Tips

How to effectively de-stress and live better

Whether you're having trouble sleeping due to stress or just need some respite from the demands of everyday life, these tips will help refocus your energy on feeling calmer and more relaxed.

Advertisement

Learn how to relieve stress in your everyday life with these helpful tips

Learn how to relax! Source: Canva.

Is it feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Do long days make you anxious and sleepless nights take a toll on your body and mood? If so, then it’s time to prioritize taking care of yourself and effectively de-stress.

Stress is an unfortunate part of life but it doesn’t have to rule your existence. Fortunately, there are simple and functional methods that can help reduce feelings of anxiety and retrain the mind.

Everyone should have an arsenal of methods to reduce stress in their lives — be it relaxation techniques, lifestyle changes or life hacks – and today, we’re going to talk about ways you can combat stress with positive results.

So read on for some helpful tips on how to effectively de-stress and take back control over your own mental well-being.

The negative impacts stress has on your body and mind

Stress can be detrimental to our physical and mental well-being. Not only can it impair our daily functioning, but it can also worsen existing health conditions and even cause new ones to arise.

Our bodies activate a ripple of physiological changes when stressed, including increased levels of cortisol and adrenaline.

sleep mental health

Learn how sleep influences your mental health

Here is everything you need to know about the importance of a good night’s sleep for your mental health.

It can result in headaches, insomnia, poor concentration, decreased appetite, and many other unpleasant physical effects.

Stress can also have a detrimental effect on our emotional health, causing us to feel overwhelmed or anxious. Therefore, one of the most important things we can do for ourselves is effectively de-stress.

There are plenty of proactive methods available that can help reduce the harmful effects associated with high stress levels like exercise or meditation which can bring lasting benefits to both your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Ways you can effectively de-stress

Improve your life quality with these simple tips. Source: Canva.

We all experience stress in our day-to-day lives. It’s natural. But when stress begins to become overwhelming and negatively impacts your mental health, it’s important to be proactive about removing or reducing the source of that stress.

If you’re feeling especially overburdened and need some ways to effectively de-stress, this blog post is here to help!

Read on for some interesting tips and tactics you can use today for relieving tension so that you can feel more relaxed and enjoy life.

Be careful with negative thoughts and words

Our internal dialogue can be one of the most significant tools in reducing stress levels. Pay attention to the messages you’re telling yourself.

Replacing harsh, self-deprecating thoughts with positive affirmations can have a tremendous effect on your mood, concentration and emotions.

For instance, instead of wallowing in negative self-talk that deepens feelings of stress and anxiety, challenge yourself to think positively. Tell yourself it’s okay to take breaks or make mistakes – nobody is perfect!

When we choose to become aware of our own thought patterns, our experience of life can shift dramatically. And by learning how to effectively de-stress with positive self-talk, we can effectively manage stressors in our lives as well as treat ourselves with more kindness.

Create your own stress fitness

Feeling overloaded or on edge? Don’t worry, there’s a simple way to effectively de-stress and find balance: build your stress fitness!

By engaging in activities that work out the physical and mental mechanisms which impact stress levels you are really investing in your physical and psychological health. Every successful exercise program starts small.

If you’re just getting started with calming down, try straightforward stress-management tactics like deep breathing or yoga. Then build up to more advanced anti-stress measures such as guided meditation classes, or going for long walks. 

The key is to make time for yourself and find an activity that helps you relax and refocus. With regular practice, you’ll strengthen your ability to effectively de-stress!

Experiment with sensory stimulation

Listen to your favorite music and spend time in nature to de-stress. Source: Canva.

If you’re looking to effectively de-stress, there’s no better way than by engaging your senses. Sensory stimulation plays a critical role in managing stress, as often, our main sources of stress come from things we can observe and experience with our senses.

The feeling of walking barefoot on the grass or swimming amongst the waves of a beach can soothe away stress. Listening to particular songs with strong emotional ties or taking a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth can restore one’s peace of mind.

All these activities help distract us from our external stressors and allow us to center ourselves once again. When it comes to effectively de-stressing, sensory stimulation is key!

Simply get some well-deserved rest

When it comes to ways you can effectively de-stress, rest is your best friend. Taking the time to rest can significantly reduce the psychological and physical symptoms associated with stress.

Not only that, rest lets your mind take a break from the mental fatigue of everyday activities and allows you to reset your mind and body so you can feel energized to tackle whatever life throws at you.

Rest can come in many forms such as reading a book, journaling, listening to relaxing music, or just taking a quick nap or two.

So make sure you’re getting enough rest so that when life gets tough, you’ll be ready for it!

Practice gratitude

Living a life of constant stress can eventually take its toll and leave us feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and completely out-of-sorts.

Practicing gratitude in our everyday lives can effectively help us de-stress and destigmatize difficult emotions.

Being thankful for the good in life, however small that might be, can put some perspective on what’s important and act as an antidote to stress and negativity.

Take a few moments each day to really appreciate simple pleasures: be grateful for your family and loved ones; count your blessings. 

Thank those who have been ethical and kind to you; reflect on your accomplishments; recognize the little intricacies of the world around you.

All these things combined create a powerful shift in mindset that helps quell any feelings of anxiety or despair. Start now: let yourself become appreciative and see where it takes you.

The importance of self-worth and self-esteem

As we go through life, it’s easy to forget about one of the most fundamental aspects of our well being: self-worth and self-esteem. So often, we focus on achieving external validation by meeting others’ expectations that we end up neglecting this important factor in our lives.

But when it comes down to it, improvements in your personal feelings of self-worth and esteem can be integral for various facets like relationships, work performances, financial standing and overall mental health.

In the following link, we’ll explore why these are so important, and how you can actively begin building them up yourself!

self-worth self-esteem

The importance of self-worth and self-esteem

You may have heard the terms "self-worth" and "self-esteem" before, but what do they actually mean? And why are they so important? Read on to find out.

About the author  /  Aline Barbosa

Aline Barbosa is an editor, writer and learning-enthusiast. Passionate about music, books and human behavior. Curious about the unknown. Believer that learning is a life-long process.

Trending Topics

content

The Best Places To Live In North America

From sunny California to snowy Canada, explore the best places to live in North America. These cities offer activities for all lifestyles!

Keep Reading
content

An 85-year Harvard study found the No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life

Harvard researchers have spent the last 85 years studying what makes us happy, and they've come up with a pretty surprising answer.

Keep Reading
content

Habit trackers: The 5 tips from therapists to keep up with your goals

Learn how to use habit trackers with this guide from therapists. From understanding why they work to identifying the best app for you.

Keep Reading

You may also like

content

See how to apply for the Revvi Card

Learn how you can easily apply for the Revvi Card and earn cash back rewards while you work on improving your credit score!

Keep Reading
content

The Tribeca Film Festival is back and bigger than ever

The Tribeca Film Festival is back in all of its glory, and this year’s event is packed with a host of interesting and exciting movies.

Keep Reading
content

Vast Visa Signature® College Real Rewards Card review: Your Financial Ally!

Discover the Vast Visa Signature® College Real Rewards Card through our detailed review. Find out how it can improve your financial goals!

Keep Reading