 25% of Singaporean workers reporting high levels of stress at work.
Like many things in life, stress is a double edged sword and can be both good and bad.
Known as eustress, beneficial stress aids to boost your motivation linked to a particular goal by giving a sense of fulfilment at the end. It is linked to life satisfaction and overall well-being and the temporary surge of cortisol levels are normalised after the completion of the task. Easy peasy, no need for worry.
But when you’re just feeling undirected anxiety or worry, those feelings fall under the umbrella of bad stress known as distress (How apt right?). With no motivating factor or task to feel completed by, the excess cortisol builds up in the body and creates the feeling of being constantly on the edge.
Burnout might be coming for you. So here's what you can do to de-stress!
Ohm your stress away
Save money and skip the spa day, feelings of overwhelming stress can be best negated with physical activity as it provides a good outlet to stop to the “fight or flight” instinct. Shut yourself down for an hour or two and get your exercise done in a slower paced environment
Yoga aids to loosen tension in your muscles to promote relaxation to enhance your mood and with enough meditation and practice, maybe you’ll stumble across the meaning of life. An added bonus will be your ability to contort yourself in many different ways. (If only you could contort yourself out of work instead, but one day.)
Where to learn?
The Yoga Co and Como Shambala are some places to check out for aspiring yogis. The former is run by ¼ of local band, The Sam Willows. With a studio cat and all the jazz, it’s among the perfect few places to get your ohm on.
Like many things in life, fix it with food.
We’re not just talking about plain old comfort foods like cake or mac and cheese. In fact, many of our regular comfort foods like carb and sugar heavy desserts actually raise your stress levels (and make you feel even worse than before after the temporary high).
To lower your cortisol levels, make sure to include plenty of anti-inflammatory foods such as tomatoes, nuts, fruits and fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines. Probiotic foods such as yoghurt, kefir and cultured veggies help to reduce anxiety and limit the release of stress hormones as well.
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Kinohimitsu Bio Booster
Filled with probiotics, gut-loving bacteria and prebiotics the food to help the probiotics thrive. It helps fight that mid-afternoon brain fog and stress induced digestion troubles by boosting the body’s absorption ability for a healthy digestive and immune system.
It’s common knowledge that drinking tea helps to reduce anxiety and stress. Rejuvenate your body and mind with Kinohimitsu D’tox Tea, it helps beat stress-related digestive issues like constipation and bloating with a blend of all-natural ingredients.
Free from caffeine and gentle enough for daily use, add a spoon of honey for an extra calming effect and it’s perfect as a morning pick-me-up or for the evening wind-down.
Get a pet fish
Studies have found that staring at swimming fishes help to lower blood pressure and reduce heart rates, helping to soothe stress and anxiety. So get a goldfish or two, it helps to make a home a more calm environment for winding down.
When in doubt, salt it out
We all know Epsom salts as the stuff that your manicurists put in your foot soak when you're getting your nails done, but did you know that besides helping to soften the hard skin on your feet, Epsom salts have so much more to offer?
The salts help to relax the muscles by increasing the water's specific gravity to make your body feel more lightweight. By soaking in Epsom salts, your body replenishes magnesium stores depleted by stress, absorbing it from the salts to help ease migraines and soothe irritability.
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