Everyday we are faced with things that have the ability to cause stress, frustration or sadness in our lives. We also have an unlimited number of ways to make us feel happy and relaxed. This is a list of 30 things you can do to create instant relaxation, make you feel a bit happier and generally balance your life.
- Take a walk in nature and focus on the beauty around you
- Listen to some of your favorite music - it could be something calming like Enya, tunes that remind you of a favorite time/moment, or something to release pent up stress like AC/DC
- Meditate - if you don’t know how, one of the best books I’ve found to teach you the basics is How to Mediate by Kathleen McDonald
- Sweat it out with exercise - not only does it make you feel better, you are getting healthy at the same time
- Write in your journal and get it down on paper
- Lose yourself in a good book
- Do yoga, one of the most calming types of exercises available
- Help someone else - it puts things in perspective and makes you feel good at the same time
- Organize some aspect of your life - unclutter your desk, clean out a closet, pay off some bills, straighten up the house - an unorganized life can actually cause stress
- Watch some TV or go to a movie - sometimes it just helps to veg out
- Relax with a good glass of wine or cold beer
- Take a bath - light up some scented candles, turn down the lights and melt
- Have sex!
- Get a professional massage
- Call a favorite loved one or friend and connect with those who make you feel happy
- Play with a dog; they’re never in a bad mood
- Have a hot cup of tea
- Listen to a motivational tape related to the cause of your stress or unhappiness
- Look at pictures from a recent or past vacation
- Play with your kids, niece/nephew or friend’s children
- Unwind in a jacuzzi or sauna
- Cook a delicious meal or dessert
- Shop (within reason) - they don’t call it retail therapy for nothing!
- If you have the time, go away for the weekend
- Identify the cause of your stress or unhappiness, and make a list of possible solutions
- Take ten minutes to have a good cry, scream, hysterical laugh, and get it out of your system
- Pending weather, go watch a beautiful sunset or take a scenic drive
- Go to church or someplace that taps into your spiritual side
- Do a small act of kindness
- Paint or do something artistic - create something beautiful
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12 responses so far ↓
1 Jirel // Feb 18, 2008 at 4:39 am
I like the list though they are in short and some are really funny and after all they also help one to reduce stress, I agree.
One another point I remember to reduce stress( and balance life) is not to spend your time at home worrying about what you do at office and your time at office worrying about what you do at home.
2 Tina // Feb 18, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Great suggestion Jirel. Years ago I used to stress about work while I was at home. I eventually realized I was at the wrong job for me and I had wasted many, many hours worrying about things I couldn’t control.
3 amy // Dec 3, 2008 at 10:36 am
this was wounderful each point i almost use and are goin to 4 eva
4 coco // Jan 9, 2009 at 6:45 pm
drinking alcahol makes stress worse!
5 dsu tamo // May 14, 2010 at 9:57 am
they must be really effective, becouse just reading them gave me some relax.
6 G // May 29, 2011 at 12:37 am
28 should have been first! The power of faith is irreplaceable!!!!
7 Pigbitin Mad // Aug 1, 2011 at 8:33 pm
We shouldn’t do anything to reduce stress. We should be mad as hell. We should hijack planes and slam them into buildings in washington. This is BS.
8 Varun // Aug 23, 2011 at 7:40 am
I think the ideas are great. Sex definitely helps me combat stress…. Playing with a pet helps reduce stress levels considerably too!
9 missy // Dec 14, 2011 at 10:41 pm
My doctor told me I have to reduce stress ASAP bc it is killing me, but some of these I do already and it hasn’t helped…
10 Mikel Lito // Jan 11, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I think Tai Chi can be an excellent stress reviler. I was suffering from extreme back pain and repeated headaches possibly caused because of stress and Tai Chi definitely helped me relax. Another method that you can try is energy tapping which is to simply tap various parts of your body to release trapped energy. Good luck!
11 Tyson Otto // Jan 11, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I have been stressed ever since the start of high school , and I think that getting rid of the cause of the stress for a while and coming back to work is the best way to relive stress. Another way to relive stress is to caffeine-free tea and read or listen to a good book or song.
12 chia kia // Jan 19, 2012 at 4:28 pm
I’m soooo stressed out ,and I have no idea what to do , to help me relive my stress ,I really need help but I don’t know what to do ,it’s driving me crazy?? Help me please :’(
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