Finding Balance and Joy: 10 Great Ways to Relieve Stress
In order to live the best life we can, we need to find ways of coping with our stress and anxiety.
As we go throughout our days and check things off our to-do lists, we need to make time for joy while still remaining focused.
Balance is key, but it isn’t easy to maintain as we hustle forward.
In hopes of making the most of our days, we have to pay attention to the joyful things and not get too caught up in all the stuff that can go wrong.
It may not feel like it, but we have more control over our situations than we think. You have to first become aware of your thoughts and how you are reacting before you can take control.
Once you learn to manage your thoughts, you will find yourself choosing happiness over anger, and calm over stress. But how do we do this when our minds are foggy with anxiety and worry? You have to find ways to unwind and feel good if you ever hope to control your moods and emotions.
Here are some tips on how:
10 Ways To De-Stress
1. Get Some Exercise
- There are so many benefits to regular exercise. Not only does it help to keep your body fit and healthy, but it can also significantly reduce your stress levels. It will even help battle against depression!
- Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins flush our systems with feelings of positivity and renewed energy.
- Regular exercise can also help you get better sleep which is another natural way to fight stress.
2. Eat the Right Foods
- What you put into your body is the fuel that you use to run on. It will make a huge difference in how you feel if you are eating the right kinds of foods.
- The food you eat affects your hormones. Your hormones affect your mood and therefore, your outlook on life. It’s easy to eat food that is filled with sugar and salt, it’s quick and it tastes good, but the effects just aren’t worth it.
3. Spend Some Time in Nature
- For me, there are few ways to de-stress that work better than spending time outdoors. Not only do I get to connect with nature, but I also get extra exercise and the chance to breathe some fresh air.
- There are several benefits to spending time outdoors, such as getting some vitamin d exposure and improving your ability to concentrate.
4. Shimmy, Shake, and Sing
- Dancing is one of the most joyful and energizing ways for me to relieve stress. It is a normal part of my routine to come home from the gym filled with energy and high on endorphins, to start dancing and singing my way around the house as I get ready for my workday.
- Singing is a huge boost to your mood. It has been scientifically proven that endorphins and oxytocin are released into your system as you sing!
5. Listen To Some Soothing Music
- Settle into a quiet space, get yourself a cup of tea and relax into the sounds of some instrumental music.
- I do most of my writing while listening to the calming sounds of classical or other non-lyrical music. It fills the background with soothing sounds without being distracting.
6. Laugh
- They say that laughter is the best medicine, so go find something funny! Watch a comedy, read a funny book, comics, or some memes. It is yet another way to release endorphins into your body and brighten your mood.
- When we are smiling and laughing it is so much easier to not take life too seriously. So, smile and laugh and add a little joy to your life.
7. Journal Out Your Thoughts
- It is totally okay to vent out your emotions. Journalling is a great way to get out all of the yuck and the stress.
- Once you get out the negative stuff, write down the positive things in your life. List your blessing and focus on gratitude.
8. Talk With Your Friends
- Connecting with family and friends is a great way to de-stress and can be a way to easily integrate other stress-relieving techniques. Such as: going for a walk or talking and laughing together.
- Isolating yourself and feeling lonely, even if you are introverted, is a no-no. We all need healthy social interaction to feel loved, valued, and supported.
9. Pet Your Pet
- Did you know that petting an animal can relieve stress? Well, if you didn’t, you do now. It is actually proven by science that petting an animal can soothe your nerves and boost your mood.
10. BREATHE!
- There are few better ways to control your emotions (particularly anxiety and anger) than doing some deep abdominal breathing.
- There are different kinds of breathing practices that can help you with varying levels of stress and anxiety. Increased oxygen to your brain promotes the feeling of calmness. Implementing proper breathing exercises into your daily life has a multitude of benefits.
Life requires us to tackle the necessities: money-making, family commitments, appointments, and deadlines that have to be set and kept.
Then, we have cleaning to do, dinner to make, dishes to wash, laundry to fold, a dirty toilet to scrub. If you are a parent then you have a whole extra group of priorities as well: Homework, sports, playdates, crafts, etc.
Next comes all the other stuff to squeeze in. SELF-CARE! Exercise, hobbies, travel, a nice long soak in the tub! And, you have to forgive yourself when you take time to do nothing (that’s self-care by the way).
In the end, life ends up going at the pace we set. In order to make the most out of our time, it is important to pay attention to the present moment and make good use out of it (either one way or another). By implementing these stress-relieving techniques, I know you will find a little bit more balance and happiness in your daily life.
With an Attitude of Gratitude,
Jessa
