Ways to Soothe Your Stress

Stress happens in this busy modern life, but if you’re like most people, you know all too well the toll that stress can take on your mind and body. That’s why you should have a whole “toolbox” full of techniques on hand that can soothe your stress and help you live a calmer life. Try a few of the following tools to see if they work for you.

Aromatherapy

First, you might consider trying aromatherapy. Explore products like Young Living Essential Oils. These come in a variety of fragrances and can be used as part of your self-care routine. You might diffuse them into the air, inhale them from the bottle or dilute them and apply them to your skin. Fragrances have different effects, so read descriptions so that you know which ones will work best for you.

Music

Music is a wonderful stress-breaker. Create playlists for your various moods and needs. You might build one of quiet music to help you relax, one of energetic songs to give you a boost and one of your all-time favorites to get you through difficult moments. You can have music playing in the background throughout the day (if it doesn’t become too distracting). But you should also set aside time to close your eyes and just listen. You may be surprised at how calming this can be.

Hobbies

Don’t neglect your favorite hobbies when you’re combating stress. When the pressure ramps up, take a break, and turn to one of your hobbies. You might set up a jigsaw puzzle, for instance, and put in a few pieces now and then just to give yourself some downtime. You could read a chapter from a favorite book or work on a craft or cook up a snack. You might even set aside time each day to play an online roleplaying game and immerse yourself in another world for a while. Your stress will melt.

Meditation

Many expert stress-fighters rely on meditation to help them relax. Meditation provides quiet time for your body and your mind. Read up on a few techniques, and try a couple that seem appealing. If you’re a person of faith, your meditation might include prayer. In any case, sit quietly, and try to focus your mind away from everyday life and onto the topic of meditation. This takes some practice, and don’t get discouraged if you struggle. That’s normal. Just keep at it.

Guided Breathing

Guided breathing exercises are similar to meditation, but they actually focus you on your breathing. You might try the 4-7-8 breathing technique, for instance. Inhale through your nose, counting slowly to four as you do, so that you get a nice breath. Then hold your breath for seven seconds. Finally, slowly exhale through your mouth, counting to eight as you do. This technique helps pull more oxygen into your system and calm you down by readjusting your focus. There are other techniques as well, so give a few a try to find out which one works best for you.

Exercise

Exercise as long been recognized as a stress-buster, for it increases chemicals in your brain that help you feel better. If you aren’t already exercising regularly, then get started. You can begin slowly with fifteen minutes a day of a physical activity you enjoy. This might be taking a brisk walk or riding your bike or using a treadmill while your listen to music. Be sure that you warm up and cool down properly to avoid strain and injury. Over time, you can build up your routine.

Journal Writing

If you tend to be a rather reflective person, then journal writing may help you reduce your stress. You can start by jotting down a little about what you’ve done each day and then work into writing about your reactions to certain events. Pretty soon, you might find that your journal turns into a place to vent, work out solutions to problems, examine alternatives to help you make decisions and even work through strong emotions.

Friend Therapy

Finally, never neglect “friend therapy” when you’re trying to control stress. At the very least, call up a friend, and chat for a few minutes. Bring up a funny memory, and have a good laugh. Also, spend more time with your friends doing activities you enjoy.

Controlling stress isn’t easy, but with some of these tools in your “toolbox,” it may even be fun sometimes.