Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety

To a degree, stress is a natural part of life, but by tuning into your mind and body, you can start to tell when the stress is building up and starting to consume you. When your stress levels don’t naturally come down throughout the day or your body starts to develop symptoms, like headaches, acne, and insomnia, it’s wise to already have some ideas for how to relieve stress and anxiety. Being prepared will help you address these issues before they become chronic, and you’ll find that some of the best ways to relieve stress are simple tasks that you can start practicing today.

Vacations

If you’re wondering “Do vacations reduce stress?”, the answer is almost always yes! While some trips to visit family and poorly planned vacations can end up causing more anxiety, the majority of vacations take you out of your normal routine and provide you with more opportunities to relax. Without having to run errands, cook, or clean, you can fill your vacation with outdoor activities surrounded by the tranquility and beauty of nature, and you’ll start to feel your worries wash away. Enjoy some light exercise, put your phone away, and even take time to practice meditation to relieve anxiety. When it comes to do vacations reduce stress, it’s important to be intentional with how you spend your time.

Gratitude Journal

When you’re experiencing stress and anxiety, it’s easy to focus on the negative, but recognizing that your perception creates your reality gives you the tools to manage your emotions. Shifting your perception is one of the best ways to relieve stress and anxiety, and journaling is a simple way to do this. In a notebook or on your phone, begin a list of things you're thankful for. Each day, these can range from drinking coffee out of your favorite mug to accomplishing a project at work. Whether it’s big or little, taking time to focus your perspective on what you’re thankful for will give you the tools for how to relieve stress and anxiety.

Meditation

Around the world, people have been using meditation to relieve anxiety for years. However, if it’s not a part of your culture, you may feel intimidated by the experience and confused about what it really is. In simple terms, meditation guides you to focus on your breath and calm your mind, gently releasing your thoughts. Two of the most popular apps for learning to use meditation to relieve anxiety are Calm and Insight Timer, and in just couple minutes, you’ll be able to feel the benefits of meditating.

Yoga and Exercise

Yoga combines many elements of meditation with physical movement, and exercise is a healthy option for how to relieve stress and anxiety. Whether you’re running, biking, walking, or practicing yoga, exercise gets your mind to focus on an activity while releasing dopamine and positive chemicals into your system. Having this time all to yourself is one of the short-term ways to relieve stress.

Therapy

Instead of just asking “Do vacations reduce stress?” and hoping that a week on the beach will fix all your problems, it’s important to seek professional help as well for serious or long-term stress and anxiety. Today, seeing a therapist has become less taboo, and there are even online options that make it more convenient. For many people, talking to someone who is trained to help and guide them is one of the best ways to relieve stress and cope with anxiety.

Stress and anxiety are natural parts of life, but when they start to build up, they can begin to have long-term effects on your physical and mental wellbeing. Having tools to alleviate stress and cope with anxiety are important, and through professional help, you can create positive changes in your everyday life.

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