Ever feel stressed? Frustrated? Does the thought of how to relieve your stress make you feel even more stressed out? Don't worry — stress happens. No matter how organised you are, how good your systems are, or how friendly your work and living environments, stress can find a way to harass you from time to time. All you need to combat it is a simple activity that can help to clear your head and calm you down. Try these simple techniques to help kick that stress out the door: Smile: Smiling, even when you don't feel happy, can instantly lift your mood. Try to smile and feel your troubles melt away. Call a friend: Sometimes you just need to vent. Join a good friend or loved one when you need to de-stress. Give them a phone call, even for just a few minutes. A joke or a funny story or just listening will likely put a smile on your face and help calm you down. Meditate: Try to think about a place or an idea or repeat a calming word or phrase to yourself — anything that shifts your focus and helps you turn off any distracting thoughts. Meditation can go a long way towards improving your well-being. Take a walk: When you feel overwhelmed, go outside and walk for a few minutes. Not only will walking give you the opportunity to clear your head and take a break from a hectic situation, but it's also great aerobic exercise too. Relaxing exercise is a great way to relieve stress and boost endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in your brain. Write a diary: Expressing your feelings could be the best way to deal with stress. Don't worry about what others may think or say, just write what you feel. By the time you're done, difficult feelings will be on their way out of your system. Use aromatherapy: Keep some of your favourite scented products around, whether candles, air fresheners, herbs, flowers or essential oils. Scents like lavender can help calm, energise and revitalise, and peppermint can increase your focus. Imagine: Even if you can't escape from your stressful life, you can flee through the magic of your mind. Close your eyes and imagine waves crashing on the beach, rolling hills, or even your childhood room. Picturing such places will make you feel safe, secure and relaxed. Do a self-massage: Tension and pain in your neck, shoulders, upper back or forehead can be symptoms of a stressful lifestyle. To relieve your body and mind, tense such areas of the body as much as you can, and then instantly relax them as much as possible. You can also use your hands to give yourself a quick massage during a stressful day. Tune in: Music can affect your mindset. Just as it can energise you or evoke powerful emotions, it can also help you to relax. Choose the music you find most relaxing and keep it on your computer, in the car, and on your iPod. Tune in to relax in case of stressful emergencies. Stretch your muscles: Starting or finishing your day with some light stretches can help you de-stress and relax. You can try some neck, arm and chest stretches at work as well. Close your eyes: The simple act of closing your eyes and breathing deeply can do wonders during a stressful day. You can do this several times throughout the day to help your body and mind relax. For best results, try to combine it with meditation, stretching, self-massage or imagination.
