12 Easy & Effective Ways to Reduce Stress
Experiencing stress is inevitable. We all get overwhelmed by various things and feel stress. How we handle stress is up to us, though! There are many ways to reduce stress and relax. Some are as simple as going for a walk while others require more attention. Read through the list below to find a few things that are a good fit for you to reduce stress.
1 – Take a hot bath (or shower)
Baths are so healthy for your body and soul – submerging your body in water instantly calms your nerves and relaxes your body. Furthermore, hot or steamy showers/baths increase your temperature which also increases your muscle relaxation. The hot water will physically force your body to relax so you can focus on mentally relaxing.
2 – Go for a walk Outside
Getting outside and breathing in the fresh air is an immediate mood booster. Going for a walk is a great way to destress and give yourself space to think while alone with minimal distractions.
3 – Declutter your house
Outside factors like daily clutter can effect your stress levels. Go through our house and clean out things you don’t use any more! One of my favorite things to do is finding valuables that I no longer need and taking them to Chapes-JPL Pawn Shop here in Atlanta. They will look over my items and offer me competitive price points for my goods. It relieves stress because I can get rid of something in my house that I don’t use every day AND I get money which I can turn around and use on self care. Plus, there’s no where more reliable to sell diamonds in Atlanta – selling old diamonds means you have money to spend on NEW diamonds or money to add to your savings account.
4 – Keep a journal
When life gets overwhelming, take a moment and write about it. You can use your journal to vent, to write letters to yourself, or make lists of ways to be productive. I personally use each three methods depending on my mood. Sometimes it helps me to focus on writing a list about how I can be productive in order to reduce my stress. Other times, the list seems daunting, and I’d rather focus on venting and letting off steam. Whatever avenue you choose, sitting down to write it out will always help!
5 – Meditate or do yoga
Yoga can be found in any and every list of ways to destress… and there’s a good reason for that! Yoga is specifically designed to relax your body, mind, and soul. By focusing on your breathe throughout yoga, you can feel the stress start to fade away into the background.
6 – Exercise
Fact: Exercise releases endorphins which make you happy.
Even if exercise isn’t your favorite thing in the world, it’s worth a try when you’re stressed out. It will make you feel accomplished for doing something healthy for your body and take your mind off of your stress for the time being.
7 – Listen to music
Music is scientifically proven to boost your mood. It allows your mind to let go of the thoughts running around constantly and just enjoy the music.
Note – don’t put depressing music on… that might send you further into a stressful mood. Instead, listen to something soothing, relaxing, or even upbeat and happy.
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8 – Treat yourself to Self Care (massage, nails, hair, etc)
Focusing on yourself is an important thing that you cannot skip over when you’re stressed out. Most people think they don’t have time to stop and get their nails done or have a massage – but that’s just the thing… MAKE TIME. The benefits of spoiling yourself will relieve stress and leave you feeling rejuvenated. This is especially true for Swedish massages – they’re specifically designed to calm nerves and reduce the production of cortisol (stress hormone).
9 – Go for a relaxing drive
Going for a drive alone can help clear your head. Driving gives you a change of scenery, a relevant distraction, and time to yourself. You’re forced to stay off social media which can be a stressor and instead focus on the road and the things around you. Plus, listening to music while you drive gives you two ways to destress.
10 – Read a book
Finding a good book to get lost in is a great way to reduce stress. Reading lowers your heart rate and eases tension in your muscles. In fact, reading is known to reduce stress by 68% and is often a faster method than many of the other alternatives. I try to keep a good book on hand that I know I can get lost in when I need a distraction during stressful days.
11 – Enjoy a hobby
We all have different hobbies that we enjoy… tennis, painting, running, cooking, etc. Get lost in one of your hobbies that brings you the most joy. It will put a smile on your face to do something you love and take your mind off of the stress in your life.
12 – Get more sleep
When people get stressed, they often feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get things done. Because of this, they decide to stay up later or wake up earlier to “be more productive”. This can be counteractive because lack of sleep can cause more stress in the long run. It’s important to take care of your body and focus on what you need.
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Related Post: Tips to Overcome Your Travel Anxiety
