I know what it's like to be where you are. Your mind is constantly racing. You can't focus long enough to complete a task because you can't stop thinking about what all else you need to get done. Relaxing? What's that? I totally get it. Whether you're stressed about school, work, bills, relationships, your kids, house work, or anything else, it can be tough to not kill someone when they tell you to "just calm down." There are ways you can effectively deal with stress and chill out naturally so I hope this article helps.
Don't Sweat The Small Things
I know, this kind of contradicts what I said about not being able to just calm down. But really, don't let small things get to you. If it's not going to matter in five years, don't worry about it for more than five minutes.
Meditate/Do yoga
You do not have to be a pro to meditate or do yoga. You don't have to be super flexible. You don't have to have candles burning around you, I mean, you can if you want but it's not necessary. You don't have to have a zen area. All you have to do is just take some time to be by yourself, close your eyes, breathe, and just be. Take 5 minutes out of your day to do this and you'll feel a bit relieved.
Spend time in nature
Go for a walk. Go hiking. Lay in a hammock. Go to a river. Just go outside and be one with nature.
Aromatherapy
You can look up tons of aromatherapy uses to know what essential oil to use to relieve what. Burn incense. Buy the "stress lotion" at Bath & Body Works. Use bath bombs. Burn candles. Whatever you want to do.
Be artistic
Write. Draw. Paint. Make a wreath, a dream catcher, a bath bomb, scarves, anything you want to make. Just use your hands to make something and see how calm you'll become.
Make lists
Seriously. Nothing makes me feel more productive than crossing things off of a list. This also help with procrastination which I know we all struggle with.
Do the hardest tasks first
I'm so bad about doing this. I'll know I have to clean my house, write my article, wash dishes, go to the grocery store, organize my room, get ready for work, and 27 other things, but I'm always going to do the easiest thing first. And it kills me every time. If you knock out the hardest thing first, you'll get it over with and you won't be so stressed over it later on in the day.
Grounding
This has stopped so many anxiety attacks. I didn't think it would help at all when I first heard of it but oh my gosh, I swear by this. Look around you. Count five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
Cry if you need to
It doesn't mean you're weak. It doesn't mean you're broken. It just means that you're human. We can't hold things in all the time. It's okay to just let it out sometimes.
Don't take on more than you can handle
Say "no" if you need to. Do not overload yourself or you're only going to hurt yourself. If you're behind on schoolwork, don't go to that party. If you can't handle two jobs, quit one. If it begins to negatively affect your mental health, ask if it's really worth it. No one is going to be mad, and if they are, forget them.
Count your blessings
I don't necessarily mean this in a religious way. Take a moment to sit back and think of the things you're thankful for. Think of things you like about yourself. People you like, places you want to visit, anything you consider a blessing. Just remember why you're doing what you're doing.
Put yourself first
I say this a lot in my articles but it's because it is so important to me. If you're not happy with yourself, you're not going to be happy with anyone else. Buy those shoes. Get your nails done. Do whatever you want to do for yourself and don't feel guilty about it.
Have some "me" time
This kind of goes along with my last point but take some time out of the day to do whatever you need to do. Just chill out alone. Watch your shows. Drink some wine. Spend an hour or seven on Pinterest. Do you.
Do what makes you happy
If you're miserable at your job, quit. If you're not happy with your relationship, leave. If you can't handle more than 12 credit hours, drop a class. If someone asks you to do something that you're not comfortable doing, it's okay to say no. Trust the vibes you get; energy doesn't lie. If you're not happy, change.
I know anxiety and stress can't just magically go away, but hopefully these tips will make things a bit more bearable. Just go with the flow, and let it be.
