Get Rid Of Stress Fast With These 10 Relaxation Techniques

Get Rid Of Stress Fast With These 10 Relaxation Techniques

Stress is bad for you. C’mon, this is obvious. But it’s not exactly easy to get rid of stress and relax. In fact, it might even seem impossible.

There are like a billion studies that show that stress is terrible for you and your body. But you’re not here to read about the negative effects of stress(1).

You know them. You’ve been suffering from them for a long time. And you want it to stop.

So here are 10 easy and inexpensive ways to get rid of stress and start feeling better now:

1. De-Stress Your Muscles

A lot of the time, your body will hold stress in the form of tension in your muscles. This can leave you feeling exhausted. Luckily, there’s an easy way to get rid of that.

Try using a heat wrap and putting it around your neck and shoulders. Keep it there for 10 minutes while you close your eyes and focus on relaxing all the muscles above your waist – like your neck, face, back, and upper chest.

Next, use a foam roller to roll out the tension from your muscles. You’ll be feeling less stressed immediately.

2. Laugh More!

Did you know that belly laughs aren’t just good for feeling good – they also actually lower the amount of cortisol (the stress hormone) in your body(2).

It’s true! Watch your favorite funny tv show or movie and let out all the gut busting laughs that you want – it’ll help lower your stress levels by a lot.

3. Listen To Your Favorite Music

Studies have found that listening to your favorite music (particularly if it’s calm and relaxing) can reduce anxiety, lower your heart rate, and bring your blood pressure down(3).

So don’t feel guilty about starting up iTunes and blaring out your favorite music! It’s for your stress!

4. Get Up And Active

Any exercise you do is going to trigger the release of endorphins and chemicals in your brain that just make you feel good . And if you want to burn calories the lazy way you can do that too.

So if you don’t want to run, you can try yoga or walking – but whatever you do it’s going to help out with depression and reduce anxiety. Although running really is great! Either way, you’re getting exercise and de-stressing, win win!

5. Try Meditating

Meditation is a great way to reduce anxiety and help yourself feel better. In fact, studies have shown that meditation can actually alter your brain’s chemical pathways, reducing the effect that stress has on you.

All you have to do to mediate is sit up straight in a chair and keep your feet flat on the floor. Focus on a positive mantra – which can just be any phrase that’s positive and that you like repeating, like “I feel good” or “I’m happy right now”. Allow your mantra to sync up with your breathing and relax.

6. Focus On Breathing Deep

When you’re stressed out, chances are you’re taking shallow, short breaths – and not really thinking about it. Unfortunately, that creates a feedback loop that actually makes you feel more stressed out.

Instead, calm yourself down by taking a break for 5 minutes and focusing entirely on your breathing. Make sure to sit up straight and close your eyes, then take slow, deep inhales through your nose. You want the breath to fill up all the way down to your belly.

Let the breath out slowly through your mouth, and feel your body decompress as the breath leaves it. It’ll lower your blood pressure and slow down your heart rate, which is good for stress.

7. Take Breaks From Worrying About The Future

If you’re constantly worrying about what’s going to happen in the future, it’s going to destroy your ability to live in the present.

And living in the present is one of the most important things you can possibly do for your stress. When you live in the moment, all other worries fall away – because you’re fully present with yourself and your body.

Try being in the moment while doing something pleasant, like eating your favorite meal or sitting outside on a nice day. It will lower your tension – and your stress.

8. Don’t Be Afraid To Get Help

Your friends and family want to support you – that’s what they’re there for. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, don’t hesitate to reach out to a good friend or a family member and ask for help.

They’ll be able to show you the brighter side of things – as well as show you where you’re over-worried, and help you reduce your stress level.

9. Get In Touch With Your Body

It’s easy to read that stress affects your body, but that’s different than understanding it. If you want to understand it – you’ve got to allow yourself to feel it.

Lie down on your back and start at your toes. Slowly allow yourself to feel every part of your body – especially the parts that you feel most when you’re stressed out. You’ll make some discoveries – and help yourself with your stress.

10. Use Gratitude To Help Yourself

One of the easiest ways to get rid of stress is to remind yourself of how much you have to be thankful for.

Try keeping a journal that you can write in during the day and before you go to sleep of all the things you can be thankful for that day. That way, when you’re falling asleep, you’re not obsessing over things you’re stressed out about – you’re reflecting on how things went right for you that day.

In summary…

Relaxation Techniques To Reduce Stress Fast

  1. De-stress your muscles
  2. Laugh more!
  3. Listen to your favorite music
  4. Get up and active
  5. Try meditating
  6. Focus on breathing deep
  7. Take breaks from worrying about the future
  8. Don’t be afraid to get help
  9. Get in touch with your body
  10. Use gratitude to help yourself

relaxation techniques to reduce stress

22 comments… add one
  • Sandra Harris September 17, 2015, 9:51 pm

    It seems that my mind is racing at 100MPH most nights and I cannot sleep good because of that. I know that has something to do with the stress as well!

  • Mary McClintock September 16, 2015, 12:17 pm

    I love to laugh. When I can get into a deep laugh, my entire body feels great! It truly does drop the stress from your day!

  • Dolores Cook September 15, 2015, 10:16 am

    I have a very active mind and even when I do get lowered stress in my life, there is always something there that brings it back, even if it is for a little bit.

  • Dolores Hake September 15, 2015, 10:06 am

    They make stress relievers that you can use on your muscles. I think they work great and you do not always need someone else to help you “de-stress”.

  • Loretta Boyer September 14, 2015, 11:20 am

    I love to relax! Since my husband has retired and I am a stay at home mom, things have been great. We are able to relax and now worry about a single thing in life.

  • Jamie Hardman September 11, 2015, 5:58 pm

    You know what? I DO feel much better and less stressed out when I laugh more, that is a good point!

  • Margaret Steiger September 11, 2015, 4:22 pm

    I wish getting rid of stress was this easy. I have 4 kids and that is all the stress I can handle by the end of the day.

    • Tammy Fox September 11, 2015, 6:10 pm

      That IS a lot of stress usually. I would ask my husband for help so you could get away for a day every once in a while.

  • James Gorman September 11, 2015, 11:14 am

    Other than doing yoga a couple of times per week, I have been practicing the art of breathing as I sit in silence. It has seemingly reduced my stress over the last few months.

    • Pearl Erickson September 17, 2015, 10:00 pm

      Yoga does a great job of reducing stress! Nice job on that suggestion!

  • Patricia Hill September 9, 2015, 12:43 pm

    Relaxing is a lost art. So many people forget to leave time for it and then they are more stressed than they should be.

    • Lorraine Buffington September 16, 2015, 12:26 pm

      A “lost art”. You hit it right on the head there! Relaxing used to be easy and not just reserved for vacations.

  • Mary Jordan September 9, 2015, 12:34 pm

    I love to get a massage, but it does not happen that much because my b/f says it hurts his hands. That sucks!

  • Jennie Rutherford September 8, 2015, 8:28 am

    I have a scheduled massage each month and I feel that does the trick on my stress.

    • Monica Kaul September 14, 2015, 11:31 am

      I wish I could find a massage therapist that I am comfortable with. I would certainly schedule one each month.

  • Oscar Ulloa September 8, 2015, 8:14 am

    I have been giving messages to my clients for many years now. It is amazing how much less stress you feel when your muscles are worked into a soft putty.

  • Keshia Mitchell September 7, 2015, 9:27 am

    Great tips! ALL of these work very well and when they are done consistently they are very effective in the long run as well.

  • Wendy Hilger September 7, 2015, 9:01 am

    I like using a foam roller on my muscles. Especially on my legs after a long day of walking around at my job!

  • Karen Phillips September 4, 2015, 8:49 am

    Relaxing can be a hard thing to accomplish these days. People are moving so fast and adding more stress to their lives because of it. You have some very good tips here. For me, it is all about a vacation with a Jacuzzi tub and golf course!

  • Jennifer Belton September 4, 2015, 8:36 am

    Breaking a stressful day can be different for each person. For me, I crank the music to 11 and sit in the dark. Is that weird?

  • Deborah Ferguson September 3, 2015, 8:54 am

    I love to relax. At least a couple of times per week I get a chance to have the house to myself and then it is time for a nap around noon time. When I wake up and I so refreshed and ready for whatever.

  • Harriett Carlson September 3, 2015, 8:43 am

    Music usually relaxes me. I listen to it on the way to and from work and it seems to throw me into a better mood.

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