How to reduce stress

7 Ways to Reduce Stress and Improve your mental state

You can have a better life if you follow these steps.

S tress is a part of our lives and no matter how strong we may say we are — we’re all exposed to stress, but we don’t have to become infected.

It’s a stealthy problem that can slide into your life and turn it upside down. It can wreck your health, your lifestyle, your relationships and your career.

Once you’re stressed, you can easily gain weight, It can also cause anxiety and panic attacks as well. Learn how to overcome anxious feelings in seconds.

Stress is a major problem for many people — a hectic, stressful job, an uproar home life, bills to worry about, exams tension and poor habits such as unhealthy eating, smoking and drinking can lead to a pinnacle of stress.

There was a time when I was stuck in a hectic lifestyle and it really began to affect me. Even my doctor and family could notice it. So I made some radical changes.

Changes that assisted me overcome stress

I slept 8 hours. I started exercising more and eating healthier. I avoided processed food and relied on raw vegetables.

It was hectic in the beginning but I didn’t give up. I changed one habit a month, and slowly over the course of a year or two changed a lot of things in my life.

There are ways you can reduce stress and improve the mental state of your mind.

1. Organize your space

Disorganization often leads to stress. Organizing can produce a sense of control in knowing what will happen, that in turn reduces stress.

2. Accept what you cannot change

Don’t stay in the past. Accept what you cannot change and focus on your future.

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

3. Exercise regularly

I can’t stress this enough. A while ago when I was suffering from severe depression and stress. It could be seen on my face. Even my doctor said that to me to avoid stress.

Stress solely was the main reason of my facial illness — then I decided to exercise. I ran every morning at 5 to 6 AM did some workout and saw a significant change in my physical and mental state.

After a few months of running and regular exercise, it changed my life — I felt awesome and there was no sign of stress whatsoever.

4. Appreciate the positives in your life.

Change your attitude to think of all the things you have to be grateful for instead of all the things you have to be sorry for.

It sounds clichéd, but focusing your thoughts on positive aspects of your life instead of the stress-driven areas can be good for your physical and mental health.

5. Talk to Someone

Talk to your best friends because they can help you in many situations on how to get over the certain problem. Even sometimes just talking to a close friend or significant other can be the best cure for a stress.

Don’t be scared to reach out to people — seek professional counseling if necessary.

Express your feelings, don’t bottle them up.

Bottling up your feelings creates stress that increases day after day after day. Find a healthy way to let it out.

Write your feelings down and rant on paper. Buy yourself a journal and write down your feelings. As stated, don’t keep your emotions bottled up for too long.

6. Take deep breaths.

Stress raises your heartbeat and your blood pressure that can lead to serious health issues later on in life.

Deep breathing releases oxygen into your brain, allowing you to think clearer and calm yourself.

7. Listen to Music

This is a no brainer. If you’re extremely stressed, lay in bed, play your favorite songs as long as you can and close your eyes and focus on only the music. After about 15–30 minutes, you will forget why you were even stressed in the first place. (This is my personal favorite.)

Hopefully, incorporating these routines into your day can help alleviate some stress.

How to Reduce Stress: Techniques to Manage Stress and More

Rebecca Valdez is a registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition communications consultant, passionate about food justice, equity, and sustainability.

Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist, herbalist, and integrative medicine doctor practicing in Santa Monica, California.

Stress is a common occurrence, but thankfully there are strategies to help you cope with the overwhelming feelings that come with it. Read about how you can use these techniques to better manage your stress in order to experience mental and physical relief.

What Is Stress?

Stress is a physical, mental, and emotional response to any challenging situation. Sometimes this stress is positive and helps motivate us, such as during a race or competition, or while finishing an important project on a deadline. It can give us strength and speed to get out of a dangerous situation. It could also be a response to a traumatic event or a significant life change.

Stress is a normal reaction to everyday living and pressures, such as meeting the demands of work, school, or home life.

When you experience stress, hormones in your body are released to prepare you to face the situation. Temporary changes occur in your body. Your breath and heartbeat quicken, your blood sugar rises, and your brain takes up additional oxygen to increase your alertness. When the situation passes, the hormones dissipate, and your body returns to normal.

While stress can be a powerful motivator and give us a burst of energy when we need it the most, stress that lasts a long time can interfere with your day-to-day functioning. You may become fatigued, unable to concentrate, or easily irritable. You may also experience physical symptoms such as digestive problems, headaches, sleep difficulty, depression, and anxiety. Over time, feeling stressed may even contribute to developing diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, and an overall weaker immune system.

Managing your stress and keeping it at a healthy level can help improve your health and feeling of well-being.

Techniques to Reduce Stress

There are ways to manage and combat stress that require little to no equipment, money, or special training. Many of these techniques can be practiced at home, in the office, in the car, or anywhere you can find a place to sit quietly.

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Verywell / Hilary Allison

Breathing

When you feel stress, hormones in your body cause your breath and heart rate to quicken. Taking slow, deep breaths can help slow your heartbeat and stabilize your blood pressure.

Practice This Breathing Technique to Help Manage Stress

Sit comfortably, closing your eyes if possible, and focus on your breath. Slowly inhale through your nose for a count of four. Hold your breath for a count of four. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Repeat the process for a few cycles.

Exercise

Add physical activity to your day. Research shows that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise can help combat stress and improve sleep. Exercise can be as simple as taking a brisk walk around the block or dancing in your living room.

Tips for Developing an Exercise Routine

An exercise routine doesn’t develop overnight. Here are some tips to get you started:

Mindfulness

Mindfulness and meditation can help to reduce psychological stress and anxiety. Even five minutes of mindful meditation can help relieve stress. To practice mindfulness and meditation, sit quietly, breathe, and focus on the present moment. When thoughts arise, acknowledge them, then let them go and go back to focusing on the present.

Muscle Relaxation

Stress causes your muscles to tense, so people who feel stressed may feel tension in their head, neck, shoulders, or back. Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that is proven to reduce tension and anxiety and improve mental health.

Practice by sitting or lying in a comfortable position. Then choose a muscle group, such as your lower legs, and inhale and contract those muscles for five to 10 seconds. Next, exhale to release and relax the muscles for 10 or more seconds. Continue this until you have relaxed all portions of your body.

Visualization

When you are in a stressful environment, visualization can be a powerful tool. To practice this technique, close your eyes and picture objects, scenes, or events that are associated with relaxation (such as the ocean, mountains, a favorite place, a pleasant smell). This powerful technique uses your mind to imagine a relaxing environment and in turn produce feelings of relaxation in the body.

Yoga is a form of mind-body fitness that involves exercise and mindfulness, or focusing on the self and breath. Research suggests that yoga helps improve feelings of health, managing stress and negative emotions, and increase positive emotions. There are many types of yoga practices and styles that range from gentle breathing and meditation to demanding physical postures, called asanas.

Ways to Reduce Stress With Therapy

There are many types of therapy that can help provide relief from stress and tension in your body. Find out which type of therapy might work for you.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a stress-relief practice that involves diffusing essential oils, such as lavender and sandalwood, to improve mood, relieve stress, and promote better sleep. While the exact mechanisms by which aromatherapy helps relieve stress are unclear, studies suggest that it may be effective at reducing perceived stress.

Art Therapy

Art therapy is a process in which you work with crayons, watercolors, clay, or other materials to create artwork. Through this process, you can experience new expression of your thoughts, self-efficacy, and coping abilities, which can help prevent or manage stress.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of water, ice, or steam with various temperatures, pressures, durations, and sites for health promotion. Hydrotherapy can be practiced at home, such as with a warm bath, steam room, or taking a cold shower. Swimming is another form of hydrotherapy that may help decrease tension and improve well-being.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy—a technique that involves manipulating soft tissues—offers pain relief. It can be effective for helping to relieve tension in the neck, back, and shoulders caused by stress. Many types of massage therapy exist, such as Swedish, classical, shiatsu, and tuina.

Music Therapy

Music therapy consists of listening, using instruments, or singing to promote physical and psychological health. Even just listening to music for 30 minutes a day is associated with a reduction in stress and anxiety.

Management and Prevention

The American Psychological Association recommends the following evidence-based ways to help manage and prevent stress:

When to Speak With Your Healthcare Provider

If you continue to feel overwhelmed by your stress and none of the self-help strategies are working, speak with your healthcare provider to refer you to a psychologist or mental health professional. They can help you recognize, prevent, and cope with stressful situations to better manage your response.

A Word From Verywell

While some stress is normal and even helpful, stress over long periods of time can negatively impact your health. Practicing stress reduction strategies can help you manage your stress so it doesn’t take over your life. However, if you begin to feel overwhelmed by stress, it’s important to seek professional help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding the source of stressors at work is essential to figuring out how to reduce workplace stress. For example, if your workload is excessive or not engaging, or you’re unclear about what your responsibilities are, have a discussion with your supervisor to see if any changes can be made.

Developing healthy habits can help reduce stress hormones in your body. These include eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and practicing mindfulness or breathing techniques.

Staying organized, taking care of your body, and creating healthy boundaries for yourself can help reduce college-related stress. Communicate with your professors and college counselors if you need more support. Often, campuses have many resources available to help you, whether you need mental health resources, access to a food pantry, or a support group.

National Institutes of Health News in Health. Feeling stressed?.

American Psychological Association. How stress affects your health.

American Psychological Association. Nurtured by nature.

Norelli SK, Long A, Krepps JM. Relaxation techniques. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2021.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Massage Therapy: What You Need to Know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coping with stress.

American Psychological Association. Coping with stress at work.

How to Relieve Stress: 16 Proven Ways to Reduce Stress

Did you know that more than 70% of Americans say that they are “stressed out” daily? Do you ever wonder how to relieve stress? Perhaps, that is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that 11% of Americans take anti-depressant medications.

However, what about those who suffer in silence? Many refuse pills or other treatments because there is a stigma attached to mental health. Thankfully, there are some ways to cure stress naturally.

Why Are Americans So Stressed Out?

With everything going on in the world, it’s easy to understand why so many Americans are stressed out. Countless surveys have consistently found similar themes in common causes of stress, which include:

In addition to this, a recent survey from the American Psychological Association found a new stressor on the rise—the political climate. In fact, 52% of people surveyed stated the 2016 presidential election was somewhat or very stressful.

No matter what the cause of your stress is, the most important thing is to learn how to manage it. Otherwise you’ll fall victim to the many side effects of stress including sleep disorders, high blood pressure, weight gain and more.

If you find yourself feeling scattered, constantly battling anxiety and struggling to figure out how to relieve stress, here are 16 ways to feel less stressed:

Physical Ways To Relieve Stress

You don’t have to find the answers in a pill bottle. Your body is made to regenerate and rebuild. However, you must make a few changes.

1. Exercise

Did you know that you can boost serotonin levels in the brain by simply getting more active? To kick these brain stimulation neurotransmitters into high gear, you don’t need an anti-depressant or SSRI. Aerobic exercise is a natural way to relieve stress and give you an energy boost. It tends to have a neurochemical basis that releases stress, which allows the body to relax.

Stress hormones are commonplace in the body, but the most common ones are adrenaline and cortisol. According to Harvard University hormone levels decrease when the body is moving.

If you think it seems backward, then you are in the majority. How can putting more stress on the body cause it to calm down? Moving releases endorphins that help to improve mood, and they also act as natural painkillers. So the next time you’re feeling stressed, go for walk, run or hit the gym to quickly get lower stress levels.

2. Learn To Laugh More

Ask anyone, and they will tell you that they don’t feel anxious while laughing. Laughter brings more oxygen into your body and organs. Your body sees it as a natural way to combat the stress response.

Do you suffer from tension? You can get rid of it by having a good chuckle. Just watch what a couple of jokes can do to boost your immune system and mood.

3. Try Yoga

Did you know that one yoga session can be as stimulating as taking an antidepressant drug? While the studies are limited, there is an undeniable link between the nervous system and stress response and the effect that yoga has on both.

According to Science Direct, yoga can lower cortisol levels as well as blood pressure and your heart rate. It can also increase GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that is naturally reduced when a person has a mood disorder.

Here’s a short 10 minute yoga flow specifically for stress relief.

4. Make Time For Cuddling and Romance

Most people know that stress can be relieved through affection. However, many are surprised to learn that cuddling, kissing, and even hugging can help too. When you experience positive physical contact with someone, it releases both oxytocin and lowers your cortisol levels.

What does this mean for your body? Well, it reduces your heart rate and your blood pressure, both of which are elevated during times of duress. Shockingly enough, human beings aren’t the only ones that like to cuddle for stress relief. When under pressure, chimpanzees will snuggle with a friend to reduce their frustration.

Learn Coping Mechanisms

When your load is abundant, you may feel inclined to let some things in your life slip. Here are some ways to help you balance your load and make sure you’re not stressed out all the time.

5. Be Present In The Moment With Mindfulness

Have you ever heard of the term mindfulness? To be anchored and present at the moment is to be mindful. This can combat your anxiety and reduce your negative thinking. There are a few different ways to practice mindfulness including cognitive therapy, meditation and yoga. All of these are powerful stress reduction tactics that revolve around mindfulness.

The benefits of mindfulness don’t just stop at stress relief. Did you know that a recent study suggests that mindfulness can also help increase your self-esteem? Plus, it can lessen your symptoms of unease and despair so there are plenty of reasons to learn how to be more present and in the moment through mindfulness.

6. Don’t Be Afraid To Say No

Many people become overwhelmed because they have never learned the fine art of saying no. Overextending yourself is a good way to burn out quickly. You must learn your boundaries and know when enough is enough. Never be afraid to say no to someone when it is not possible. If you are going to be stressed out trying to help someone else, then help yourself and turn them down.

7. Avoid Procrastination

One of the best ways to take control of your stress levels is by making sure your priorities are met. Stop procrastinating! When you procrastinate, you react rather than act. What this means is instead of acting with purpose and taking your time to complete a task, you end up are scrambling to catch up. You’re reacting to the situation you’re in (running behind schedule) rather than acting to finish the task itself.

Having many things that are past due is a great source of stress. It can negatively affect your sleep quality and your health. In order to avoid procrastinating, make a to-do list to help you organize your tasks by priority. Be your own boss and give yourself deadlines.

Prioritize the things that need to be done today and those that can wait until another day. Allow spaces of uninterrupted time as multi-tasking can be very stressful to some. Check out this article to learn how to use single-tasking to get more done in less time.

Change Your Routine

Did you know that what you put into your body can drastically affect you? Here are some ways to change your entire chemistry by adding or taking away some items.

8. Add Some Health Supplements

Want to know how to relieve stress without relying on prescription medicine? Consume more of the stress-fighting nutrients your body craves. In addition to eating whole, natural foods, supplements are a great way to ensure you’re getting the recommended amount every day.

Several supplements can help you to reduce your stress and anxiety levels. Some of the most frequently used are:

Did you know that taking omega-3 fatty acids can reduce anxiety by up to 20%? In Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha is a plant that has great results in helping those with both anxiety and stress problems.

Valerian root has a tranquilizing effect that can put the mind and body at ease. Kava-kava is a psychoactive sedative that relaxes the body. Lastly, green tea is known for its polyphenol antioxidants, which are known to provide numerous benefits to the body.

9. Use Candles and Essential Oils

There is nothing better than the smell of a candle burning. Candles and essential oils have long been used in aromatherapy. Various scents can not only reduce stress and anxiety, but it can also calm those who have problems sleeping. Scents like lavender, rose, Vetiver, bergamot, Roman chamomile, Neroli, frankincense, sandalwood, Ylang-ylang, and orange blossom can be beneficial. Check out our list of the top essential oils for stress.

10. Eliminate or Reduce Your Caffeine Intake

Caffeine is a drug that is used to stimulate the body. It’s known for revving up the body and providing extra energy. However, caffeine can also cause heart palpitations and anxiety. Moderation is key when drinking coffee and soft drinks.

Healthline states that five or fewer cups a day is a moderate amount. You can substitute coffee with green tea to get a similar effect without the added stress.

11. Keep A Supply of Chewing Gum On Hand

If you’ve been wondering how to relieve stress, did you know that the answer could be in the checkout aisle at the store? Chewing gum has been proven to lower stress and give a greater sense of well-being.

One study showed that chewing gum helps the brain waves to relax by promoting good blood flow. Chewing more aggressively is better than just keeping a stick of gum in your mouth.

Other Ways To Relieve Stress

There are 100’s of ways to reduce stress, but here are a few tried and true methods that are sure to help.

12. Start Journaling

Keeping a journal is a good way to keep track of triggers to your stress. For instance, if you noticed that on days that you have meetings or the children are extra busy, you can plan ahead to make those days easier. Many people use journaling as a way to vent. Sometimes, you can say more in written form than you ever could verbally.

13. Surround Yourself With Friends and Family

There is nothing safer and secure than having friends and family all around. Having extra support from loved ones can get you through the rough times. Those who have an inner circle feel a greater sense of belonging and self-worth.

Did you know that those who have fewer social circles are often the ones suffering from depression and anxiety? According to a recent study, several mental and physical health disorders are at less of a risk when people are surrounded by love. If your inner circle isn’t as strong as you’d like to be, or if you don’t have people you can confide in, here’s a great video on how to create a positive inner circle.

14. Listen To Music

The old saying states that “music can calm the savage beast.” Listening to a composition can be very comforting for you. Forget the head banging varieties, slow-paced instrumental tunes are helpful to induce relaxation. These songs can also lower your heart rate and blood pressure as well as your stress hormones.

Try some piano music, nature sounds mixed with instrumentals or some Indian tunes. Many meditation and relaxation sessions use a combination of these to create a calming atmosphere that relieves stress.

15. Practice Deep Breathing

When you are under stress, your body goes into a “fight-or-flight” mode. The duress you experience activates your nervous system, which releases stress hormones. These hormones cause your heart to beat faster, your breathing will become quicker and shallower, because your blood vessels are constricted.

You can counter all these problems by doing a few deep breathing exercises. When you breathe in and out slowly, you promote relaxation. This is because you are activating the parasympathetic nervous system. There are numerous kinds of deep breathing rituals, which include abdominal, diaphragmatic, belly, and paced.

You must become aware of your breaths, and it should become deeper and slower. Start by breathing in deeply through your nostrils. Allow your lungs to expand fully and your belly to rise. Then you should hold the air in for a few seconds. Release it slowly through your mouth. You will feel an instant calm as your heart rate slows.

16. Pet Therapy

Dogs are man’s best friend, but a relationship with a cat can be just as rewarding. There is nothing quite as gratifying as a pet to help calm you. A recent study shows that those who have a dog are calmer than those who don’t.

Simply petting a pet release oxytocin, which helps to promote a positive mood and lower angst. These furry friends are more like a member of the family too. Pets are so calming in fact, that you can get a service dog for anxiety and stress.

How To Relieve Stress?

If you are worried about your stress levels, the best thing to do is learn self-help methods to combat it. Even if you do need to take medication to help with anxiety or depression, you can still use coping skills to get through the severe loads that today’s life causes.

10 stress busters

If you’re stressed, whether by your job or something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause.

The most unhelpful thing you can do is turn to something unhealthy to help you cope, such as smoking or drinking.

«In life, there’s always a solution to a problem,» says Professor Cary Cooper, an occupational health expert at the University of Lancaster.

«Not taking control of the situation and doing nothing will only make your problems worse.»

He says the keys to good stress management are building emotional strength, being in control of your situation, having a good social network, and adopting a positive outlook.

What you can do to address stress

These are Professor Cooper’s top 10 stress-busting suggestions:

Be active

Exercise won’t make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity that you’re feeling, clearing your thoughts and letting you deal with your problems more calmly.

Take control

There’s a solution to any problem. «If you remain passive, thinking, ‘I can’t do anything about my problem’, your stress will get worse,» says Professor Cooper.

«That feeling of loss of control is one of the main causes of stress and lack of wellbeing.»

The act of taking control is in itself empowering, and it’s a crucial part of finding a solution that satisfies you and not someone else.

Connect with people

A good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your work troubles and help you see things in a different way.

«If you don’t connect with people, you won’t have support to turn to when you need help,» says Professor Cooper.

The activities we do with friends help us relax. We often have a good laugh with them, which is an excellent stress reliever.

«Talking things through with a friend will also help you find solutions to your problems,» says Professor Cooper.

Have some ‘me time’

Here in the UK, we work the longest hours in Europe, meaning we often don’t spend enough time doing things we really enjoy.

«We all need to take some time for socialising, relaxation or exercise,» says Professor Cooper.

He recommends setting aside a couple of nights a week for some quality «me time» away from work.

«By earmarking those 2 days, it means you won’t be tempted to work overtime,» he says.

Challenge yourself

Setting yourself goals and challenges, whether at work or outside, such as learning a new language or a new sport, helps build confidence. This will help you deal with stress.

«By continuing to learn, you become more emotionally resilient as a person,» says Professor Cooper.

«It arms you with knowledge and makes you want to do things rather than be passive, such as watching TV all the time.»

Avoid unhealthy habits

Don’t rely on alcohol, smoking and caffeine as your ways of coping.

«Men more than women are likely to do this. We call this avoidance behaviour,» says Professor Cooper. «Women are better at seeking support from their social circle.»

In the long term, these crutches won’t solve your problems. They’ll just create new ones.

«It’s like putting your head in the sand,» says Professor Cooper. «It might provide temporary relief, but it won’t make the problems disappear. You need to tackle the cause of your stress.»

Help other people

Professor Cooper says evidence shows that people who help others, through activities such as volunteering or community work, become more resilient.

«Helping people who are often in situations worse than yours will help you put your problems into perspective,» says Professor Cooper. «The more you give, the more resilient and happy you feel.»

If you don’t have time to volunteer, try to do someone a favour every day. It can be something as small as helping someone cross the road or going on a coffee run for colleagues.

Work smarter, not harder

Working smarter means prioritising your work, concentrating on the tasks that’ll make a real difference.

«Leave the least important tasks to last,» says Cooper. «Accept that your in-tray will always be full. Don’t expect it to be empty at the end of the day.»

Try to be positive

Look for the positives in life, and things for which you’re grateful.

«People don’t always appreciate what they have,» says Professor Cooper. «Try to be glass half full instead of glass half empty,» he says.

Try writing down 3 things that went well, or for which you’re grateful, at the end of every day.

Audio: unhelpful thinking

In this audio guide, a doctor helps you to replace negative thoughts with more positive thinking.

Accept the things you can’t change

Changing a difficult situation isn’t always possible. Try to concentrate on the things you do have control over.

«If your company is going under and is making redundancies, for example, there’s nothing you can do about it,» says Professor Cooper.

«In a situation like that, you need to focus on the things that you can control, such as looking for a new job.»

Audio: sleep problems

In this audio guide, a doctor explains what you can do to give yourself the best chance of a good night’s sleep.

More in Guides, tools and activities

Page last reviewed: 20 November 2018
Next review due: 20 November 2021

How to reduce stress

From time to time, everyone experiences stress. It is a natural reaction of your body to challenges and demands. Whether you experience stress because of an important appointment or a certain fear, it is part of being human and a natural part of life. Even though it can help you get things done, stress can also be very exhausting. When stress becomes too overwhelming or chronic, it can be harmful to your well-being. To manage your stress, there are some important things to know. Learn more about stress in our blog.

What is stress?

As mentioned above, stress is a natural thing. It is a response of your body that can be triggered by several things. From small daily hassles to major life changes, like a divorce or job loss. Stress can give you negative feelings, such as loneliness, fear, anxiety, and anger. Besides that, stress also has a bad influence on our body. For example, it can result in high blood pressure and an elevated heart rate.

How can stress be positive?

We often associate stress with negative thoughts. However, it can also be a positive thing. Positive stress, also called eustress, is a product of the nerves and is good for your body. You can experience positive stress from exciting things, such as taking a holiday or starting a new job. That is why it is good to challenge yourself with exciting things and to get out of your comfort zone. It helps you to experience positive stress. A healthy amount of positive stress gives you positive feelings, motivation, confidence, and inspiration.

How to deal with stress?

There is no standard solution that everyone can use to relieve stress. What works for one person might not work for another person. And also, some stress relief tools might not be an option when you are at work. That is why it is good to have a variety of stress relief tools at your disposal to use in different situations. There are a few easy things everyone can do in their daily lives.

Eat and drink healthy

When you are stressed, you may be inclined to drink (more) alcohol or unhealthy eating. These habits may help at a specific moment, but will add more stress in the long-term. Consuming a healthy and balanced diet can help you to reduce stress structurally.

Exercise regularly

It is proven that exercising is a powerful stress reliever. Besides all of the physical health benefits, it is also great for your mental health. When exercising, you will relieve endorphins, which are natural substances that help you feel better and more positive.

Practice meditation and relaxation techniques

Taking the time to relax every day helps your body to manage stress. It also protects your body from new stressors. Exercises such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness are very effective.

Reduce stress triggers

In our busy and demanding lives, we quickly take on too many demands in too little time. This creates a lot of stress. Control your time-management and set up your boundaries. It is important to take enough care of yourself.

Listen to your body

It is okay to say no to demands that take too much energy from you. Listen to your body and set your limits. When you are feeling too overwhelmed, it is good to remind yourself that you are doing well. It is crucial to have a healthy sense of self-esteem.

Stress relief with the Wim Hof Method

The Wim Hof Method is very effective for stress relief. The method is a combination of breathing exercises, meditation, and exposure to cold. When you practice these three components it helps you to relieve stress. The exercises, especially the breathing and exposure to cold, provoke a physical stressor and reset your stress response. This ensures that stress would not feel as overwhelming as it otherwise would. Your stress tolerance will increase positively. Start today and experience all the benefits of the Wim Hof Method!