As life pulls us in a million directions, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed at times. But, when these feelings begin to affect our everyday lives, it is important to look for better ways to cope and healthy ways to manage stress.
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1. Head outside.
Feel the sun on your skin, the breeze in your hair! Research shows the great outdoors reduce cortisol levels (stress hormone!) and soaking up the sun gives your body a boost of essential vitamin D!
2. Get moving!
Go for a jog, meditate, practice yoga, or enjoy some simple stretches. Just get your blood flowing and you’ll start releasing those pesky stress hormones – even if it is just for 5 minutes. Exercise also improves sleep and self confidence too!
3. Try self-care acupressure.
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but can be done in the convenience of your own home as a form of self-care to reduce stress. Simply apply pressure on three different ‘acu-points’ (wrist, forehead and sternum) for three minutes each. Check out the full details here.
4. Close your eyes & breathe.
When stress hits you hard, take a moment to breathe! Close your eyes. Take long, slow, deep breaths. Repeat 5-10 times.
5. Sleep more.
Sleep at least 7 hours per night! I am so guilty of being the worst sleeper on the planet, but I am going to make it a priority this year. Sleeping helps heal our bodies and minds!
6. Identify the cause of stress & create a plan.
Are your worried about work? A big holiday event? Perhaps you have more on your plate than you can handle? By figuring out what is causing us stress, we can anticipate how we can handle certain situations and create a plan as to how we can best manage these scenarios.
7. Take a break.
Our lives are in constant motion which can be exhausting! Try taking a few minutes throughout the day to regroup – ideally every hour or so.
8. Practice gratitude.
When you practice gratitude daily, your brain begins to recognize all the positive aspects of your life therefore reducing stress and leading to a more fulfilling life. Consider jotting down a few things you are grateful for each morning.
Learn more about practicing gratitude here.
9. Find balance through journaling (AKA ‘brain dumping’).
Practicing gratitude and journaling go hand-in-hand. Begin by writing down a few things you are thankful for each day along with any other thoughts you may have. Literally anything – just let it all out!! This will help relieve stress by creating a sense of awareness. Take a few minutes each day to decompress.
Find Your Calm: Mindful Lessons for Balance, Peace, and Harmony is a great book, with short chapters, that helps create a sense of calm from within yourself. Personally, I am not an avid reader, but love this book.
10. Organize, organize, organize!
Sometimes the stress in your life may come from being disorganized. Perhaps your office is full of clutter or you never can find anything to wear in your closet? Taking time to organize daily activities and your personal space can reduce stress in the long run. Daily, weekly, and monthly checklists are also a great way to stay organized.
11. Try herbs for stress.
Organic ashwagandha (powder or liquid), valerian root, kava kava root, and chamomile are all natural remedies used to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
12. Politely decline.
With so many of us struggling to say “no”, it’s no wonder we are all super-busy-people-pleasing-stressed-out-maniacs. We need to accept that it is perfectly fine to decline invitations and requests if doing so will cause more stress than it is worth. Mental health needs to be our priority.
Check out this book, The Power of No, in paperback or Kindle form for more information on how saying “no” can help reduce stress and increase happiness in your life.
13. Unplug… from your phone, computer, etc.
Turn off the TV, toss the newspaper, throw your phone on the charger… and completely UNPLUG yourself! In this day and age, we spend so much time focused on social media and the news that we become “out of touch” with ourselves.
Start enjoying things that really matter! When you spend time with the people you love, doing things you love, you’ll be happier, more confident, and a bit less stressed.
14. Take a bath.
Bathing in warm water is not only relaxing for your muscles, but it can also calm your nervous system therefore relaxing your body as a whole.
Learn more about scientifically proven health benefits of taking baths here.
15. Listen to your favorite jams.
Whether you grab your guitar, crank up the radio, or plug in some headphones, music is an amazing way to connect with yourself. Belting out your favorite lyrics can also help – I know from experience!
16. Laugh a little (or a lot!)
Laughter really is one of the best medicines and science proves it. Watch your funniest video, phone a friend, or just enjoy a chuckle alone and witness your dopamine levels soar!
17. Pet a furry friend.
Simply petting your fluffy fur ball can help you lower stress hormones like cortisol, according to studies.
18. Eat healthy.
Eat the colors of the rainbow by enjoying a wide variety of fruits and veggies. Leafy greens are especially important as are foods high in omega 3’s. To stay in tip top shape, reduce your intake of sugar, processed foods, and alcohol.
Helpful Resource Recap To Reduce Stress
- Coping with stress at work (APA.org)
- 14 Heath Benefits of Practicing Gratitude According to Science
- Managing Daily Stress
- The Power of No (Book)
- Find Your Calm: Mindful Lessons for Balance, Peace, and Harmony (Book)
Hope this helps you stress a little bit less!
Disclosure: This post may contain “affiliate links” which do not cost you anything. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless, we only recommend products or services that have extensively researched; and products that we use personally, have used and would use in the future. We pride ourselves on honesty and integrity to our readers. Read Full Disclaimer and Disclosure here.