10 Tips to Relieve Stress

Life doesn’t have to be stressful even though stress can be found everywhere. Work, relationships, the weather, your health, and your finances can each be a source of stress.

These things aren’t stressful in themselves, but we create stress by the way we interpret them. There are many ways to make things more stressful than they need to be. There are also many ways to combat stress in your life.

Considering how miserable stress can make life both physically and mentally, the time you spend learning to combat stress is time well-spent. Be patient with yourself when trying to destress and try several possible solutions. Y

our stress may be locked in your habits – which is actually good because you have the power to change your habits.

Try these quick and easy ways to lessen the stress you experience in your life:

Have a good laugh

Laughing is the perfect antidote to stress. You feel better physically and mentally after a good laugh. Keep a book of jokes handy or find a humor-related website for a quick pick-me-up.

Get spiritual

Many people find that their spirituality and activities reduce their stress. You don’t have to be religious or attend a church to be spiritual, so don’t let institutionalized religion stop you from using spirituality to improve you life.

Take a quick nap

A nap resets your brain and refreshes you physically and mentally. Experiment with the duration of your naps to find what works best for you. There’s no best solution for everyone, so this is one of those things you will have to try out for yourself, experiment and find out what works. You’ll likely find that napping for too long leaves you feeling groggy and grumpy. Give it some time and you can find the sweet spot.

Meditate

Meditation is simple but requires practice to be effective. Meditation and mindfulness are both extremely popular topics and that is because they both work! If you haven’t meditated before there are many books, courses and videos dedicated to sharing the technique. Make Google your best friend and give it a try.

Spend time with your pet

Studies have shown that contact with a family pet greatly reduces both stress and anxiety. Some pets can be better than others for stress relief. You might find that a dog or cat is more conducive to relaxing than a pet tarantula, but it’s up to you to determine what works for you.

Write in your journal

If you don’t have a journal, get one. A simple spiral notebook works as well as anything else. When you’re feeling anxious, pull out your journal and write about your feelings. It might seem silly, but writing is an effective way to get negative thoughts out of your head. It works in a different way than talking or thinking about what’s on your mind. Try it and see how much better you feel.

Take a walk

All you need to take a walk is a pair of shoes and perhaps an umbrella. Walking is free, good for you, and a great way to beat stress. Find a way to fit a couple of walks into your routine. taking the dog for a stroll first thing in the morning or grabbing the family for a neighborhood walk after dinner are both great way stop fit them into your day. You’ll be happy with the results and so will your family and Fido.

Breathe deeply

The trick is to take slow, deep breaths and focus on your breathing. The combination of altering your breathing between your nose and mouth and taking your mind off your worries works like magic. Take a slow breath in through your nose, hold it for two seconds, and then release it slowly through your mouth. Do that 10 times while concentrating on the process.

Listen to music

Music is a highly effective way to alter your emotions. With the right choice of music, you can make yourself feel happy, sad, energized, or angry. Choose your music wisely and keep it handy when you need a change in mood – it will work to relax you, energize you or make you smile depending on what tunes you choose.

Make a list of solutions

If you get stressed when you worry about the future try this instead of worrying; make a list of ways to deal with what is bothering you. If you do this ahead of time you will be prepared when worry comes your way.

You’ll be less stressed if you concentrate on what you can do to resolve your challenges rather than just worrying about the unknown.

Stress is bad for your physical and mental health. You don’t have to suffer with stress. There are many ways to combat the physical and mental effects that stress creates. These are just a few tools that you can call upon when you experience stress. With time, you’ll find the tools that work the best for you.

You’re an amazing person. Allow yourself to be that person each and every day. Be yourself!

Here’s to living the life you LOVE!