15 Easy Ways to Cope With Stress in Less Than 15 Minutes
Are you feeling stressed or mentally exhausted lately?
Do you have a lot of things on your mind that triggers your anxiety or sleepless nights?
You’re not the only one who might have a rough time these days because everyone has problems to deal with. And we also have different ways of overcoming them.
But if you’re looking for quick and easy ways to cope with stress, here are 15 ways to do it and each one takes less than 15 minutes!
1. Chew gum
Do you have that one friend or person in your life who chews gum every day? And although some find it irritating, chewing gum actually lessens stress. Because doing so relaxes your nerves since your mouth and jaw are exercising. It distracts you from the negative thoughts, too.
So if you’re feeling stressed right now, try chewing some fruity or minty gum.
2. Inhale essential oils
Inhaling essential oils can help relax your mind. You can invest in air diffuser or humidifier so you can drop your favorite stress-reducing oils like: lavender, eucalyptus, chamomile, rose, lemon, peppermint, and jasmine.
3. Connect with your breath
You may wonder, is there any other way to breathe than how you normally do? Well, yes. Even though your body naturally breathes on its own without you commanding it, in terms of stress, there’s a proper way to do it to release the tension in your mind and body. And here’s how to do it:
- Sit or lie down. Make sure your body is in a relaxed position.
- Clear your mind.
- Inhale for 4 seconds.
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
- Then release with a whooshing sound for 8 seconds.
- Repeat as needed until you feel better.
4. Drink your tea
Teas are not just good for your digestive system, but they also calm and refresh your mind. Mint, lavender, peppermint, matcha, and rose tea are five of the best teas for stress relief. You can serve it either hot or cold.
5. Do a 10-minute yoga or meditation
Make yoga a habit. Do it not only in times of stress but also in times of normal days. Because if your body adapts to it, stress won’t easily conquer your thoughts.
- SarahBethYoga has a YouTube Video on where she teaches a 10-Minute Morning Yoga for Beginners
- And Goodful channel will show you a 5-Minute Meditation You Can Do Anywhere
6. Take a quick hot bath and play a calming music
Having a lot of things to do can sometimes cause stress. If you find yourself too overwhelmed with your tasks and responsibilities, rest first, then take a quick hot bath. You can play your favorite song to uplift your spirit, or a calming music to relax your mind.
7. Reach out to someone
One healthy way to release the heavy feeling inside of you is to reach out to someone. Talk to someone you trust so you can pour your heart out.
Stress can sometimes cause you to overlook better solutions if you have a preoccupied mind. A certain person can give you helpful advice for mental clarity.
8. Eat dark chocolate
Sweet foods can help ease stress since you’re eating something satisfying, and they can also boost your energy & mood. But let’s do it the healthy way by eating dark chocolate.
Dark chocolates are very nutritious and known to have loads of antioxidants. They can also help lower your blood pressure and boost your focus.
9. Play with your pet
Pet lovers already know this: if you’re stressed, cuddle with your furry buddy.
Playing with animals can decrease your cortisol (stress-related hormone) levels, therefore boosting your energy, mood, and social happiness.
If you’re having anxiety and stress lately, increase your playfulness by interacting with your pet.
10. Buy a stress ball or toy
There are plenty of cute and cool stuff you can use to lessen your stress. A stress ball or fidget toy are great examples.
These things can help improve emotional stability. They serve as sensory inputs to improve your concentration, and assist the brain to filter out extra sensory information, which is good for diverting stress.
11. Visualize your goal
Sometimes you’re not really stressed, you’re just uninspired. That’s why you’re having negative thoughts.
Always visualize your goal and know your deepest why’s. This way, you can get the motivation that even stress can’t easily ruin your day.
12. Massage yourself
You don’t always need a professional for a quick comfort. If you’re feeling stressed, try massaging your temples, scalp, and hands. This will just take 5 to 10 minutes.
If body aches accompany your stress, try massaging your shoulders, then your neck, and up to your skull. Use your fingertips to make gentle, circular motions on these areas.
13. Invest in massagers or rollers
Aside from massaging yourself, you can also buy massage slippers to help relax your nerves and improve your blood circulation. Foam rollers can also help you relax and relieve muscle tightness.
Once you’ve tried them, the comfort and relaxation will surprise you.
14. Munch a healthy snack
Like chewing gum, munching snacks can exercise your jaw and distract you from overthinking, which can increase your negative emotions.
Opt for a crispy yet healthy snack like apples, carrots, nuts, rice crisps, or dried fruits.
15. Go outside for some sunshine
Spending too much time indoors can cause stress too, which can lead to either unwanted weight gain or a drop in weight due to lack of physical activity.
Go outside for some sunshine and relaxation. Sunlight is a powerful source of vitamin D too, which is good for your skin and overall health. Just don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
But if you’re working the night shift, find a good place in your home where you can look at the stars. The goal is to find an area where you can just think of nothing and appreciate the view.
The aforementioned 15 tips will help relieve your stress so you can go back to your activities with more focus, positivity, and a better mood.
But if you want longer lasting effects, here are 7 more habits of people who are seldom stressed:
- Expecting the best but being ready for the worst - a good balance of good and bad by staying positive, yet never expecting too much to avoid frustration
- Expressing gratitude - counting the blessings rather than shortcomings
- Taking breaks in between work - to avoid burnout and emotional exhaustion
- Practicing self-discipline - like limiting alcohol, establishing a healthy diet, and preventing emotional eating
- Sleeping enough - giving your body more time to sleep and relax for complete rejuvenation and cell restoration
- Exercising and engaging more in physical activities - to prevent sedentary lifestyle
- Smiling more - to attract positive thoughts, vibes, and energy
Nothing in this world is permanent, even stress. So just smile, take it easy, because you’re stronger than you think you are.
Related Blogs: