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Stress Relief Techniques and TipsStress Relief Techniques and Tips: 20 Great Techniques
1. Count to 10, or, if you have to, to 100: If that's what it takes to change your state from being stressed out to not been stressed out. This is a very important stress relief technique because when a stressful situation arises, rather than reacting in a way that will lead to even more stress, and you start counting, you will calm down quickly. As you're doing so, you'll look at the same situation that was causing you so much stress with a fresh perspective. This will allow you to deal with the problem/conflict in a more effective and positive way.
2. Get some fresh air: Even a few minutes will do you good. Sometimes, even opening a window might do the trick. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time indoors. The change in temperature will also be good for your senses and will immediately alter your mental state. While you're getting this fresh air, take a minute to look around your environment with some new appreciation. Can you do this if you're at work? Most of the time, yes! Most jobs have scheduled breaks, so try to take your break then, if you can. And outside of regular breaks? It depends on the job and on the people in it. The reality is that most people will understand the need for it. Just be prepared for someone to ask to tag along. And be prepared to be truthful, so if you want company, accept, and if you don't, say you need a few moments to yourself. If you can, go for regular walks and this will help you cope better with stress during your day.
3. Use Humor: Laughter is a powerful mood changer so this is an especially good stress relief technique. This is a difficult one to do too. What's funny to one person may not be to another. Prepare in advance. Carry something around with you that will make you laugh, especially anything that will bring out a full belly laugh. It can be a cartoon, a photo, a saying, even a funny card that someone gave you or that you picked out yourself for yourself. If you're at home, indulge in a funny movie. Our favourites are Charlie Chaplin movies, but anything that you consider funny will work.
4. Visit your happy place: A creative way to work with stress relief techniques is deciding on what your happy place is. Everyone has at least one. Think about it. Is it a lake, your home, time with your dog? Whatever it is, carry something with you that is a good reminder of that. This can be a photo, a piece of music, or an object that can emotionally bring you back to a safe and happy place for a quick and pleasant visit. Allow yourself to daydream and this can quickly become a favorite stress relief technique.
5. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe: The easiest stress relief technique of all, yet most of us don't breathe correctly. What? How is that? Short, sharp breaths don't help us deal with stress, if anything they keep us in an agitated state. Most of us breath from our chest when we should be breathing from our bellies. Here, we can learn a lot from our pets since they breathe correctly. Breathe is life, so take your time, and breath deeply, enjoying it. It's so important to being grounded and focused that most acting schools spend countless hours training their students how to do this. A simple trick is to stand, then bend forward like a raggady doll. Relax your torso as you're bent over, breathing. You should feel the breathe dropping to your lower back and belly. It's almost impossible to breathe incorrectly. Come back up when it no longer feels comfortable and roll up slowly to avoid injury. Another quick trick is to tuck your legs beneath you on an even surface, perferably a floor. Then bend forward, over your thighs and knees, bringing your arms across in front of you, forehead on the floor. Breathe until it no longer feels comfortable. Roll up slowly to avoid injury. If you do this properly, you will feel the weight of the world leave you. You will also feel wonderfully refreshed.
6. Oji Breathing. This is one of our favorite stress relief technique is oji breathing. This breath is more complicated to do and much more beneficial since it's commonly used in yoga practice. Once you master it, using it will immediately calm you and reduce your stress levels. Want to try it? First, close your mough and take a deep breath through your nose. Second, allow the breath to travel deeply, as low as you can. Third, feel the warm breath against your throat. Fourth, slightly part your lips. Fifth, let the warm breath hit your throat as it leaves your body. It should be loud enough to make a sound resembling an ocean wave. Let it escape slowly. Take a few more breaths, using the same technique. You can also concentrate on a problem and let it go as you let go each breath. You can also try clearing your mind as you breath. Both are helpful.
7. Meditate: Meditating is a stress relief technique that should be practiced daily, for several minutes or longer. What if that's not feasible? Even a little bit of meditation can be a good thing, so improvise to get at least a few benefits. Just find a quiet place. If you can't, then find the quiet within you. Be still, and still your mind even in the most chaotic of palces, such as a busy office, a bus, etc. You can become that quiet place within the chaos, at least for a few minutes. The great thing about this is that it doesn't have to last very long. Longer is great, but if you don't have time to do it for few long, at least spend a few minutes. This can be done by clearing your mind as you breathe deeply or it can be done by repeating your own personal mantra, one that is positive and helpful, or by pleasantly visiting your dream life. That's right, the life that you want is waiting to be created by you, which is very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in a stressed-out state.
8. Ask yourself a very serious and important question: Will this matter to you when you're 90? No? Then maybe you shouldn't be stressing out over it so much. Yes? Then give this problem/issue your full attention but remember that approaching anything in a stressed-out state is probably not beneficial. Can you take a five minute break and get back to it when you've had a change to re-charge? Most things can wait at least five minutes.
9. Leave your ego out of it: That's right. Don't get so caught up in your pride that you spend all of your time trying to win battles that will cost you the war. The war, of course, is a metaphor for your life. What you want out of life and how you succeed at it. The battles are the challenges along the way. If a challenge comes up and it has little to do with how you want your life to be, then isn't it foolish to spend time fighting it, especially if it's just for the sake of pride?
10. Play: With a pet. With a friend's pet. Maybe you like drawing or playing ball. Do it. Just have fun. This is especially liberating if you are very goal-oriented and try to excel at everything. When was the last time you were on a skateboard? Or you played volleyball? This is a great stress relief technique because you get to be active and have fun. What's Your Best Stress Relief Technique?Do you have a favorite stress relief technique that really works well for you? Share it!
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