Have you ever had those nights where you lay in the bed staring at the ceiling and your mind is all over the place? I knew it was time for me to find ways to naturally reduce stress once I started feeling burnt out for days from lack of rest.
Half of the time, the things we stress about don’t end up happening, so why should we waste our time letting our thoughts take control?
It’s important to start practicing habits that will reduce stress and anxiety. Peace of mind should always be a priority!
In this post, I’m sharing 7 effective ways to naturally reduce stress. If you want to continue to evolve into the best version of yourself, you can’t allow stress or negative thinking to control your life.
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Ways to Naturally Reduce Stress
Avoid Procrastination
Procrastination is a struggle and can make your stress and anxiety worse.
If you have certain priorities that need to get done, do them as soon as possible. One thing that can help is making a to-do list.
Writing down your tasks each day can help you stay on track. If you aren’t able to complete all of them, then it’s okay to finish the next day.
Set realistic goals and deadlines. I know it’s easier said than done, but I promise you’ll feel relieved when you’re caught up on work. Then you’ll have plenty of time to relax!
Practice Meditation
Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and tranquility. During this process, you put all of your thoughts in your mind to a stop.
There are apps you can download to help you with meditation such as Headspace and Calm. They also have guided videos on YouTube that you can follow along with.
Here are a few steps to get started:
- Find a comfortable position
- Close your eyes and relax your muscles
- Put your thoughts aside and find calmness
- Focus on deep breathing
Adding this activity to your wellness routine can improve your physical and emotional well-being.
Write Down Your Emotions
Writing down your emotions, especially when you’re stressed, will take a weight off your shoulders.
I always feel better once I write in The Five Minute Journal. It helps me to focus on the positive and also reminds me of the things I’m grateful for.
Releasing any thoughts that are weighing heavy on you is important, and your journal is a safe space to do that.
Whether you’re venting, setting goals, or repeating positive affirmations, the benefits of writing in a journal are proven to relieve stress and anxiety.
Related Post: 5 Powerful Benefits of Writing in a Journal
Take Regular Breaks
It’s important to listen to your body and rest when it’s needed. How can you show up as your best self if you’re not taking care of your mental and physical health?
Burnout is real, and if you don’t listen to your body when it tells you to slow down, it’ll force you to.
Your overall health is important. Don’t feel selfish when you’re not in the mood to work or talk to people. Focus on practicing self-care and you’ll feel refreshed after you pour into yourself.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a healing treatment that can be used for the following:
- Relieve stress, anxiety, + depression
- Promote relaxation
- Improve sleep
- Calms your senses
Different scents can affect how you feel. One of my favorites is Lavender because it’s soothing and helps me when I’m feeling tense.
Here are some aromatherapy products I recommend:
These are from my favorite wellness brand, Asutra. They have an amazing collection of wellness products for your self-care routine!
Related Post: 10 Meaningful Gifts for People With Anxiety
Repeat Positive Affirmations
What we say to ourselves can have a positive or negative impact on our mental health. One thing that has been helpful for me is affirmations.
Whether you need motivation, reassurance, or a boost of confidence, there’s a powerful statement out there for you to repeat and start believing.
The more I say affirmations, the better I feel. When you’re consistently pouring positivity into your life, it’s hard to stay in a negative headspace!
Change of Scenery
Changing your scenery can give you the boost of energy you need.
If you spend a lot of time in the house, make plans to get out a few times per week. Going out and being around the good company can improve your mental health.
Do you work from home? If so, take your workspace to a new area! The beauty of remote jobs is you can work anywhere, so why not go to a place where you can feel relaxed?
Some people may choose a different area in the house to work, visit a coffee shop, or sit in the park.
A small change in your environment can improve your mood.
Finding the best ways to naturally reduce stress will take time because you have to find what works best for you.
Start following these tips and take control of your mental health!
5 Comments
Thank you for sharing those wonderful tips Madisen. There are days when I feel overwhelmed with everything from business to my home life. I too, would make up these worse case scenarios in my head and later find out that any of those things that I played out didn’t happened and or won’t happen. I haven’t wrote in a long time but I think it’s time and especially in my gratitude journal. I love the smell of incense so I burn those all day long and drinking tea all day seems to smooth me.
You’re welcome sis, thank you for reading! My therapist had to point out to me how we put ourselves through situations that will never happen – and I’ve never thought about it like that. I always remember that when I find myself overthinking. And what if that situation does happen? That means we go through it TWICE! I’ve started a gratitude journal and it’s one of the best things I’ve done. Sometimes, we can forget about the blessings we already have around us when we go through challenges. Writing those down is a reminder that we’re good.
Peace Everyone!! Aisha you just reminded me to light my incense, thank you! 🙂
These are all such great tips Maddy . I love aromatherapy and I’m already doing almost all of these. Such great info boo
Thank you so much boo for reading and commenting. Aromatherapy is so relaxing and soothing for me, I’m glad I started using it in my routine.