From yoga to walks in nature, there’s something here for everyone; here are 40 ways to centre yourself and relax when you feel stressed out.
With the chaos since COVID-19, having to stay up to speed with the daily changes, pivoting when needed, and dealing with day-to-day life, it’s a challenge not to be impacted by stress these days.
Here are 40 things in my stress management ‘toolkit’ that I rotate through regularly.
Some more often than not, depending on how I feel.
I hope they will help you through whatever you are going through at the moment or if you ever feel stressed in the future.
40 things to do when you are feeling stressed
- Go for a walk, even if it’s for 15 minutes.
- Write whatever is in your head out onto a piece of paper
- If you have an impending deadline, ask for an extension or reschedule some things to allow you time to focus on what is most important
- Luxuriate in a long, hot shower or bath
- Eat something healthy and nourishing, or cook/order your favourite comfort food
- Remember that you are doing your best, and that’s okay!
- Practice the art of delegation. Can you hand something off to someone or ask to help you?
- Get creative: colour, paint, draw, write, crochet, craft
- Give yourself some breathing space and cancel your plans
- Take a break from social media and email. Even better, remove the apps from your phone
- Spend uninterrupted and unplugged time with your pet/kid/partner/friend/family
- Break large tasks down into bite-size, digestible chunks
- Have some me-time and plan an evening of rest
- Watch a funny movie or show
- Do something ‘manual’ – pull weeds, water the plants, prune some trees, reorganise the pantry, scrub the bathroom, wash the car … anything to burn off that stressful energy!
- Ask someone for a hug
- Cut back on the alcohol and caffeine
- Share what you are going through and ask for support from someone you trust
- Listen to your favourite music
- Wear your best perfume, favourite outfit, pretty underwear, pop on your fave dress or shoes, whatever makes you walk tall and feel good
- Laugh
- Write in a journal – here’s a list of 105 ideas to help if you get stuck
- Write a list of priorities, things to do, pros and cons
- Sit somewhere quiet and enjoy a nice cup of tea or
- Meditate or pray
- Take a mental health day
- Have a girls’ or boys night in
- Identify some ‘quick wins’ you can tick off your to-do list. By quickly ticking off a few simple things, you will feel like you are getting stuff done and succeeding!
- Spend time in nature
- Revisit a hobby you haven’t done in a while
- Hang out with your favourite people who lift you up
- Treat yourself to something. It could be a massage, a manicure, a new pair of shoes, a new book…
- Turn off your phone
- Write a list of 5 things you are grateful for each day
- Create a relaxing environment at home. Light a candle, burn some incense or diffuse some oils
- Take a weekend off and go on a road trip or spend the weekend at home having some me-time
- Learn to say no; here’s how
- Look for a new job or make a change
- Exercise
- If stress impacts your physical and mental health, book in to speak to your doctor.
Incorporating the above tips into your day-to-day life will help you build resilience and help when you are stressed.
By tuning in and listening to your mind and body, you will learn to recognise stress’s impact on your life.
Yes, there will always be some stress, but by recognising the signs early and acting on them before it worsens, you’ll make sure it doesn’t have a lasting impact on your health.
