We all deal with stress. It may arise from work, family, finances, or personal relationships. Stress is a part of everyday living. However, excessive stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on your physical, emotional, and mental health. Don’t let that happen. Try these 10 best ways to relieve stress and anxiety.
1. Listen to music
Music can have a positive effect on your mood and mental state. In particular, listening to relaxing music can help calm you down. It can lower blood pressure, and reduce levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. Keeping music playing in the background while doing daily activities is an effective way to reduce stress levels.
2. Talk to a friend
When you’re feeling stressed, talk to a friend or loved one so you can share your problems. A reassuring voice can help you put everything in perspective. During stressful times, having a shoulder to lean on can ease the burden.
3. Reduce your caffeine intake
Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, tea, and energy drinks. In high doses, it can increase stress and anxiety. People react differently to caffeine. If you think that caffeine makes you more anxious, consider cutting back.
4. Write
Writing down your thoughts is another way to cope with stress. When something is bothering you, or you feel bogged down with some emotional stress, write about it in a notebook or journal. It is a judgment-free place to get out all your thoughts, worries, emotions, and feelings. Writing can help you find out what is causing your stress and figure out how to deal with it.
5. Do something you enjoy
Making time to do something you find enjoyable can help you relax. Try a hobby (such as gardening), a creative activity (such as writing, art, or crafts), caring for pets, or better yet, try doing volunteer work in your community.
6. Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep can cause stress. For most of us, if we don’t get seven to eight hours of sleep each day, it affects the ability of both the body and the mind to handle various types of stress. To help you sleep better, turn the TV off, dim the lights, and give yourself some time to relax before going to bed.
7. Be organized
Often, stress arises from feeling overwhelmed with work. To counteract this, use a planner to keep track of your tasks. Additionally, clean and organize your desk so you can manage paperwork more efficiently. Being organized can help you break tasks into manageable pieces and focus on the things that are important.
8. Get regular exercise
Physical activity releases endorphins that can help improve your mood. To manage stress better, get your blood circulating by doing regular exercise. Pick up some weights, head for a bike ride, or play sports to gain physical and mental health.
9. Change your environment
If making little changes isn’t enough, consider moving to a completely new environment, i.e., look for a new job, school, or neighborhood. Having a new environment can help you get away from your stressors and allow you to recover.
10. Practice meditation
This has been proven to relieve stress remarkably. Various meditation techniques can calm your mind to help you focus better and think more clearly. The concept of “mindfulness” is a meditative and somatic approach to mental health and is used in modern psychotherapy. From yoga, tai chi, to Pilates, mindfulness training incorporates physical and mental exercises to hep alleviate stress.
Conclusion
Consider these tips to reduce stress and anxiety. Find what works for you and practice them when faced with stressful situations. With this in mind, together with a positive attitude, you can rise above whatever it is that’s causing you stress and focus on the things that will make you happy.