12 tips to Help Relieve Stress

Stress is a challenge that many people face in today’s world. Luckily, there are many ways that you can deal with stress and improve your quality of life. Here are 12 tips to help you manage stress better!

1. Write out all of the different things stressing you out on a piece of paper. Prioritize which ones need to be dealt with immediately, which ones could wait until later, and which ones aren’t as big of a deal. You’ll feel much calmer after doing this because it allows you to realize how serious the situation really is and what needs to be done about it.
2. Avoid judging yourself for feeling angry or upset by reminding yourself that negative emotions are normal reactions when something stressful happens. Let your emotions out in a healthy and productive way and then move on with what you need to do.
3. Do something fun every single day, even if it’s just for 15 minutes! It can be anything from reading a book to going for a jog. Just make sure that the activity is something that you enjoy so that it doesn’t feel like an added stressor when allocating time for it during your busy day.
4. Start exercising! Studies have shown that regular exercise reduces cortisol levels, which are an indicator of stress. Try spending 30 minutes each morning biking or jogging and utilize this routine as a chance to clear your head and relax before getting into the day’s activities.
5. Count your blessings! Think of all the things you have to be thankful for that are going well in your life. Even if they’re small, it is still good to appreciate what you do have instead of obsessing over the things that are missing or not perfect.
6. Make time during your day to simply relax and breathe deeply. When you feel stressed, take a few moments to meditate or even just sit quietly for 5 minutes and do some deep breathing exercises.
7. Identify things in your life that you don’t have any control over and give up trying to change them. Worrying will not make these situations better because they’re outside of your realm of influence. Instead of wasting time worrying, use that time to do something productive like finishing a work project or cleaning!
8. Keep a journal or diary for all of your worries and frustrations. Writing out exactly what is on your mind will help get rid of it so that you can move on with living. If there are particular issues bothering you frequently, consider writing a letter to someone who needs to read it and then burning the letter.
9. When you’re feeling stressed, try talking back to your stress in a humorous way. For example, if you feel overwhelmed by everything you need to get done that day and think about how much easier it would be if you could clone yourself into 7 different people, tell that voice in your head that it’s not going to happen! By simply making light of the issue with self-deprecating humor, you’ll alleviate some of the pressure.
10. Take care of yourself physically when under stress. It can take such a toll on our bodies because we often make choices like skipping meals or working out less when we are stressed out. Try to eat healthy foods and have a regular workout schedule that you can stick to even when life gets busy.
11. Don’t judge yourself for feeling stressed! Everybody feels this way at one time or another, especially during times of high pressure or change. Beating yourself up will only make the stress worse and make it harder for you to get through the stressful situation.
12. Talk about how you’re feeling with someone else who will listen without judging you! Whether you want to vent with a friend or relative, talking about your feelings and what is stressing you out can be very therapeutic. You might even go into detail about it and feel better after putting the situation into words.

If stress is preventing you from concentrating, eating right and getting enough sleep, or leading to other problems in your life such as anxiety or depression, it’s time to talk to a mental health professional or look into an intensive programs like healing retreats, or a therapy retreat.