New Technology to Help with Stress Relief
- In today’s fast-paced world, stress is unavoidable for most people. In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that 75% of Americans experience stress regularly – often from work or school, but also from their personal relationships and finances. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Our fast-paced lifestyles are keeping us busier than ever, and an increasing number of new technologies can help us deal with stress in our daily lives – if we know how to use them correctly! Here are four types of wearable tech tools to manage stress. (more...)
What is stress?
Stress is the process of strain or pressure resulting from difficult circumstances. Often, it occurs when a person feels that he or she has lost control over the outcome of a situation. Common sources of stress include work, school, lack of sleep, and mental disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Stress is not a single thing but can take on many forms. It's up to each individual to recognize their unique signs of stress and deal with it accordingly before it reaches unmanageable levels.
Why you need to manage your stress levels
Stress affects both our mental and physical health. It has been shown that chronic stress can actually alter the structure of our brains. High levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, can lead to heart disease and diabetes, not to mention other ailments. The less stressed we are, the better we will feel overall. There are many ways to reduce stress such as practicing meditation or exercising more often. Some wearable gadgets offer a way to help you manage your stress level by tracking it daily. Fitbit recently introduced an updated model of their popular Charge HR, which now includes an optional sleep tracker module that allows users to set a personal sleep goal and track how well they met it. With Apple's new smartwatch, you can see when your heart rate spikes, which might be caused by anxiety or excitement instead of exercise or anger.
How modern technology can help you manage stress?
If you're feeling overwhelmed, try the slow breathing exercise. Get into a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down, close your eyes, and focus on your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Remember that these breaths are a signal to our brains that everything is OK. As you breathe, imagine inhaling air through your nose and exhaling air through your mouth. Try counting to four as you inhale and then again when you exhale. Continue this for at least five minutes or until you feel calm enough to go about your day.
The Benefits of Taking a Break From Work
After a long day of hard work, it can be difficult to say no to just one more email. Rest is important, and employees should take time away from their screens every once in a while. Breaking up the workday is not only healthy but beneficial. Employees might return more refreshed and creative than before. Staying too long at the office might result in burnout or even depression, so it's important to know when enough is enough. Many companies are now offering perks like gym memberships and free lunches for employees who take breaks throughout the day.
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