13 Things You Can Do to Relieve Stress

Living with fear and anxiety only leads to more stress, but sadly, four out of ten adults suffer from stress every day, and it’s a lot worse with everything that’s happening in the world today. Fortunately, there are ways to relieve stress before it becomes a life-threatening issue.

Avoid Watching the News

You might not realize this, but watching the news or mindlessly scrolling on social media to find out the latest breaking stories leaves you anxious, stressed, and sleep deprived. But those levels can tremendously decrease if you limit the amount of media exposure on a daily basis.

Have a Routine

Maintaining a daily routine reinforces a sense of order in these uncertain times. It also gives everyone at home a sense of control over their lives because sticking to a routine reinforces predictability, which ultimately leads to stress reduction. So if you were used to working out at 5 pm, then keep doing it, (but do it at home!)

Get Professional Help Online

Websites like Brightside and TalkSpace are connecting people with professional therapists online during these uncertain times. Some therapists are even holding group therapy sessions online free of charge.

If you’re not in the mood to talk to a professional, you can try downloading meditation and mindfulness apps like Calm, Headspace, and Smiling Mind. These free apps were designed to help you work on your mental health, so in essence, they’re like a gym membership for your mind. Isn’t that great?

Talkspace:
https://www.talkspace.com/

Headspace app:
https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app

Calm:
https://www.calm.com/

Reconnect With Old Friends and Loved Ones

Prolonged isolation can lead to a lot of stress. As soon as human interaction is cut off, the brain starts to act up in order to stay sane. But just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t talk to other people to relieve tension. So, reach out to those old high school friends or out-of-touch relatives on Skype and FaceTime today. FaceTime your parents or siblings and show them what you’re having for dinner.

Try to Get a Grip on Emotional Eating

Stress can have detrimental effects on the body and on your overall mental health. By making conscious and healthy food choices, you’ll be able to stabilize your mood and strengthen your immune system.

Eating whole grains, oatmeal, Omega-3 fatty acids, dark chocolate and vegetable will help you reduce stress. Vitamin C can lower your cortisol levels and blood pressure. Oatmeal, on the other hand, can boost serotonin production, which helps stimulate a feeling of calmness.

Try a New Challenging Exercise or Just Dance

Challenge yourself and try something you’ve never tried before, like a cardio ballet class, boxing, or even a 90-minute cardio workout in German! Think of it this way: you’ve got a body. You’ve got plenty of time since you’re staying home at the moment, and you’ve got a Wi-Fi connection.

If you were too shy to try salsa dancing before, well now’s your time to shine from the comfort of your living room!

There are other activities that will get your heart pumping and they’re 100% free, as well. Try a vigorous Red Bull Bootcamp with your very own personal trainer. The point is to stay active as exercise releases chemicals in the brain that act like a natural painkiller.

And if you’re not in the mood to follow a workout, maybe now is the time to learn something you’ve always wanted to learn like how to moonwalk like Michael Jackson or even the Footloose choreography.

Footloose choreography:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ivuTKBI6eU

Full cardio ballet (no jumping)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee4mTywqPmM/

Full boxing class, 90 mins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb6_Ac1pqIw&list=LLt8JcA7IKCBKGQ6NyWFySjg&index=28&t=0s/

Full body ballerina class:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rk4nAsZLw0&list=LLt8JcA7IKCBKGQ6NyWFySjg&index=36&t=0s/

30 min hip hop class:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NAcCad124A&list=LLt8JcA7IKCBKGQ6NyWFySjg&index=37&t=0s/

Red Bull Bootcamp with a personal trainer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPnHRRw0-IQ&list=LLt8JcA7IKCBKGQ6NyWFySjg&index=40&t=0s/

Put On Some Music and Chill Out

Put music on that has a slow tempo. This helps the mind and the muscles relax, the heart rate to slow down, and the blood pressure to stabilize. Music will also help your brain release dopamine which is the feel-good hormone that fights off stress.

Dry Skin Brush the Stress Away

Dry skin brushing is used to brush off dead skin cells. The act itself activates the lymph nodes to help with waste removal and is said to have a calming effect on the body.

Try Meditation

Meditation is all about quieting the mind. It’s not about sitting on the floor or staring through a window. The idea is to the mind on a thought, activity, or an object without reacting. There’s no reacting, only noticing. This will help you quiet the mind. YouTube has lots of guided meditation videos worth watching.

Drink a Cup of Green Tea

Green tea contains theanine, an amino acid that counters the stimulating effects of caffeine and helps the body relax. So, drink a cup of green tea and avoid caffeinated beverages.

Set Up a Home Spa

Warm up some massage oil and rub it on your neck, back, hand or foot area. You can have a full pampering moment while you watch your favorite show. Then run a hot bath and lay in the tub and have a quiet moment to yourself. Put on a face mask and some relaxing music and breathe.

Tidy Up the Place

Disorganization and clutter causes chaos and leads to stress. So, get rid of any junk around the house, (documents you no longer need, old clothes, you name it!) and organize things so it’ll be easier for you to find things when you need them.

Log off Social Media

Disconnect from social media for a day or week. The news on social media is unlimited and uncensored in most cases.

What are some ways you reduce stress?