Everyone deals with stress from time to time… and lately, we’ve all surely had a few extra reasons.
And while it’s important to find ways to reduce the sources of your stress, sometimes your hands are tied. Stress is a fact of life… but it doesn’t have to be a way of life!
That’s why it’s so important to find natural ways to cope that are effective long-term. And thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to deal with the pressures of life – that don’t involve drugs, drinking, or other temporary solutions that won’t work out in the long run.
Today we’re focusing on 10 of our favorite “easy ways” to reduce stress in your life that are sustainable, safe, and healthy. Let’s relax, shall we?!
Tip #1: Focus on a hobby
Hobbies can be a great way to take your mind off things! Stress only gets worse when you focus on the problem… and if you’re sitting idle, it’s likely your mind will keep wandering back to whatever’s troubling you.
You may already have a few hobbies you enjoy – but if you’re getting bored of those lately, here are some other ideas:
- Listening to music (and dancing!). Not only is it pleasant, a half hour of rocking out to your favorite tunes has even been shown to lower your blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and calm anxiety and stress!
- Knitting. This slow, steady activity can calm the nerves quickly. Plus, you get something from it!
- Shopping. Who knew it? Shopping (reasonably) is a common way to reduce stress… and according to a recent study by the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, it can even extend your lifespan!
- Take a walk. Long walks are a great stress relief technique. We suggest focusing on your surroundings – and perhaps combine this with listening to music!
- Fix things around the house (or start a DIY project). Sometimes, using your hands can really help your brain relax. That’s why many of us at GiddyUp resort to DIY projects when we’re feeling overwhelmed. But of course, making a mess can add stress… so that’s why we love Bondic – an innovative new adhesive that’s much stronger than superglue, and it doesn’t “set” until you shine a UV light on it. Easy peasy!
Tip #2: Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep.
Stress has a nasty effect of keeping us up at night. When our thoughts are racing, we have trouble slowing down our breathing… which keeps us awake. This creates a vicious cycle that leads to more and more stress over time.
To knock it out quickly and safely, we suggest ditching the sleeping pills – and getting something like Dodow instead.
Dodow is a new sleep device that helps you find a smooth, calming rhythm to your breathing as you prepare to doze off. It can put you to sleep in a matter of minutes, and you can even use it for meditation!
Tip #3: Do some writing.
Got a lot on your mind? You’ll be surprised how relaxing it is to get those thoughts down on paper (or a Word document). Writing about your feelings can help you sort through the things that are bothering you, and even helps slow down racing thoughts!
Here’s a bonus tip: Try writing on paper first. The act of physically putting pen to paper can be surprisingly soothing – even if your handwriting (like that of this article’s author) is not particularly pretty…
Tip #4: Get plenty of exercise.
Alright, this one may sound stressful to even think about, but it’s really worth it.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to hit the gym right away. Even a brisk walk can completely change your day – so don’t knock it until you try it!
And if you’re having trouble staying motivated, consider a smart scale like FitTrack. This clever scale uses (100% safe) electrical pulses to show you all sorts of amazing insights about your body. It can help you set fitness goals – and keep you on track until you crush ‘em!
Tip #5: Reduce physical tension.
Feeling tense? Try some stretching! There are now tons of easy guides to stretching available free online. Even a few minutes can go a long way to knock out that tension!
Since we’ve all been hanging out around the house more often lately, that probably means more screen time. Don’t worry, we won’t shame you for that… but we will offer a solution to that neck strain that’s probably been developing as a result. It’s called Neck Hammock, and it gently eases tension in your neck. Not only is it a long-lasting natural solution, it’s also incredibly soothing to use!
Tip #6: Consider taking some natural supplements.
Don’t want to stress out about reducing stress? No worries! There are plenty of natural supplements that can help your body fight stress without you having to lift a finger.
Some of our favorites include:
- Lemon balm: Lemon balm is a member of the mint family that has also gained renown for its anti-anxiety effects.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: These natural acids come (mostly) from fish and are known for their anti-stress and anti-anxiety properties.
- Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is Ayurvedic herb that has been used to reduce stress since ancient times.
- Green tea: Thanks to its polyphenol antioxidant content, green tea provides a whole host of health benefits – including lowering stress by increasing serotonin levels.
- Valerian root: This popular sleep aid has a sedating effect due to its valerenic acid content, which helps your gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors reduce stress.
Don’t want to take a fistful of supplements? Well, you can also try Luminas – a new pain relief patch that’s packed with the electronic codes of 200+ vitamins. It’s primarily designed to help relieve pain, but many of the vitamins used to reduce stress are also present in the innovative easy-to-use patch that’s got athletes going wild (or, better put: chilling out).
Tip #7: Light a candle.
Did you know? Essential oils and/or burning a scented candle (aka “aromatherapy”) have been reported to reduce feelings of stress.
Some scents are more soothing than others, though. Here are some of the most relaxing scents:
- Lavender
- Rose
- Bergamot
- Roman chamomile
- Frankincense
- Sandalwood
- Orange or orange blossom
Tip #8: Reduce caffeine, alcohol and other recreational drugs.
While caffeine can give you a pleasant boost in the morning, it can also lead to a frustrating crash in the afternoon… and it can end up disrupting your sleep at night. It also makes you more alert at a time when you may want to chill out. As such, try cutting back on a cup or two depending on your current intake.
And as for alcohol – it’s not a great long-term answer. Don’t get us wrong here, we all enjoy a glass or two of wine now and then. But regular drinking can actually raise stress levels over time, so don’t count on it as a solution.
Tip #9: Got a headache? Relieve it the natural way!
As we mentioned before, stress is inevitable. When it gets the best of you, that also often means headaches. But don’t make the mistake of reaching for pills… which can be addictive and even damaging.
Instead, try something like Aculief. This clever little innovation clips onto your LI-4 acupressure point, which has been used for thousands of years to relieve even the nastiest headaches in seconds. Bonus: It’s small, discreet, and easy to carry around… so you can find relief wherever you go!
Tip #10: Try meditation.
Meditation may seem like a foreign concept to those who haven’t tried it, but it’s actually quite easy to try.
These days there are even apps like Calm, which guide you through a simple meditation process. No need to be a master yogi to benefit from this ancient, proven practice for stress relief. Even better, there are tons of other benefits to regular meditation. It can give you a whole new outlook on life. You’ve got nothing to lose… if you haven’t already, just give it a chance!
Okay! That’s all we’ve got today. Of course, there are plenty of other ways to keep your cool. If you have some interesting stress reduction techniques, please be sure to share them with us and other readers in the comments below!