In my last article, I told you all the (terrifying) side effects of too much cortisol, aka stress. I figured it would only be right if I shared with you some of the ways I like to destress.

1. Take. A. Nap.

I love sleeping. It's the perfect way to escape for a little bit and give your body a little extra rest. Since napping too long can actually ruin your sleep pattern, my favorite fix to being stressed is taking a quick 20-minute nap. Any longer than 20 minutes, you'll end up making yourself feel worse. 20 minutes of rest allows you to awake refreshed and hopefully a little distressed.

2. Aromatherapy is your best friend

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

Everyone loves good scents, so why not treat yourself. Light a candle, turn on a diffuser, or spray a little perfume! Personally, I recommend using a diffuser over anything else since they are great for the environment (water vapor and oil only!), leave a continual scent, and can easily be controlled to match the scent and potency you want. Plus, if you're super extra like me, you can find diffusers that have soothing light displays. They're seriously awesome.

3. Watch a YouTube video or Netflix show

Sometimes, clearing your head means watching someone else's problems. similar to napping, I recommend only watch short videos, around 20 minutes long. If you watch something that's a little too long, you could lose focus completely and find yourself binge-watching instead of addressing what's stressing you. The whole point of distressing is not to avoid your stress completely, but to allow your body and mind to "reset" before you go back to problem-solving.

4. Grab a snack

Take a break to stretch your legs and eat something yummy. whether it's a bag of chips, an apple, popcorn, or even ice cream, grabbing a small snack is a good way to temporarily distance yourself from your stress and make you feel good!

5. Get moving

As crazy as it sounds, exercise really does work for relieving stress. It's almost as if sweating out all those toxins gets rid of your stress, too. It's a great way to refocus mentally, strengthen yourself physically, and you'll feel fantastic afterward.

6. Do a face mask

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Face masks are a gift from above. Whatever your gender, it is always a good idea to take care of your skin. Plus, they're just so fun. While you have your face mask on, you could continue doing whatever it is you're stressing about or, you could do any of the other activities on this list.

7. Scroll Away

This is something that should really be a last resort. Don't get me wrong, I love social media a much as the next teenage girl but it is way too easy to procrastinate. Like several other ideas on this list, social media is something you should only do for a specific time, to make sure you don't get totally distracted. I've been there way too many times and it honestly just makes my stress worse when I know I'm the one who wasted my own time. So, scroll with caution.

8. Call a friend

Of course, you don't have to actually call someone. Having a conversation (in person or over the phone) with someone you love is a great distraction. it allows you to think about other topics and even get advice if you need it. After all, isn't that what friends are for?

These are just a few of the things I turn to when I feel myself overstressing. They allow me a moment of clarity and a much-needed break. Just remember, there is a fine line between distressing and procrastination! Good luck to everyone else struggling with stress.

Keep it cute!