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5 Ways to Reduce Stress

in Your Life

by Maria Gracia Updated October 1, 2023 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. If there’s one thing you don’t need in your life, it’s stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.” Stress also can be a springboard for headaches, stomach aches, loss of sleep, and greatly reduced productivity. Here are 5 ways to release, or at least reduce, stress in your life. 1. Get physical. One of the best ways to release stress is to exercise. Yes, putting a bit of stress on your body actually helps to relieve mental stress. It doesn’t matter if you’re dancing, walking, swimming, practicing Yoga, hiking, biking, kick boxing, golfing, bowling, or any of the other number of wonderful activities available. Any activity that gets your body moving can greatly relieve stress and frustration. Here are ways you can find the time to exercise. 2. Use the power of the pen. Every day, write down five positive forces or things in your life, even if it’s a struggle to do so. Doing so helps re-frame your mindset into a more positive one and allows you to move away from the more negative aspects. 3. Invest time with “positive energy” people. There’s nothing that raises stress levels faster than spending time with folks who bring your positive energy down. Choose your friends wisely and focus on those who build you up and raise your spirits. Also, avoid spending a whole lot of time arguing on social media with folks whose views don’t align with yours. Doing so can be especially draining. 4. Smile and laugh as often as you can.  How many times do you laugh in any given day? If you can use more smiles and laughter, that’s definitely a worthwhile goal to focus on. Watch something funny on YouTube or TV, hang out with family and friends who make you laugh, find a source of joy (baby otters, a comic strip you’re fond of, a comedian, etc.)   5. Find your happy place. Every single one of us needs a peaceful haven or two, whether it’s sitting on a chair in a garden, sipping a hot cup of coffee at a local coffee shop, or taking a hot bath. Identify the places in your life that make you peaceful and that you can easily retreat to when life gets hard. While in your happy place, practice mindfulness and release your stress by protecting your safe haven from worries or frustrations. Replace any stress that pops into your mind with visuals that bring you peace…like cookies baking in your grandma’s kitchen, the playfulness of a puppy, or the rolling, powerful waves of the ocean. Back to Organized Health and Well-Being Index