15 Effective Stress Banishing Tips

Stress is a reality for most of us from time to time, and it has even been suggested that a little is in fact normal, and can improve our performance.

However, when it becomes something more permanent, instead of protecting us, it can eventually make us more vulnerable to health problems, including headaches, high blood pressure, and even heart disease.

How To Deal With Stress

So, here are 15 simple, yet effective, ways to deal with stress, before it escalates out of control.

1. Breathe Deeply

Breathe deep

Flickr: jayw

Merely focusing on your breathing may seem a little too easy, but it really does work. Deep breathing helps to ease tension, causing you to feel more relaxed almost instantly.

Try closing your eyes and inhale slowly through your nose, hold the breath for a few seconds, then exhale slowly. Visualizing a relaxing scene, such as watching a beautiful sunset, or walking on the beach, can also add to the feeling of calm.

2. Count To 10

Reacting negatively to situations which stress you will only serve to make you feel worse. Instead, take a few moments to step back and count to 10, gather your thoughts, take a few deep breaths, and then carry on.

3. Mini Massage

With the thumb of one hand, massage the palm of the other hand by making small circles, working every area of the palm and fingers also. Switch and do the other hand. This is surprisingly very relaxing!

4. Stretch

Stretching can be a very simple and effective way of de-stressing.

  • Move your head from one side to the other, and also up and down.
  • Shrug your shoulders up toward your ears, and then relax.
  • Bring your arms high above your head and reach alternately toward the sky, then drop your arms and reach toward the floor.
  • Try the “child pose.” Kneel down on the floor, sit back on your heels, then lean your body forward, putting your forehead on the floor with your arms alongside your legs, palms up. Hold there for a few moments, concentrating on your breathing.
Child’s pose

Flickr: dejahthrois

5. Pressure Points

Putting pressure on specific points on the body can help ease away the stress:

  • Scalp soother – place your thumbs behind your ears while spreading your fingers on top of your head. Move your scalp back and forth slightly by making circles with your fingertips for 15-20 seconds.
  • Easy on the eyes – close your eyes and place your ring fingers directly under your eyebrows, near the bridge of your nose. Slowly increase the pressure for 5-10 seconds, then gently release. Repeat 2-3 times.
  • Sinus pressure relief – place your fingertips at the bridge of your nose. Slowly slide your fingers down your nose and across the top of your cheekbones to the outside of your eyes.
  • Shoulder tension relief – reach one arm across the front of your body to your opposite shoulder. Using a circular motion, press firmly on the muscle above your shoulder blade. Repeat on the other side.
  • Neck tension relief – on the back of the neck slightly below the base of the skull, about half an inch to the left or right of the spine.

6. Write It Down

If you tend to worry continually, restrict yourself to a half hour each day when you allow yourself to think about worrying matters. During this time you can write down your concerns, and evaluate them.

However, throughout the rest of the day say to yourself, “I’ll think about that later.” This will help reduce the amount of time you spend each day worrying unnecessarily.

7. Just Say “NO!”

Are work commitments getting too much for you? If they are, remember there’s no shame in saying no to your boss, friends or family. You don’t have to, nor can you, please everyone – so don’t try!

Click on the next page to read 8 more tips to get rid of stress…

Pages: 1 2

About Melanie
Melanie is a Registered Dietitian who started Dietriffic in March 2007. Her aim is to make good health attainable and sustainable, without guilt and torture, making her approach popular with those who desire a level-headed approach to good health. Have you got your copy of her free book yet?


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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }

Nico March 21, 2008 at 5:32 am

*imagines what brand I would be if I were a car*

Nice read and great image selection :-)

greetings

Reply

Melanie March 21, 2008 at 9:01 am

Hi Mirian,

Thank you for responding, and don’t worry about the article, it was a genuine mistake.

Thanks for your comments on my site also.

Hi Nico,

I love the images too, especially the two little kids laughing, it’s priceless!

Reply

Mirian March 21, 2008 at 12:58 am

Congratulations on your site!
I am really sorry about your article in my blog with no credits. Someone sent it to me and I thought ,” Karen Kingham ‘ was the author!
Great site, keep up the good work.

Reply

Rebecca March 21, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Excellent site. On my screen, though, the commenters names are jumbled up with the prompts.

I love the part about “Are these negative thoughts helping me in ANY way?” Usually, the answer is NO WAY.

Reply

Melanie March 21, 2008 at 12:41 pm

Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for your comments. You are absolutely right about negative thoughts, sometimes it’s difficult to see it that way in the heat of the moment though!

I’ve sent you an email about the problems you mentioned.

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Israel March 23, 2008 at 6:55 am
Melanie March 23, 2008 at 7:52 pm

Hey Israel,

Thanks for letting me know about my article on Health Ranker, and also for your submitting it to Mixx. That’s the first time I’ve come across Mixx, so I’ll be keeping an eye on it as well.

Reply

Alex March 25, 2008 at 8:26 am

I like your style of adding pictures to post too, go on, it’s really cool!
It’s only your own thoughts or you are using some kind of source?

Reply

ruth March 25, 2008 at 8:30 am

really enjoyed reading this article Mel. Have shared it with a couple of people.

Reply

Melanie March 25, 2008 at 9:29 am

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your comments about the pictures, I really enjoy adding them to my posts. Some people are just so talented at taking great shots, so I like to show them here.

As far as where I get the information, it’s a mix of my own experiences, and external reading. I try to read as much as possible, and from all sorts of different mediums, so it gives you lots of ideas.

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for sharing this article, I appreciate it. I really enjoyed writing it too! :-)

Reply

Taleen March 26, 2008 at 4:51 am

Yea…she shared it with ME!! Surprise surprise!

Glad though!

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Melanie March 26, 2008 at 9:40 am

Hey Tal,

LOL…Ruth should get a job in promotion!!

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Elaine E March 26, 2008 at 1:40 pm

A great post — in content and presentation! The tips seem so simple and yet are so difficult for some of us who can get really wound up — in times of stress I forget at least 14 of the 15 tips.

Thanks for reminders and new information.

Reply

Marta April 12, 2008 at 4:03 am

In the middle of a stressful day at work you can watch some Nature clips at http://www.relaxwithnature.com
After some of them I feel like I’m going to be able to handle anything that’s thrown at me now.

Reply

stephanazs September 21, 2008 at 1:33 am

Interesting facts.I have bookmarked this site. stephanazs

Reply

alexa January 14, 2009 at 6:06 am

Nice Tips. Thanks For posting. Practice Yoga is another way to reduce stress. Its also improve flexibility ,increase endurance , improve sleep and increase immunity.Find the best Yoga Classes, Pilates Exercises and Meditation Practices on demand anytime anywhere in DVD quality. More info at :
http://tinyurl.com/yoga-online-video

Reply

Melanie January 15, 2009 at 7:12 pm

Hi guys,
Thanks for the additional tips!

Reply

Abhishek May 29, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Hi Melanie,
Though I was not familiar with all the tips mentioned over here to reduce stress, I know around 10 of them…and find some of them really helpful especially that mini message,laughing at ourselves and sleeping of course. I have to try the ‘write it down’ and ‘pressure points’ techniques next time….Thanks a lot for sharing…:)

Abhishek’s last blog post..7 Tips to Build a Lean Body within 7 Weeks

Reply

Melanie June 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm

Hey Abhishek,
I’m glad you found a few extra tips here to help you out. I think a good sense of humour can do wonders in reducing stress!! Thanks for your comment.

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Sedona Method July 2, 2010 at 6:12 pm

All have been tested and worked. You may also add, release all negative emotions. Forgive all the people that have hurt you.

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Melanie July 16, 2010 at 8:08 pm

That’s such an important one, you are right. Negativity simple brings you down.

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Janie April 25, 2011 at 4:01 am

It’s a great tip. I will sure use it. Thanks for all your wonderful sharing to helping others. I think I can cope now with your wonderful suggestions and ideas. Thank you. I am very grateful. Cheers

Reply

Melanie April 30, 2011 at 9:43 am

Thank you, Janie. I wish you all the best.

Reply

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