How to relieve stress in your daily life

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We all need ways to destress and feel at peace when things get tough. Read our blog to find out some tips on how to relieve daily stress.

There are many ways to destress and handle feelings of anxiety. We all have different things that resonate with us and make us feel happy and at peace. Ultimately, partaking in activities that make us feel better about ourselves is what's going to help us relieve our stresses and feelings of anxiety.

If you're struggling to come up with ways to handle stress in your daily life, you've come to the right place. Here's a list of some different ways you can destress in your daily life.

Get a good night's sleep

The key to feeling your best during the day is to ensure you have a good night sleep. The average adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.

Getting that time in is very important when it comes to feeling your best and also relaxing at the end of a stressful day. Sleeping works both ways, both as a wind down and a recharge. (1)

Part of getting that good night's sleep is what you sleep on. It's important to ensure you have a comfortable mattress.

A good place to start is by looking at ones reviewed by Best Mattress Australia. A mattress is an investment, one that can help you get that perfect sleep you need to destress at the end of the day and recharge for the next one to come. More sleep equals less stress!

Exercise

Working out or exercising in any way helps to both reduce tension and release endorphins in your body.

Whether you're a big gym junkie, you prefer a long run or even if you are someone who just likes to dance around the room, regular exercise can help decrease your feelings of stress and anxiety. (2)

Exercising can also help boost confidence, making it easier to deal with those little anxieties that cause you to feel stressed. So, if you're feeling down or anxious, head outside and take a stroll or punch it out on the bag, regardless of the type of exercise you choose, the benefits are many.

Reduce caffeine intake

Caffeine is a stimulant that's found in drinks such as coffee, tea and (of course) many energy drinks.

While a little here and there is perfectly fine, high doses can actually increase anxiety. People have different thresholds of how much caffeine they can have before it affects them negatively. (3)

If you find that you're feeling jittery or anxious during the day or night, it might be because you're consuming too much caffeine. Your afternoon coffee could be compounding your natural stress levels and making them worse, so you might want to think about switching to decaffeinated options or simply reducing your normal intake.

Write it down

Writing down your thoughts, feelings and fears can be extremely therapeutic. This method can help to clarify your feelings of stress and even pinpoint what is causing you to feel that way.

You can either write down what is making you feel stressed, or you can shift the focus to things you are grateful for. This can really help to shift your mindset on stress and to overcome those feelings that get you down.

There are so many different prompts you can use if writing doesn't come naturally to you. You never know where a thought might lead you!

Practice mindfulness

Along these lines-journaling and practicing gratitude-there are many mindfulness techniques that you can use throughout your day to destress.

These can include writing gratitude lists, practicing yoga, meditation, body recognition or any activity that can anchor you to the present moment. (4)

Indulge

There is nothing wrong with indulging in the things you love. Things such as chocolate or binging your favourite TV show can lift your spirits.

Treating yourself is a great way to put yourself and your desires first, whatever that might mean to you.

It could be drinking hot chocolate while watching re-runs of an old favourite. It could also be playing a video game from your childhood or taking yourself to the movies.

Indulging doesn't have to be guilt-ridden. Instead, allowing yourself the space to enjoy the things you love can act as a soothing agent to release stress and anxiety.

Listen to music

This is another great therapeutic activity. Music can take you back to a certain feeling or memory, and can have an overall soothing effect on the body.

You don't have to just listen to your favourite music either-slow-paced instrumentals can induce a relaxing response in the body. Genres such as classical, Celtic and Native American music are considered especially soothing, as are nature sounds.

With this being said listening to music you enjoy, no matter how fast or loud it is, can be very effective in reducing stress. (5)

Spend time with loved ones

Spending some much-needed time with those you care about is a wonderful way to release stress and focus on positivity. Your close friends and family can act as a soft place for you to land when you are experiencing extreme stress or anxiety.

They, probably above all others, know exactly what you need to release tension and feel better.

They can act as simple listeners; they can be a shoulder to cry on or a helpful distraction. Either way when you're feeling stressed, reaching out to your family or friends can be extremely beneficial for your stress and your overall mental heatlh.

If you have a pet, you can also spend time with them, as this interaction may help release oxytocin, a chemical found in the brain that promotes positive moods.

Having a pet in general can help improve your feelings of having purpose by keeping you active and providing a sense of companionship. (6)

In conclusion

Releasing stress doesn't have to be an exhausting process. There are simple things you can do throughout the day such as journaling, exercising, listening to music and speaking to loved ones to destress and handle feelings of anxiety.

The main thing to remember when you are finding ways to release stress is that it comes down to finding ways to focus your mind on happiness and finding peace within yourself.

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