How to be Stress-Free With These 7 Amazing Tips!

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Anxiety and stress can be huge buzz kills! You could be the most optimistic person ready to take on the world but once anxiety comes knocking all of that goes flying out the window.

While dealing with my own stress, I know that it can feel crippling. Sometimes it’s like the world is crumbling down around you and you’re just standing in the middle watching it happen. 

Stress and anxiety makes you feel downright hopeless…but you don’t have to STAY hopeless!

No one is expecting perfection (except you mostly) so remind yourself that you’re only human!! Everything will get done but we can only do so much in a day. Sometimes we get overwhelmed (it’s natural especially trying to juggle work/home/school/love) so a break’s needed every now and then…and that is OKAY! 

It’s never shameful to take a step back for a moment to get back to being the boss a** b**** that you are (pat yourself on the back, sis!).

Try out some of these de-stressing techniques that I use because although us women love to try to do it all (and we know we can, honey), even Wonder Woman needs a break:

1. Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing exercises help lower your heart rate and also aids in centering your mind. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just take a minute or 2 to close your eyes and BREATHE! 

Breathing comes naturally but focusing on your breathing has a deeply calming effect. It gives you that mental break to clear your mind, de-stress, and refresh to tackle the rest of your day!

For deep breathing, start with closing your eyes then slowly breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. As I breathe, I think of a positive word to focus on so my thoughts don’t wander to what is stressing me out (this really works!). Keep bringing your thoughts back to that one word and just breathe for a couple of minutes. When you open your eyes you should feel calmer and ultimately less stressed!

2. Think Positive

It’s easy to let your mind drift to negative thoughts when your brain’s on high alert and you feel like you’re losing it! So, what should you do about that? Well, you have to re-wire your brain, girlfriend!

You have to stop your negative thoughts and immediately think of a positive resolution. Instead of saying, “It’s impossible to accomplish any of this today”, tell yourself, “I can accomplish everything I want to if I take my time and do them one by one.” 

Focus on the positives of your situation and how you can resolve your issues rather than demotivating yourself and curling into a ball.

Check out these posts of some uplifting positive affirmations and how to be more positive. Positive thinking is super effective and more powerful than you may realize (negative thoughts can be powerful too, but in a bad way sis so choose wisely)!

3. Journal Your Feelings in the Moment

I have experienced seeing a therapist in the past and one of the many things I’ve learned through therapy is that journaling is so freeing! Sometimes it can even be more therapeutic than talking to someone! 

Just sitting there, expressing how you feel completely, with no hesitation, no judgment, no interruptions, and no misunderstandings. Just you, the pen, and the paper. And that may honestly be all you need to feel like that heavy weight is finally off of your shoulders.

Write down exactly how you’re feeling in that moment and don’t hold back! Be honest with yourself, leave it all on the table, and then let it go.

4. Get Moving

It doesn’t matter what you do but getting your body moving is the perfect distraction and stress reliever. Good exercise also decreases cortisol levels, aka the hormone released during stress, and in turn releases those “feel good” endorphins that you make you feel happy as f***! 

Walk, jog, dance, swim, hit a punching bag, jump rope, ride a bike…the list goes on and on! There’s something out there for everyone so find the activity for you and start relieving that built up stress. 

5. Coloring is Not Just for Kids

Hey, if you don’t like writing, maybe coloring will have more therapeutic effects for you! 

As a preschooler or even a second grader, coloring would have me centered and focused on coloring within the lines and ultimately creating my own unique masterpiece. And it’s the same in adulthood (ain’t no shame in my coloring game).

Kick it old school and start coloring like the little kid inside you so desperately wants to! It’s super relaxing and there’s tons of different coloring books for adults too, so explore and go back to being that little artist you were destined to be. 

6. Wind Down With Calming Scents & Sounds

Having certain scents and sounds in your environment can be relaxing to the body as well as help calm your mind (time to get your aromatherapy on, girl!). Some scents are naturally soothing to the senses including lavender, chamomile, and frankincense.

Also, playing nature sounds, calming music, or uplifting/happy songs can do WONDERS for your mood as well! I like to listen to clips of the sound of rain or waves crashing while doing my deep breathing exercises and after, I feel like a whole new person! It’s literally like meditating on a beach somewhere (minus the sand and…the beach lol).

7. Accept the Things You Cannot Control

Like I said in the beginning, you are only human. There is only so much you can do and no matter what, things will get done. They may not get done in the time that you want them to but they will get done! 

You have to be willing to accept that yes, you can work harder but you’re also not a perfect human being. Some things will be out of your control and you have to accept it and let it go. 

Have faith in knowing that what’s meant for you will ALWAYS be for you so don’t go off working to the bone and killing yourself to get it, sis!

How do you relieve stress when you’re feeling overwhelmed? Let me know in the comments!