Stress isn’t fun and it’s bad for your health, so in this blog I am going to give you 23 simple tips reduce stress and release feel good hormones like oxytocin.
If you are too stressed you won’t be able to present the best version of yourself on a date.
In the right circumstances your body naturally produces feel good hormones such as Oxytocin, Serotonin, Dopamine which will reduce your stress and make you feel good.
Oxytocin is often called the love hormone and has many functions. In smaller quantities, it relaxes the body for both men and women.
Oxytocin reduces cortisol levels which come about from stress.
Oxytocin is known as the bonding hormone. It’s called the superglue of love, and when you don’t have enough oxytocin, you become short tempered, angry, bitchy, difficult to be with and dissatisfied with life. So, it’s really important to learn how to rebuild your oxytocin levels, and to do it on aregular basis every day.
People who are in love are lucky as they reap the benefits but what do you do if you are single? Especially when you have stress affecting you?
How do you create more of the feel-good chemicals?
Here are 23 simple tips to release stress and get your brain to create more oxytocin.
- Hug
A 20 second hug it’s the quickest way to increase oxytocin. Remember you don’t have to be in a relationship to get a hug. - Laughter
Having a laugh is the best way to raise the levels of your dopamine and promote the production of oxytocin. Watch a comedy, go to a comedy show or hang out with funny people. Research shows that when you watch comedies you are more compassionate and can connect easily with others. - Go on a Pleasure Diet!
It is all too easy to get caught up in all the things you have to do in life. But doing fun things that cause you pleasure will increase your feel-good hormones, including oxytocin. Do one simple thing each day to give yourself pleasure. It could be a massage, have some chocolate, get into nature, have a pedi/mani, etc. - Grab a Massage
This will reduce stress and raise your oxytocin levels. Physical touch is important and this is one way you can meet this need. - Have some Chocolate
It has been proven that chocolate releases the same chemicals as being in love, so have a square or two. - Hang out with friends
Connection will increase the feel-good hormone. - Call someone you love
Again when we are connected to others it makes us feel good , so pick up the phone and call someone who is close to you. - Exercise
You may not feel like it but as little as 30 minutes exercise will make a huge difference. It boosts your dopamine levels and reduce the stress hormones in your body. - Be Playful
Life can be too serious, full of pressure and deadlines. Remember being a kid when all you had to do was play and how much fun you could have with nothing. Connect with that mindset and bring back the fun and play to life as well as the feel good hormones! - Give
You may have heard the saying that it is better to give than receive! It may be a cliche but it has has huge benefits as it gives you feelings of kindness, compassion and love. Seeing someone happy will put a smile on your face and will produce oxytocin. - Dance
Dance like no-one is watching in your lounge room. It’s good exercise, fun, and will increase both dopamine and oxytocin. - Music
Calm music soothes the soul so when you listen to relaxing music you will increase your feel good hormones. - Breathe
Stress causes shallow breathing and leaves you in various states of flight/fight and panic. When you find yourself in this state stop and breathe deeply. How you breathe has a powerful effect on your nervous system. Simply breathing in for the count of 6 and out for the count of six will claim your nervous system and bring you into a balanced state. - Food
Increase the intake of tryptophan and magnesium. Food that has tryptophan in promotes oxytocin. Foods to look for are bananas, yogurt, cashews, eggs, salmon, walnuts, whole grain rice and quinoa, sesame seeds, beans, potatoes.Foods that have magnesium in also does the same thing. Foods include spinach, yogurt, kefir, almonds, black beans, pumpkin seeds, avocado, figs, dark chocolate and bananas. - Meditate
Meditation is a great way to let go of your thoughts and it only needs to be as little as 5 minutes to start with. It allow you to let go of stress and it proven to have a positive effect on the brain. - Water
Being near water can dramatically reduce your stress. Go to the beach, swim or soak in a bath; any type of water will work. It will rejuvenate you, reduce stress and give you a boost of dopamine as well as producing oxytocin. - Connect with Nature
Get outside and into nature, whether it is the mountains, the ocean, rivers, forests or parks. Walk with bare feet on the grass and lie on the ground. This will ground you and connect you. It is a great way to switch off and increase oxytocin. - Get sunlight
Being in the sunshine will instantly make you feel happy. It will then promote oxytocin. - Try something new/do something that scares you
Trying something new gets you out of the same, same routine. It will take you out of your comfort zone and make you feel alive. Intentionally doing something that scares you will give you a huge rush and release feel good hormones! - Play with your Pet or someone elses!
This one goes without saying! It works the same as a hug. - Cry
A good cry can do wonders. Time to let yourself feel your emotions rather than stuff them down. We are not talking about wallowing, rather in feeling them and letting them go. - Do something you love
Life can be all about work and it can be easy to have time for the essentials but not what you love. Take the time to do the things you love. If you don’t know what they are go have fun, play and experiment. - Hang out by with YOU
There is one person who is guaranteed to always be in your life and that is YOU. Take the time to start to enjoy your own company and get to know yourself. Don’t be afraid of being alone – walk, meditate, exercise, read, do fun things. Love yourself! Realise there can be someone who always loves you and that is YOU. This will definitely realise oxytocin.
