11 Tried and True Ways to De-Stress

With school, bills, work, family, and countless other things, stress is so integrated into many people's lives today that they often forget it is a very harmful thing. Stress is one of the most common causes of several physical and mental injuries. If you are feeling particularly stressed out recently, try these effect stress relief techniques.

Exercise

Finding a physical outlet is one of the best ways to relieve your stress. Often, stress is associated with a lack of control — impending deadlines, bills piling up, hectic scheduling — so taking the time out to remind yourself that you are in control of your body is a great way to establish a calming control.

Laughter

It’s true what they say: Laughter is the best medicine. Watch a funny movie or talk to a hilarious friend and watch as your stress quickly fades away. Laughing will lower your tension and, at the same time, has been shown to improve blood flow and heart health.

Socializing

Often this will go along with laughter, but it doesn’t have to. Even just hanging around other people will provide you with a sense of purpose and belonging that will help you de-stress. Also, letting your friends know about something that is stressing you out can lead to some great help and support from those you love most.

Writing

Writing is an amazing way to release your negative thoughts and feelings onto a piece of paper. If you keep a journal, you can take some time to let out your frustrations and get a clearer look at what is causing them. Or, if you prefer to write creatively, you can distract yourself with a little poem or story.

Fresh Air

A little sunlight goes a long way in improving your mood. If you’ve been cooped up inside all day, make sure you take some time to breathe the fresh air. And it doesn’t even have to be during the daytime, sometimes the night sky can be just as therapeutic as sunlight.

Affirmations

Negative thoughts feed on more negativity. To combat this vicious cycle, you should take some time to think about all of the things in you like about yourself and the things you are grateful for. Constantly remind yourself that you are doing a good job, and believe it.

Meditation

Breathing exercises are a highly effective way to relax your body and mind. If you are having trouble with meditation on your own, you can try attending a yoga class, which also focus heavily on breathing as a means of relaxation.

Music

If you are someone who responds to it, listening to calming music can go a long way in melting your stress away. And really, the music doesn’t have to be calming, it can be anything that you enjoy. Just lay down with you favorite tunes and relax.

Tea

Coffee is not going to help your stress, but a nice calming cup of herbal tea can really help you unwind and relax. When life seems to be becoming too much for you to handle, take some time to brew some tea in your favorite flavor and enjoy it as you read, listen to music, or sit outside.

Massage

If you’re having trouble de-stressing at your home, maybe it’s time to schedule yourself a massage. Massages can do wonders in relieving tension and helping you relax, and adding in aromatherapy oils helps the process even more.

Change

If your stress seems to be consistently coming from the same source and just won’t go away, it might be time to consider making a change in your daily life in order to avoid this source of tension. Obviously, if this involves quitting a job or cutting a close friend out of your life, this should be considered a last resort after everything else has failed.