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.
Here are 15 simple yet effective ways to deal with stress, before it escalates out of control:
1. Breathe deeply
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.
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!
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23 Comments
Mirian
03.21.2008
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.
Nico
03.21.2008
*imagines what brand I would be if I were a car*
Nice read and great image selection
greetings
Melanie
03.21.2008
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!
Rebecca
03.21.2008
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.
Melanie
03.21.2008
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.
Israel
03.23.2008
Hey, great article. Someone submitted to healthranker: http://www.healthranker.com/SelfImprovement/15_Effective_Stress_Banishing_Tips/
so I submitted it to mixx for ya: http://www.mixx.com/stories/165112/15_effective_stress_banishing_tips
Melanie
03.23.2008
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.
Alex
03.25.2008
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?
ruth
03.25.2008
really enjoyed reading this article Mel. Have shared it with a couple of people.
Melanie
03.25.2008
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!
Taleen
03.26.2008
Yea…she shared it with ME!! Surprise surprise!
Glad though!
Melanie
03.26.2008
Hey Tal,
LOL…Ruth should get a job in promotion!!
Elaine E
03.26.2008
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.
Marta
04.12.2008
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.
stephanazs
09.21.2008
Interesting facts.I have bookmarked this site. stephanazs
alexa
01.14.2009
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
Melanie
01.15.2009
Hi guys,
Thanks for the additional tips!
Abhishek
05.29.2009
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
Melanie
06.03.2009
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.
Sedona Method
07.02.2010
All have been tested and worked. You may also add, release all negative emotions. Forgive all the people that have hurt you.
Melanie
07.16.2010
That’s such an important one, you are right. Negativity simple brings you down.
Janie
04.25.2011
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
Melanie
04.30.2011
Thank you, Janie. I wish you all the best.
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