Ever feel like life is out of control and all you want to do is relax a little and let go of the stress? Yeah, I hear ya. Stress is a constant companion these days.
And you may even feel like you have become an expert at raising your stress levels….or maybe your kids have become the experts. 😉
Regardless of the reason, you are in good company. Most of us have had LOTS of practice on how to raise our stress levels but not so much on how to lower them.
But you’ll be relieved to know that the ability to relax is an acquired skill too.
Luckily, you can teach yourself to handle stress in a way that minimizes it. It’s important to note, though, that the more stressed you feel, the more challenging it can be to relax.
Not to worry! I’ve happily pulled together these 11 tips for how you can relax your body and mind when your stress levels are out of control.
Tip # 1 – Stress relief through a moment of stretching
Stand up for a few minutes and stretch your body. Release the tension and stress in your muscles. Shake your arms and legs individually and get back to work. Try this. It works!
If you work from home, one thing that really works for me is to hang my upper body off of my bed upside down. This stretches the neck and upper back which is great for traction and releasing pressure off the spine.
TAKE CARE when hanging though. Do not allow any part of your body past your true waist to hang off as you don’t want to fall off or land on your head.
Tip # 2 – Exercise
If you the time available, take your stretching to the next level! Just 30 minutes of exercise can really work wonders.
And don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to the standard walk or jog. In fact, I recommend that you actually avoid limiting yourself to just those.
Try playing some tennis or attempt to break your personal leg press or leg lift record. Maybe even invite a workout buddy too!
Either way, do your best to make it happen, even if only 1x a week (of course more is better, but ya gotta start somewhere and that’s a great place to start!).
Short on time and want a variety of techniques to banish stress FAST? If so, check out my new detailed framework – “Decoded: The Calm & Joyful Mama – 9 Proven Secrets To Relieve Stress & Anxiety in Mere Minutes A Day” by clicking the link below.
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Tip # 3 – Listen to music
Music can be very soothing. The theme from Rocky might make you feel great, but might not be the best choice if you’re feeling agitated. So choose music that you find relaxing.
If possible, create a soothing playlist for yourself, preferably during a time when you aren’t feeling so stressed. That way you will have it teed up and ready to go when the time comes.
Tip # 4 – Meditate
Meditation is simple, but challenging. You can learn to focus your thoughts and relieve your tension.
Keep your thoughts focused on your breath and return to this focus whenever you get distracted.
Don’t feel like you need to mediate for a long time either. A solid 5-10 minutes will help. What could be simpler?
Tip #5 – Reach out to others
Some of us find relaxation in being alone, while others feel better with others. Reach out to your friends and family. You can discuss your feelings and the challenges you’re facing.
You could also choose to use the people in your life as a distraction. Go out to dinner or watch a movie (safely of course). Allow yourself to have a little fun.
Tip # 6 – Laugh the stress away
There’s a reason they say that laughter is the best medicine. Pull out your favorite video or spend the evening at a comedy club.
Call your funniest friend for a chat. Read a book of jokes. Find something or someone that will make you laugh.
Tip # 7 – Invoke a feeling of gratitude
It’s easy to forget about all the wonderful things in your life during challenging times. Make a list of all the blessings in your life.
Focus on feeling gratitude, and do not overthink this. Demonstrate gratitude for even the simple things.
By reminding yourself of all the good things, the bad things won’t seem nearly as bad.
Not quite sure how to practice gratitude in a meaningful way? I cover this in my new detailed framework. You can check it out by clicking the link below.Â
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Tip # 8 – Take a nap
One of the best ways to reset your nervous system is sleeping. Find a quiet place and lie down for an hour.
I know that the idea of this probably makes you laugh. What mama has time to sleep at night, let alone nap!? But a nap can be the best stress-buster.
So call a sitter, or a relative, or even try talking your kids into taking a nap with you.
Tip # 9 – Think happy thoughts
Remember a happy, past event. Relive it in your mind. Creative visualization can be an excellent way to take a break from your stress.
Pull out some pictures or videos if you have to. Be creative and enjoy yourself!
Tip #10 – Stress jitters? Drop the caffeine from your diet
Caffeine and stress don’t play well together. So try giving your nervous system a rest by avoiding caffeinated beverages.
The extra stimulation isn’t a great idea anyway (but if you use it to stay awake I totally feel ya there).
Just take caution when doing cut out the caffeine as you don’t want to get a caffeine withdraw headache (yes they are a real thing and they hurt like a mo-fo).
Ween yourself off by decreasing your caffeine intake by a few ounces each day over a few days.
If you need help with energy/staying awake, try drinking lots of water instead. It sounds crazy but it works.
Tip #11 – Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you
I love to do this outside listening to nature. If you live in the city, you could try turning on a fan instead.
You could also cover your ears and focus on what you see. You’ll just look sillier. 😜
Either way, blocking off one of your senses and focusing on your environment is an excellent way to be more present.
This is because giving your attention to your surroundings will stop your mind from creating more stress.
Stress is a part of daily life. Learning to manage it can take a little time but absolutely makes life more enjoyable.
NOTE: The best time to address stress is the moment it begins. There’s a momentum to stress. Once your stress reaches a high level, it’s far more challenging to reduce.
Most stress-reduction techniques provide a small to moderate amount of relief. Use them sooner, rather than later, and prevent a meltdown before it happens.
Want to dive deeper into stress and anxiety relief? Get my framework – “Decoded: The Calm & Joyful Mama – 9 Proven Secrets To Relieve Stress & Anxiety in Mere Minutes A Day” by clicking the link below. It’s super affordable and you’ll be SO happy you did.
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Lots of love and gratitude to you,
