Looking for a list of realistic ways to reduce stress naturally? Tired of seeing post after post that pushes the same old things that you have tried a million times? Here are 9 of the most realistic ways that you can reduce stress naturally – and they will change your life!
In today’s world, stress is inevitable, and it can be hard to figure out what to do to lower and manage stress. When you do a Google search, you see articles about changing your diet and exercising regularly, which is great advice – but for a lot of people, it can be difficult to implement, especially when they are already super stressed!
You are going to learn about a few realistic ways to reduce stress naturally, boost your mood, and transform your life while still enjoying your favorite snacks.
By learning about these techniques, you will be completely confident and prepared the next time you start to feel overwhelmed.
This post is all about ways to reduce stress naturally so you can take back control of your life.
Realistic Ways to Reduce Stress Naturally
When you are stressed, your body and mind are flooded with chemicals and hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. When faced with long-term chronic illness, you can potentially see negative side effects like hypertension (high blood pressure), a suppressed immune system, allergic responses, weight gain, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), to name a few.
It is important to know how to handle and combat stress in this modern world. Here are a few ways I have found to work for me.
1. Clean Up & Get Organized
Hear me out on this one… If there is one thing that I can guarantee, it’s that if your space is cluttered, so is your mind.
I get it. When you are stressed, the last thing that you want to do is clean the bathroom or wash the dishes. Now, I am not saying that you should clean your whole house (unless that is your jam), what I am suggesting is to find one area in your home and start with that. We are working on your stress levels, so don’t look at the mess and think you have to tackle the whole thing in one go. That will just cause you more stress.
Cleaning one thing, one room, one space in your home will help you breathe a little bit easier. Whatever you do, take it slow, start small, and finish what you start. Maybe you clean for 5-10 minutes. Maybe you finish one task. Remember that someone creating cleaning content is getting paid to clean their house and record it. They aren’t better than you.
With cleaning comes organizing. It can be easy to tidy things up by putting the clutter out of sight. Whatever you do, don’t do this. The effects of the clean will only ever be temporary, and the clutter will eventually rear its ugly head again sometime soon. Once that happens, the stress cycle will resume.
2. Declutter/Downsize
I will be the first person to admit that I hold onto things for WAY too long “just in case” or telling myself that I might use it “someday”. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Knight and Day starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Roy (Cruise’s character) says, “Someday. That’s a dangerous word. It’s really just code for ‘never.'”
I have taken this to heart for many reasons. It helps with goal setting, trip planning, etc, but it has also been a great help with deciding when to get rid of things. If I am keeping something because someday I might use/need it, it is time to let it go.
I know that I’m not the only person who feels a weight lifted off their shoulders when they get rid of a trash bag or boxes full of things they don’t use or need anymore. The gained space in my drawers, cabinets, and on surfaces is like taking a Swiffer duster to the inside of my brain! When my space isn’t cluttered and is clean and organized, I can physically tell a difference in my stress levels. I unclench my jaw; I can breathe a little easier, and all around, I can relax better. It is such a relief.
3. New Room New Me
Do you remember how, when we were little kids, we would constantly rearrange our rooms? It seemed like any time we got bored or stressed out, we looked at our space and determined that it would be much cooler if we feng shui’d the hell out of it. I like to learn things from my younger self, and I completely agree and stand behind this technique.
Sometimes a space feels stagnant, and no matter how much you clean it, your brain is over it!! Move some things around! If you are like 12-year-old me, pull out a notebook and sketch it out first, give yourself some options. I promise it will raise that mood.
This will help you reduce stress by exerting that energy while moving furniture, improving your mood by giving you a feeling of calm and relaxation, as well as giving you a sense of control and a boost of creativity! All of these just by scooting some furniture around and making the room feel new.
4. Unplug From Social Media and Plug into Relaxing Hobbies
If you are like me, I am in my granny era, and I have been knitting like crazy lately! I learned how to knit last year by watching a YouTube video, and while I can’t make anything other than a scarf, I find it very relaxing. When I am stressed, I curl up on the couch with my knitting needles and start on someone’s Christmas present.
This can be anything! For my boyfriend, it’s video games. My best friend loves listening to music and watching movies. For you, it might be gardening, painting, or hiking. Whatever brings you a sense of peace, do that.
5. Listen to Music with No Lyrics
This might be a weird one for you. I have found that when I am overstimulated and stressed, I feel better when I listen to classical music. Weird, I know, but effective. When I don’t have to understand lyrics, I get to just relax and listen to the instruments.
Now you don’t have to listen to Yo-Yo Ma. You can listen to the instrumentals of your favorite songs! Composers like Samuel Kim have created entire epic works from some of the biggest franchised movies, and they are amazing! Or you can use a cheat code and look up the karaoke versions.
Another idea is to listen to soundtracks from movies or even video games you love! When I need to focus, I like to turn on Swan Lake’s (ballet) score or the Assassin’s Creed III soundtrack.
Some of my favorite composers are Yiruma, Lorne Balfe, Bear McCreary, Alan Menken, Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino, and Samuel Kim.
6. Create a Relaxing Routine
I am going to make this very simple. Find something you like to do and make it a point to do it every day or every week. It doesn’t need to be complicated or even have more than one step. You come home, you do the thing.
For me, I get ready for bed by washing my face, brushing my teeth, getting into jammies, and then I read. I don’t have to read more than one paragraph if I’m not feeling it, but I sit in bed and pick up the book. It gives me routine and relaxation right before I sleep, which helps my quality of sleep.
Don’t overcomplicate it. While you are winding down, pull out your crochet hook or your pencil and drawing pad. Use a cool coloring book! Read a magazine. Whatever it is, it is up to you, just make a point to do it often, and you will surely see results.
7. Two Words. Brain. Dump.
One of my surefire ways to relax is by emptying my brain. You can do this whatever way pleases you, but I use old “scratch” paper or a notepad. I write everything down that comes to mind. This can range from a list of to-dos to a whole scene that played out in a daydream. It could be something I thought or heard. The point is, it is just taking up space in your head. Get it out of there so you can focus and stop worrying about whatever is in your head!
I have a pile – and I mean PILE – of pieces of paper that I have collected over the years. The past 10 years, to be exact. It ranges from plans for my future to drawings of my dream house to doodles! They are fun to look back on, and I am currently in the process of digitizing them so I can keep the good ideas and toss the rest. Trust me, you will feel amazing once it is all out on paper.
8. Goal Setting and Pinterest Planning
Does anyone else love Pinterest? Anytime that I set up a plan, it can be financial, a trip, a wedding, anything, I make a board. When you set goals, you are giving yourself something to work towards, and it helps you keep focus on what you want. I find it helpful to set realistic goals every year and to update them throughout the year. When I do this, it helps me not worry so much about my future, and I have much less to stress about. This is even a great way how to deal with stress and anxiety at school!
In my house, no goal-setting session is complete without an inspirational vision board. I perform better with a visual representation of what it is I am reaching for. Whether this is a photo collage or a board dedicated to it in my Pinterest app, I love visualizing my future life. It makes it less daunting and scary!
9. Take a Nap.
Wait… What?
Sleeping is one of the BEST ways to lower stress. It gives your brain and body a chance to rest and recover from the constant demands of your life. Sleep helps balance your emotions, lowers cortisol, restores energy, and even reduces inflammation. The key is GOOD QUALITY sleep. When you get good quality sleep, your body begins to build resiliency to stress, making it easier for you to handle the day-to-day stressors in your life. Now, it takes time for this to occur, and everyone is different, however, most people start noticing a difference in as little as a few weeks!
That is it! These 9 types of relaxation techniques are simple, easy ways how can manage stress naturally. I hope that this post has helped you learn a few coping skills for stress and anxiety, and you feel more prepared as you move forward in your life!