Healthy Ways To Relax and Reduce Your Stress

collaborative post | If you’re struggling with stress, you’re absolutely not alone. Stress and anxiety plague people around the world, and can have an unfortunate effect on your health, both mental and physical. Stress shows on your body. You will find it harder to be happy, and even your appearance will reflect how you feel.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

So, how can you beat the stress monster? 

Causes of Stress

The first step is to work out why you’re stressed. When you break it down, stress can come in two flavors.

You have internal stress and external stress.

External stress is stress caused by things in your life and environment. The good thing about external stress is that, sometimes, you can remove the cause of stress entirely. It’s not always easy or possible, but there are times when you can exert control over your stress and eliminate it.

Internal stress is more complicated. You can get professional help, especially if you have an anxiety disorder, but just “getting rid of the problem” isn’t really an option. It can take some big changes to sort out how you think and deal with different situations.

If you know your enemy, you can beat your enemy. So, figure out what is stressing you out, and you never know, you might find a solution. 

But even if you don’t find a way to get rid of the cause of stress, you can deal with it.

Sleep Properly

Sleep and stress go hand-in-hand. A good night’s sleep can make a seemingly big issue so much easier to deal with in the morning.

So, find ways to improve your sleep. Get to bed at a regular time and make sure you wind down before you sleep. Try to maintain a cool, dark bedroom as these are optimal sleeping conditions. If it helps, create a bedtime routine or ritual that will help you get in the right frame of mind.

Give Yourself Time

Sometimes all you need to do is to give yourself a few hours or even a whole day. Dedicate this time to relaxing, resting, or doing something you enjoy. 

Whether it’s curling up with a good book, playing video games, or going for a brisk walk on a cool day, carve out these little moments for yourself. While you’re at it, try to spend some time with people who relax you, like good friends and loved ones.

Exercise

Exercise might not seem like a good way to relax, but it can be an amazing way to relieve stress. 

Exercise is good for your body and mind. It can release endorphins and there’s nothing better than achieving a fitness goal or breaking a record. You don’t need to turn into a bodybuilder, but taking up exercise that you enjoy can and will help you.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements

Finally, you can go the herbal route. A doctor might prescribe medication for long-term stress, but some teas and supplements can also relieve stress. For example, CBD gummies are an easy, tasty, and effective way to relieve stress and help you relax, even for a few minutes.