Seven Ways I Combat Stress

            I am so susceptible to stress. Even when there is nothing going on in my life that I should be stressed about, I find myself worrying and stressed over some hypothetical situation. This is not healthy at all. Stress is so common and has so many negative affects on your body including hormonal imbalances, overeating/undereating, tiredness and difficulty sleeping, skin problems, anger, unhappiness, lack of focus, forgetfulness, and many more. For the past few weeks I have been trying to reduce my stress and have found a few things that have helped me relax the most. There are so many ways to combat stress, and the effectiveness of each strategy will vary person to person, but I thought for today’s post I would share some ways I have reduced my stress levels in hopes that it could help some of you who struggle with stress. *Always remember that if your stress or anxiety begins to be too much for you to handle and you aren’t able to combat them on your own, it is okay to seek help either from a loved one or a professional. *

One /// Doing Yoga

            Doing yoga is one of the main ways I like to reduce my stress and relax. During a yoga practice you are essentially meditating. You are slowing everything down and only focusing on your breath and flowing through the movements. Because you are focusing on your breath, yoga is a great way to get good, deep breaths that you miss out on when you’re stressed. Yoga connects the mind and the body which is a great way to create a sense of harmony and ease. Poses that stretch and release areas of our body that tend to store the most stress, like our shoulders and hips, are also very good at releasing stress because stretching is the opposite of tension, and tension happens in our muscles when we are stressed.

Two /// Drinking Hot Tea

            Not only does hot tea taste good, it also has many calming properties to it. The main one is an amino acid called theanine. Theanine has been found to reduce stress, and when it is combined with caffeine (like it is in some teas) it has been found to boost brain activity and mood. Hot tea is one of the only things that has theanine in it, so it is the easiest way to get the stress-releasing amino acid in our systems. The hot temperature and the fact that tea is also filled with many antioxidants also help make us feel better and reduce stress.

Three /// Exercising Regularly

            Exercise releases endorphins, “feel-good” neurotransmitters in our brains, that make us happier and can reduce our stress levels. It can also be like meditation. After exercising for a while, you will find that you have forgotten about your worries and have only been thinking about the activity you are doing. Finally, it can increase your mood, self-confidence, and can lower symptoms related to depression and anxiety.

Four /// Reading

            Reading is something that I love to do, and therefore it reduces my stress. I also love that reading takes me to a whole new place and lets me forget about what is going on in my life for a little bit. Reading self-help/ self-improvement books can also give you really good ways to make yourself happier and give you ways to improve your mental and physical health.

Five /// Spending Time with God

            I can definitely tell when I haven’t been spending time in prayer or reading the Bible. I become so much more irritable and anxious. Reading Scripture gives me a sense of calmness and can release a lot of the stress I have about my future and/or current situations by reminding me that God cares for me and has my best interests in mind.

Six /// Being Outside

            Being outside, whether I’m just sitting or doing some kind of activity like hiking or taking a walk, makes me happier. Listening to the sounds of nature and feeling the warm sun on my skin can really reduce my stress and help to make me more relaxed. I can definitely tell a difference in my mood during the winter when it’s cold and gray, compared to the summer when it’s warm and everything is green and bright.

Seven /// Spending Time with Friends and Family

            There’s nothing that makes me happier than laughing and having a good time with the people I love. It helps me forget about any worries I have which really helps to release my stress.


Eight /// A Hot Bath

              The heat of a hot bath can help to release tension in your muscles, and you can become even more relaxed and stress-free by adding epsom salts or essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus. 


Nine /// Reducing Caffeine Intake

              I used to only drink coffee a couple times a week, but once I went to college I started drinking a cup every day (sometimes even two 😑). Now that it's summer I've been trying to have no more than one cup a day, and even going a day or two without having any or swapping out my regular cup with a decaf. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it can worsen your anxiety and cause your stress to be worse. I've found that cutting back caffeine has really helped with releasing tension in my muscles.


Ten /// Improving Sleep

             Your body needs sleep for many things, one of those things being stress. A good night's sleep can aid in concentration, regulates mood, and makes you less emotionally sensitive. I know that I definitely become more sensitive and emotional when I'm tired. Things bother me that normally wouldn't when I'm exhausted and haven't been sleeping well.