6 Ways to Eliminate Stress

By: Gabriela Hirschler on March 29, 2016.

With so many daily responsibilities – stress is inevitable for most people. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t get stressed out easily, consider yourself lucky. Up to 90 percent of doctors visits in the United States are caused by stress-related illnesses. Many people find themselves lacking energy and unable to sleep well due to stress. This, in turn, can affect your relationships and your mental health in a negative way. So if you’ve been feeling especially stressed recently, take care of yourself and de-stress by following these ten tips to eliminate stress!

Tips to Help Eliminate Stress

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1. Reduce caffeine and sugar.

Though they may help give you a quick energy boost, caffeine and sugar have many other negative effects on your body and mind. Their temporary highs ultimately lead to a crash, which can affect your mood and cause anxiety. If you truly need coffee to wake you up in the morning, don’t cut it out altogether, just try to reduce the amount.

2. Get a good night’s sleep.

Enough sleep is essential to be refreshed and fully functional from the morning until the end of the day. It is recommended that we get at least eight hours of sleep per night to avoid irritability, inability to concentrate and to just recharge from the previous day. Establishing a bedtime routine will make it easier to unwind each night. Take a bath, make yourself a cup of tea, and read a book before going to sleep. Studies have shown that avoiding electronics before screens allow for better, deeper sleep. The bright screens of your phone, computer, and tv stimulate the photoreceptors in your brain, making it harder to fall asleep, so stop checking them at least 30 minutes before closing your eyes to sleep.

3. Exercise.

As the ever-wise Elle Woods in Legally Blonde says, “exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” Not only does it make you feel good, working out decreases stress hormones. Instead of stressing over your hectic schedule, head to the gym for a productive hour after which you will feel accomplished and less stressed out.

4. Say no sometimes.

You may want to say yes to every opportunity that is presented to you – or any favor someone asks you. But you need to take care of yourself before you take care of others. When asked, take a second to consider whether you have the time to do the given task. If you don’t, it’s okay to say you have other obligations or simply put: no thanks. By prioritizing what you want to do and not putting more on your plate than you can handle, you will find yourself much less stressed.

5. Get organized.

There’s nothing more stressful than knowing you have so many tasks to complete without knowing where to get started. First, take a deep breath and make a to-do list. Once you see everything written down, you will feel a little less overwhelmed. Then figure out the order that works best for you. You will realize that everything is do-able and can start to relax now that you have your priorities under control.

6. Breathe.

When we are stressed we tend to take rapid and shallow breaths. Deep, focused breathing can help you relax, reduce stress, and eliminate pain. Instead of running your mind at a hundred miles an hour, take a minute to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and concentrate on something other than your stress. You will find yourself more relaxed and ready to tackle anything.

Follow these tips and keep a positive attitude and you can overcome any stress that comes your way!