5 Simple Ways To Relieve Stress FAST!

If you are feeling that you just can’t get a break from the pressures and stresses of life then you’ve come to the right place because in this article I’m going to show you 5 simple ways to relieve stress fast!

Are you struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel? We all know that a certain amount of stress can be beneficial and help to keep us motivated but too much of it and it starts to have an adverse effect on our health and well-being. Feeling under daily stress and pressure is no way to live and if you can’t tackle the cause of the stress then the next best thing to do is learn how to manage it better.

That’s why when you are feeling stressed it is so important to know how you can combat its effects before if starts to make you ill.

Many stress management strategies involve longer term action and doing things which can take days or weeks to bring the benefits you’re looking for. This article will reveal five of the most powerful yet simple and effective ways to relieve stress quickly.

1. Just Slow Down!

Have you ever noticed that when you feel stressed, you start rushing even more than usual to try to get things done. Maybe it’s a subliminal way of trying to free up time or just get ahead of problems. You might even try to do some multitasking but this is a big mistake because you end up doing a half-assed job of both tasks.

Unfortunately, when you rush tasks you start to miss things or make mistakes. The result can be that the problem you are stressed about actually becomes worse rather than better. And of course when that happens it only serves to make you even more stressed!

Just slow down! In fact, stop for a minute and think about things clearly. Oftentimes things are not as bad as they seem. Thoroughly examine your problems and then start making a plan to deal with them.

Personally I always find that it helps to write things down. If you have a list of things to do then you can tick them off as they get done. It is always nice to see that list get smaller and smaller and I find that as the list shrinks – so does my stress!

2. Do Some Breathing Exercises.

It still amazes me that people don’t appreciate how effective some simple breathing exercises are.

You see, when you are stressed you may not notice but your breathing can become quick and shallow.

What you need to do is take some slow, deep cleansing breaths. If you can find somewhere quiet to do this then all the better but it can be done at any time and in any place.

Try to breathe in slowly through your nose, hold the breath for a few seconds then breathe out again slowly through your mouth. Breathing deeply like this helps your lungs to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide so you will feel better. It also helps to relax your body if you feel tense.

Read more about breathing exercises in this post.

One extra little tip – when I do this I visualise myself actually exhaling my stress as I breathe out. It sounds bizarre I know but don’t knock it until you have tried it! This technique is called Thought Cleansing Breaths and is actually one of my favourite stress management methods.

3. Take Some Exercise.

Sorry if exercise is a bad word to you but don’t worry I am not going to suggest any Olympic style training. When you feel stressed your body releases hormones such as adrenaline (epinephrine) in response to what it perceives as a threat. You have probably heard of the fight or flight response – well this is the body’s built in response to stress.

Exercise helps to use up your adrenaline by actually putting it to use in fueling the efforts you make during exercise. By doing this you also build up your fitness quicker and become more resilient to stress.

Now please don’t tell me that you’re not the athletic type – there is always some sort of exercise that you can do. Personally I enjoy cycling but simple things such as walking and swimming are just as effective. By burning off that adrenaline you will dramatically reduce your stress levels and completing some form of exercise gives you a sense of achievement.

Just Do it!

4. Get A Massage.

When I have had a busy or stressful day then I find a nice massage is one of the most pleasant ways to relieve my stress. A gentle massage can help to rub away your aches and pains but it also helps to stimulate the pleasure centers in your brain and makes you feel good about yourself. Some scented massage oil can help too.

A visit to a professional massage therapist would be lovely but you can get the benefits of massage without making an appointment or paying for the privilege!

If you are fortunate enough to having a loving partner then they can massage away your stresses with some simple and easy to learn massage techniques. I’m sure you will return the favour too!

If you don’t have a partner to give you a massage then try some gentle self-massage techniques. Rubbing the pads of your fingers gently on your forehead or temples can be very soothing especially if you can have a pleasant daydream at the same time.

5. Eat Something Healthy.

When you are stressed it is easy to give in to the temptation to eat fast or junk food. While it might give you a temporary good feeling to tuck into a Big Mac (other burgers are available!) or a donut, you will probably find that you feel slumped afterwards. You might even feel guilty or dirty for eating such junk.

Healthy food will make you feel better and more energetic and more able to deal with issues. A piece of fruit such as an apple or banana can give you the sweetness you crave without producing a sugar spike followed by slump.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water too. Dehydration can make you feel down, tired or lethargic which is the last thing you need when stressed. Herbal teas can be another good option to maintain hydration but also give you a boost.

Make It Happen!

Stress can have a dramatically negative impact on our lives but using these proven methods for managing stress you can start to bring your life back under control. These strategies work so try them yourself and very soon you will start to feel better about yourself and a lot less stressed.

Best Wishes

David

By the way…

If you have not yet downloaded a free copy of my book “Simple Solutions For A Stressful Life” then you can get a completely free copy by clicking the image below