How to Reduce Stress

1. Meditate for 15 minutes

It may sound cliché, but it works. Meditation allows your mind to settle and your breath to fall into a steady rhythm. Allow your thoughts to filter unconsciously and focus on your breath. While there is a time to act, now is the time to rest. If you are stressed, please take care of yourself and slow down for an hour or two.

2. Go for a quick walk

Walking is the simplest activity you can do to lift your mood. Sometimes, I’ll stop to take a 15-minute walk if I notice that my eyes are glazing over while working. That’s why I recommend taking a break to reconnect with your body and breathe in fresh air.

3. Listen to a relaxing album, start to finish

Don’t skip around from song to song. That’s a recipe for more stress. Instead, take it slow, and savor a good album from start to finish. Carla Bruni always calms me down. I’m sure you have a go-to as well.

4. Call a friend for support

That’s why we have friends. Not only for the good times, but also for the difficult times. Are you going through something that you can’t tackle alone? Reach out to someone! More often than not, you will be surprised at how understanding and supportive your friends will be. If you’d prefer to talk with a therapist, consider checking out BetterHelp.

“There are times when we stop, we sit still. We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper.”

– James Carroll

5. Smile, then acknowledge one thing you’re grateful for

Sometimes, we don’t want to have to force a smile, but it often helps. Give it a shot and think hard about one thing you are truly grateful for in the present moment. Say thank you to the world for that one thing and proceed with your day.

6. Write down your thoughts in a journal

Venting on paper is a practice as old as time. Sometimes, our heads can’t sort out all the information we have. That’s why it’s helpful to see it on paper. A problem you may deem as “big” or “uncontrollable” may look a lot different when it’s visibly in front of you. Try it and see if it works for you.

7. Practice Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong

I’ve heard these exercises can do wonders for your mental health. It must be the combination of moving your body slowly while calming down your mind. If you decide to try one of the three, let me know how it goes! I used to practice yoga and enjoyed it.

8. Organize your life

Okay, when all else goes wrong, start organizing your life. This means sorting through your closet, cleaning up your room, donating old items, or tidying up your office space. Wherever you work, whatever you do, you need to have a clean space to feel free in that space.

9. Schedule an activity you love each Wednesday

Why Wednesday? Well, it’s the day we all enjoy the least. It’s in the smack-dab middle and way too far from Friday. That’s why it’s the perfect day to make it a great day. Schedule something special after school or work, whether that’s an art class, a beach walk, a hike with friends or family, a good meal at a local restaurant, or a self-care night.

10. Remind yourself of the bigger picture

Listen up! You are bigger than your problems. You are not the stress that’s defining you. Accept the stress for what it is and do what you can to honor your body, mind, and soul.

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

— Thích Nhất Hạnh

11. Turn off your phone for an hour

Hey, we all know it’s not good for us. Yes, it’s addictive, but your phone is also sending all sorts of signals to your brain. You can’t relax if you are still absorbing information. Put the devices down and read a book, even if it’s only for an hour.

12. When all else goes wrong, enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea

I hope you got that Uncle Iroh reference. No worries if not, I’ll manage to recover. All in all, I hope you enjoyed this short list of ideas to reduce your stress. Let’s go forward into this week with a positive mindset and an unstoppable commitment to self-care and self-love.