5 Ways to Reduce Stress

Stress is something that we all face almost every single day. So why don’t we spend more time trying to overcome it? Maybe it’s because we don’t know what’s causing our stress. Perhaps we have never sat down and thought about different ways to avoid stress in the first place. Or maybe we are just too stressed to do anything other than be stressed.

There’s no reason why we should settle for feeling stressed all the time. While it may be impossible to live completely stress free, with a little practice you can learn how to balance good and bad stress to improve your quality of life.

Finding what works for you when it comes to minimizing stress or anxiety is just a matter of experimenting. Here are 5 ways to reduce stress that you can try yourself to improve your quality of life:

1.    Hit the Gym – Exercising is a great way to relieve some stress. You can shoot hoops, hit the treadmill, lift weights, do an aerobics class, or whatever else that you enjoy doing. A good workout can really help change your attitude about a bad day.

2.    Go For a Drive – This one happens to be a personal favorite of mine. While it’s not necessary to do so, some people drive fast to reduce stress. If that’s the type of person you are then I’d recommend spending some time at a race track because it’s legal and a lot safer. For the most part though, rolling down the windows, and going for a nice relaxing drive can do the trick. Don’t worry about where you’re headed, just drive.

3.    Listen to Music – Music has a powerful affect on your mood. Grab some soothing music, put on your best headphones and close your eyes. Listening to music is a great way to let go of all other distractions and find some harmony within.

4.    Go For a Swim – While swimming can be excellent exercise, you don’t have to take a dip for that reason alone. The pool can be very relaxing too. You can get a pool float, find a step to sit and relax on, or even practice your diving skills. The weightless feeling that you get from being in the pool is really what makes it so great for reducing stress.

5.    Smile – Even though forcing yourself to smile can help you to actually feel like smiling, the real idea behind this one is to find the fun. If you have a good friend who always makes you laugh, call them up or spend some time with them. Favorite movies are a great way to put a smile back on your face. Maybe you really like board games and playing one would cheer you up? Whatever the case is, you need to focus your energy on positive thinking. Find the fun and allow yourself to be happy!

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life it’s practically impossible to avoid stress entirely. Whether we’re worried about marketing our small business or hitting a deadline for a big project, we’re bound to be stressed once in a while. Even though stress is a given, you don’t have to let it overwhelm you. The next time stress if bothering you, try experimenting with these 5 stress reducing techniques to find out what works best for you.