Last week I wrote an article about why relieving stress is important. I then got a lot of questions on how to actually do so. I’ve found the basic idea of stress relief is to find even five or ten minutes each day to do something that brings you joy, relaxation, laughter, or whatever other feeling you need that day. So, here’s 13 tips I’ve put together to reduce stress!

1. Meditation or Yoga

Meditating or doing yoga allows you to focus on a particular thing like your inhalation, exhalation, or the stillness of your mind to train your body and brain to switch your attention from feelings of anxiety or stress to relaxation…Namaste

2. Exercise

Exercise has been considered one of the best ways to relieve stress. When you exercise your body produces endorphins, which are the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals and increase your mood and other things such as the ability to sleep or focus.

3. Take a walk or hike through nature

Being in nature actually doesn’t help anything emotionally but contributes to your physical wellbeing. It can reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. Who knew looking at a tree or rock could do so much for your health!

4. Self Pamper

When I have the time I love to have what I call a “Callie Me Night”. I take a bath, give myself a facial, do my nails, make my favorite meal for dinner, or binge watch a show on Netflix. A pamper night can be anything you make it. You take time for yourself and do things you enjoy; even if that’s something like playing video games, going shopping, or playing golf.

5. Create Something

Getting your creative juices flowing with activities like drawing, painting, journaling, photography, gardening, cooking, or doing diy projects are great outlets for stress. Even if you aren’t very artistic, being creative can allow you to be more present, release and express your emotions you necessarily wouldn’t be able to verbally communicate, or even increase your self-knowledge of the root of your stress.

6. Cleaning

My roommate finds this to be particularly helpful (I find it helpful that she finds it helpful). You could say cleaning is some people’s form of meditation. It allows them to declutter their house or room therefore feeling more motivation to “declutter” and tackle the rest of their lives and tasks.

7. Organize

Sometimes the biggest stressor is not feeling organized in tasks needed to be done. After my last article my dad gave me a call and told me the best thing he does to reduce his stress is make a checklist every morning of what needs to be done that day. It’s a great way to take everything one day at a time and allows you to focus on smaller goals.

8. Watch/listen or a comedy

Stress relief from laughter, it’s no joke (see what I did there).

9. Play with your favorite furry friend

Playing or petting an animal can increase levels of oxytocin, the stress-reducing hormone, and decrease cortisol, the stress hormone. So, basically puppies are the key to happiness, which is why the way to my heart is paved with paw prints.

10. Call a friend or family member

When your chest deep in schoolwork it’s easy to forget to connect with those we love but taking even an hour out of your day to sit down and catch up can significantly decrease your stress. Loved ones are a great way to help you to vent, reflect, cope, or just allow your focus to be on something other than your stressor.

11. Listen to music and dance it out

Anyone else picturing Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang? My Meredith and Cristina moment is when I listen to "Try Everything" by Shakira. It's from the soundtrack of Zootopia and never fails to put me in a good mood!

12. Crying

Have you ever wondered why crying can make you feel better? Believe it or not there is such thing as stress tears or “emotional tears”, which is one of the three types of tears our body produces. These tears contain stress hormones, which get excreted from the body through tears and then allows the release of endorphins, pretty cool huh. So if you have to let it out, you let it out!

Remember, it's okay to feel overwhelmed by life but it's important to find tools and coping mechanisms that work for you. So try some of these tips out, share to help out a friend, and leave a comment on what helps you relieve stress!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30