There are many tips to relieve stress and not every tip will work for every person. Most people need to do some experimentation to find out what is most effective personally. However, having a list of things to choose from at least provides some options and a place to start.
Many people are stressed because their lives are overscheduled, and it’s a good idea to evaluate this piece to see if it may be part of the problem. Questions to ask could be if and how much free time is available to a person on a regular basis. If the answer is there is no or very little free time, look at a schedule and try to find a way to eliminate something that is being done each week to relieve stress.
Consider cutting back on overtime hours if possible, dropping a volunteer job, limiting children’s extracurricular activities, or something along these lines. If it’s impossible to eliminate something, the other thing people might consider is asking for help. Could another parent drop off and pick up kids at an extracurricular activity, or might it possible for a friend or family member to aid in the care of ailing parent, for instance?
When overscheduling isn’t the issue, there still exist many things to do to relieve stress. One method often advocated is getting exercise, which could be meditative, like yoga or tai chi, or strenuous such as quick walking, jogging, or swimming. Virtually any type of exercise when regularly practiced is shown to relieve stress because it helps to produce neurotransmitters that increase mood stability. For people with time available, having a cardiovascular form of exercise and a meditative form can provide dual benefits. Meditation alone, or things like prayer are known stress relievers for those with only a few minutes a day to devote to stress relief.
Often times stress is relieved when people play or pursue their hobbies. Unfortunately, adults may think that play ended with childhood and may just not view recreation as important. Actually, it can be very important and having something in life that is enjoyable to do may provide needed stress relief. Play can be defined as a hobby or activity that derives pleasure and there are many of these. People should be encouraged to find something they love to do in order to add pleasure to their lives.
Some people find that they relieve stress by writing or talking about it. Writing is solitary though, and quite a few people can find the writing process more stressful than helpful. Talking to a supportive friend may be a good substitute, and if stress is very high, having a counselor or therapist to discuss things with may ideal. Biochemical and/or previous experiences in life may create inordinate and disproportionate levels of stress in some individuals, and treatment with a counselor and possibly a psychiatrist to prescribe anxiety medications may be needed in certain circumstances.
