Stress is that uninvited guest that suddenly comes knocking on our door to disrupt our lives. It’s the thing that can shatter all our plans, dreams, and hopes because it weighs heavy on us, taking our precious energy and mental health with it. As such, it’s crucial to learn how to properly manage stress levels so you can live a more balanced and healthier life. So keep on reading to learn how to reduce stress in life.
How to Reduce Stress In Life: 10 Things You Can Do
1. Try Stretching Your Muscles
This is one of the simplest methods you can use to reduce your stress levels significantly.
It’s quite common for muscles to tense up whenever you are under stress. And the best way to relieve that tension is by stretching them.
Here’s how it is done:
- Choose the position you are most comfortable with, be it standing or sitting
- Now raise your arms over your head as you start inhaling slowly
- Make sure your fingers are laced together and then begin stretching as you release your fingers
- Exhale while lowering your arms
- Repeat this process three times
2. Do Relaxation Exercises
The great thing about relaxation exercises is that they can give you all the power you need to fight stress efficiently.
And what’s even better is that there are many of them you can choose them. Additionally, they are simple to do and don’t require a lot of your time to incorporate them into your daily schedule.
This is how they work: They help you slow your breathing while lowering your heart rate and reducing your stress hormones.
You can achieve this by a basic breathing exercise, taking ten slow breaths as you inhale and exhale gradually.
Alternatively, you can try the imagery exercise. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself in your favorite place or vacation spot.
Now pay attention to all the sensations and the aura around you. For example, if it’s a beach, focus on the warmth of the sun, the sound of waves, and the cool breeze on your face.
Keep having this image in your head for some time until you feel the relaxing effect it has on you.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the type of meditation that brings you back to the present moment. And the wonderful thing about it is that it can significantly reduce your stress levels.
It helps you master the art of living in the moment, which consequently allows you to stop worrying about the future.
After all, worrying about the future is usually one of the most common reasons of stress and anxiety. So it’s something you should avoid to maintain good mental health.
4. Take a Walk
Walking is one of the easiest exercises you can do to manage your stress levels.
As a matter of fact, a brisk 10-minute walk is more than enough to boost your mental health.
It can help you fight stress hormones and muscle tension while releasing feel-good chemicals responsible for relaxation.
However, the longer your walks will be, the more positive effects they will have on your mental well-being and overall health. So if you have time for it, try to take at least a 30-minute walk daily.
5. Use the Power of Music
Music can have a powerful effect on your emotions and body. And each type of music can affect you in a different way.
For example, faster music helps you become more alert and concentrated, while upbeat music makes you more optimistic and positive.
And then there’s slower-tempo music that can relax your muscles and quiet your mind, helping you release the stress.
So try listening to some slower-tempo songs to de-stress and feel better. You can also listen to tranquil nature sounds (there are many apps for that) to calm your mind.
Research shows that listening to calming music causes our brains to synchronize with a beat, which activates alpha brainwaves that are associated with consciousness and relaxation. And that’s precisely what causes the decrease in stress levels.
6. Find Something That Can Help You Laugh
Laughing can be a simple medicine you can use against stress. Be it watching your favorite comedy movie or funny videos on YouTube, laughing can help you de-stress and boost your mood.
So find something that can make you laugh and you’ll be able to significantly reduce your stress levels.
7. Fight Negative Thoughts With Positive Thoughts
For every negative thought you get, try to find a positive thought you can replace it with. So rather than counting your failures or misfortunes, count your blessings instead.
This tactic can help you reduce stress levels while reminding you that you have things to be grateful for.
8. Practice Positive Self-Talk
Being mean to yourself automatically activates your stress response. This increases your anxiety and makes you stressed, having a negative impact on your mental health.
The best thing you can do in this situation is to practice positive self-talk. It can act as a shield against a stress response and prevent it from activation.
Here are some of the best words you can use to cheer yourself up and protect yourself from stress:
- “I can do this”
- “Things will get better”
- “Failing at something doesn’t mean I’m worthless”
- “I’m good enough”
- “I’m smart and capable”
9. Share Your Worries With Someone
If you feel like your stress is becoming too much to handle, try sharing your burdens with your loved ones.
Your family and friends will be more than happy to listen to your worries and provide you with the support you need.
So don’t hesitate to reach out for help because it can truly do wonders for your mental health.
Final Thoughts
Stress is an inseparable part of life so it’s only natural for us to get stressed every now and then. But at the same time, there are many things you can do to significantly reduce stress levels. So try using the methods mentioned in this article to protect yourself from unnecessary stress and live a happier life.
