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13 Top Ways to Reduce Stress

By Operation-Meditation

Stress is all around us. It’s at the grocery store, it’s at work, and it’s even at the park. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you encounter stress. Bills don’t stop coming, and responsibilities never leave you. While you may feel overwhelmed from stress, there are a few simple ways you can reduce the stress in your life. Find out about our 13 top ways to reduce stress.

1. Guided Imagery

Pretend you are on a tropical island. There’s hula music playing, and you smell the sweet scent of lilac. Imagine yourself healthy and relaxed, far away from your current location. Practicing guided imagery is one of the best stress relievers around.

2. Breathing Exercises

Simple deep breathing relaxes the body and relieves stress. By increasing the oxygenation of the blood, deep breathing exercises relax the muscles and quiet the mind. You can do this relaxation method anywhere and anytime.

3. Meditation

Building on deep breathing, take it a step further and try meditation. Find a quiet place, put on some soft music, light a few candles, and meditate. Certain chemicals and hormones are released into the body during meditation, and these substances put you in a more relaxed state of well-being. Meditation is one of the top ways to reduce stress, according to holistic practitioners.

4. Sex

Sex is an excellent tension reliever. The physical benefits of sex allow for a great workout and a more relaxed state of being. Instead of avoiding sex when you are under stress, engage in this fun stress relieving method.

5. Exercise

Get up and get moving. The more you exercise, the better you feel. Researchers believe that exercise boost endorphins, those feel-good chemicals we all love. One of the top ways to reduce stress is exercise.

6. Progressive Muscle Relaxation

This requires you to tense and then relax all of the muscle groups in your body. By focusing on a particular body section, you relieve tension and feel more relaxed. Start with the muscles of the toes and work your way upward to the face. Just tighten a given muscle group for a few seconds and then release.

7. Stress Journal

Start a stress journal, documenting the regular stressors in your life and how you dealt with them. You will find that you can identify the exact thing that brought on your stress and the best way to handle it.

8. Say “NO”

Sometimes the only answer is “no”. Don’t take on added responsibilities when your plate is already full. Learn how to politely turn down others and relieve yourself of the unnecessary stress.

9. Adjust your “To Do” List

Closely evaluate your responsibilities and daily tasks. Prioritize these tasks according to importance. Get one job done at a time, focusing on eliminating the list. You will find that by getting things done, you have less worry and stress.

10. Avoidance of Triggers

Certain people, places, and things cause you stress. If it’s the supermarket on a Saturday afternoon, go early in the morning or late of the evening. If you find that a coworker causes you anxiety, don’t go to lunch with her. By avoiding stress triggers, you can cut a lot of unneeded stress from your life.

11. Change how you Communicate

When talking with others, avoid “hot-button” topics. These are things that cause heated arguments, like religion and politics. Instead, keep the conversation light or focused. Also, be willing to share your feelings with your significant other or family. Don’t keep things bottled up. Open communication is a terrific stress relief outlet.

12. Time Management

Part of stress management is time management. If you run out of time or become stretched too thin, you get stressed. Keep a check on your time and don’t procrastinate.

13. Clear the Clutter

A dirty, cluttered house causes anxiety and unnecessary stress. Take control of your environment and get rid of unneeded, useless thing. Sometimes, less is more.

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