Everyone gets stressed out. School is tough and sometimes you feel like you have way too much on your plate. Or maybe it is your boss at work that has been on your nerves and stresses you out. It is hard to stand back and completely relax. Here are some quick tips that relax you when you are stressed out.
1. Essential oils
You can buy a defuser and natural oils if you use lavender, the aroma calms your body, and it smells good! You can also buy lavender hand cream to relax while you aren’t around the defuser.
2. Bath
It only takes 30 minutes to feel refreshed by soaking in a great smelling bath bomb.
3. Stress Relief
They sell hand lotion and shower soap at Bath and Body Works. I have a mini bottle of lotion for my backpack for when I feel stressed out in class.
4. Work out
Just moving your body for 30 minutes is a good way to release stress.
5. Go outside and actually breathe the air
The clean air wakes you up and jump starts your system. The cold winter air will help you clear your mind.
6. Clean your room
Declutter. Even if it is just cleaning a drawer that has been a mess for years, put things where they belong and throw things out. If your pen drawer is filled with broken pens, throw them out.
7. Listen to music
Look for new music that gives your iTune’s library an update.
8. Watch something lighthearted
"Bob’s Burgers" is my designated anti-anxiety show. Find something that is strictly funny and nothing too dramatic or complicated.
9. Make to-do lists
Prioritize. When you are overwhelmed, it is easier to understand what exactly it is you have to do.
10. Yoga
You can take a class at a gym near you or you can look up YouTube videos.
11. Make healthy choices
If you eat right and drink enough water, you will fuel your body with what it needs to run efficiently.
12. Positive thinking
If you struggle with this, take 10 minutes out of your day to list a few good things that happened during your day.
13. Pamper yourself
You are the most important thing in your life so take care of yourself.
14. Keep your friends and family close to you
Never take your frustration out on the ones you love. Everyone gets frustrated, but it is never OK to displace your anger on the ones that care about you.
15. Pets
Even if it is just a fish, animals help with stress.
16. Cut off negative people
Never feel bad about cutting people out of your life if they don’t add anything to your wellbeing. At one point in your life they might have been a good friend but if they hold you back, leave them behind.
17. Don't internalize anything
Leave work at work. Limit yourself to how much you think about certain things that you can’t change.
18. Journal
Write down your thoughts. If you keep this up every day, you can look back on the good days you had in the past and feel better about the crappy days.
19. Have something to look forward to
Plan a trip away or just a night out so that you can remind yourself of it when you are struggling to not stress out. The breakaway is also great way to escape and relax.
20. Take breaks while you work
Make a deal with yourself that for every 30 minutes spent on hard work, you can spend 10 minutes just relaxing before studying for 30 more minutes. Also limit how much you spend doing homework. No one should spend their whole Friday night on homework. Spend three hours on it and then enjoy the beginning of your weekend.
21. Drink tea
Find a tea that you like and make it a part of your routine to drink tea because it is very soothing.
22. Vent
If something is bugging you and can’t get it off your back by telling someone about it. Call your mom up or talk to a close friend and just vent to them but then drop it there. Change your attitude after you talk about; don’t wallow in something that upsets you.
23. Relax before bed
If you are having trouble falling asleep, make a bedtime routine and calm yourself down before trying to fall asleep. Shut the TV off at least a half an hour before going to bed and try to read until you are sleepy.
24. It is OK to nap
You can use that hour break in between class to cat nap. Set an alarm so you can get to your next class but if your body needs sleep, 30 minutes is enough time to slip into REM sleep and rest up.
