4 Stress Relief Tips That Are Easy to Implement

It’s hard to overstate just how big an issue stress can be. From increasing your risk of heart disease to impacting your sleep and even affecting your memory, the list of negative effects that stress can have on you is as long as it is scary. And while in an ideal world we’d all spend our days with our feet up on a beach enjoying a stress-free life, most people don’t get to live stress-free all their lives.

So the second-best option is making sure you have ways to relax and release stress, so you won’t be under its influence any longer than necessary.

With that in mind, here are some stress management and relief tips that are easy to implement. These will allow you to manage your stress levels without having to implement massive changes to your lifestyle.

1 – Protect your sleep

On top of being relaxing in general, a good night’s sleep can also help regulate your hormone levels, which can reduce the effects that stress has on your body. The issue is that when you need sleep the most is exactly when you are less likely to get it.

There are two issues here. First, you generally get more stressed when you’re busy, which means you might not be getting enough free time for a full night’s sleep. And second, one of the common symptoms of stress is trouble sleeping, which further impacts your chances of getting enough rest every night.

The solution is to treat sleep as the precious commodity it is, especially when you’re feeling stressed. Do your best to get as much shut-eye as possible, and if a full night’s sleep isn’t an option, try and get some quick naps during the day.

2 – Take relaxing substances

Everything from chocolate to bread has been known to help alleviate the symptoms of stress, so if you’re constantly worried, consider adding more of these and other calming substances to your routine. CBD concentrates and other hemp byproducts can also have a calming effect, and the same goes for chamomile extracts and lavender tea.

3 – Avoid stress boosters

Caffeine is a stimulant often used to boost productivity, but the substance can also boost stress and anxiety. So consider switching to decaf if you expect a rough day ahead of you.

Also, keep in mind that stress boosters don’t have to be chemical. Everything from social media drama to news channels can serve as unnecessary sources of additional stress on a bad day, so it’s wise to tune out of those if you can. Or at least make sure you’re shut off from these sources of additional stress around bedtime, so they won’t interfere with your sleep schedule.

4 – Meditation

Learning how to meditate can be tricky, so it’s a skill you’ll want to pick up when you aren’t under a lot of pressure. But if you can learn the trick to silencing your mind — even if it’s just for a couple of minutes — meditation can have a big impact on your stress levels, helping you calm down and focus your mind. It also has the advantage of being free and possible to do anywhere, which can be a great comfort whenever life starts feeling too overwhelming.