Stress Relief Techniques that Actually Work
Are you looking for some easy stress relief techniques that actually work? Good, you are in the right place! Life is full of stressful moments, but we don’t have to let stress rule or ruin our lives. By having a few simple techniques in our back pocket that actually work we can immediately stop stress in its tracks and get back to enjoying life. I encourage you to try each of these out and see what ones work best for you and then make sure to add it to your tool kit so you can reach for it whenever you need to!
Stress Relief Technique #1 - Get active
Physical activity is a great stress reliever, but you may be wondering why that is the case. When we exercise our bodies actually release feel good endorphins! Exercise also helps improve our sleep quality (see technique #3 below).
When we exercise, we are focused on the activity we are doing, especially if it is something that really challenges us. This can help distract us from negative thinking or whatever is stressing us out. Exercise can also give us satisfaction of having completed something that we know is good for us and that can boost our mood in a positive way.
There is not one exercise that is better than another. The most important thing is to do something you enjoy and will help you forget your troubles. Even activities you might not normally think of as exercise can help such as gardening or even cleaning your house! The key is to move your body, not necessarily increase your heartrate. Make sure to grab my workout below that you can do anywhere and doesn't require a lot of time!
Stress Relief Technique #2 – Bring Meditation into Your Day
I know sometimes meditation can seem like an impossible task. If you are like me, you find it very challenging to turn off your brain per say and sit quietly. What that means is that we probably need meditation even more! Meditation can help calm all the constant thoughts going through our mind and relive the stress that comes along with all those endless thoughts.
Even if you find that you can’t do it for very long at first, that’s ok! Every little bit helps. You can try it on the train to work, when you are waiting for an appointment, or when you have a few moments between meetings. Try just sitting still, closing your eyes if you can and focus on your breathing. The small act of just sitting and focusing on breathing in and out can leave you with a calm and peaceful feeling.
If you are having a particularly stressful day at work try going out for a walk at lunch and try a walking meditation. If you are not familiar with what that is, a walking meditation is when you are mindful of the activity that you are doing. In this case walking. So, as you walk you pay attention to everything you are doing. For example, lifting your right foot up, moving your right foot, putting your right foot down, picking up your left foot, etc.
There are also many different apps out there to choose from if you would like some guidance around meditation. Also, I know the one I use has a reminder feature that is very helpful so you don’t get to busy and forget!
Stress Relief Technique #3 – Prioritize your Sleep
Stress can disrupt our sleep so it is especially important that we prioritize our sleep and take certain steps to make sure we can get the most restful night sleep possible. When we are well rested we can make better decisions and handle stressful situations better with a clear and focused mind.
As much as possible we want to try and keep a regular sleep schedule. Yes, this includes even on weekends! We want to try to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday so our body gets used to this schedule. We also want to make sure that our bedroom is as comfortable as possible. You don’t want the temperature to be too hot or too cold. Also, soothing sounds either from music or white noise machines can help relax you and lull you to sleep.
If you find you are having trouble getting to sleep try getting up and doing something in another room until you feel tired instead of tossing and turning in your bed.
Summary for Stress Relief Techniques
Stress is a very real part of all of our lives. We can’t avoid it completely. However, we do have tools at our disposal to manage stress better and not let it negatively impact and control our lives. The next time you are feeling stressed try meditating or getting some movement in and see if it helps. Also, make sure you are consistently getting enough rest so that you have the mental capacity to deal with whatever life throws your way. Not every technique will work for everyone so experiment and see what works best for you and stick with it!
If you are looking for a quick and easy workout that you can incorporate into your day, I have put together some of my favorite moves here! Grab your FREE workout!