Help! Five Stress Relief Tips You Can Use Right Now

Mind is All

Are you stressed out and need stress relief ASAP? Can't make it another moment? Try these simple stress relief tips to get instantaneous results.

Remove your self from the stressful situation. If a meeting is out of control, excuse yourself to the restroom. Are your children fighting like crazy? Send them to their rooms and get a minute alone to think. Is your partner being overly emotional? Tell your significant other you need twenty minutes to think and leave the room. In a long-term stressful situation? Give yourself a personal day. Just by walking away, you will feel your stress level drop. Use that time away wisely.

Inhale deeply. Deep breathing automatically lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, both of which are linked to your body’s stress response. Pay attention to your breath as you inhale, hold it, and then slowly exhale. When you've regained emotional control, you can go back into the stressful situation.

Gain perspective. Consider if this situation will matter in a week or month or year. Is your livelihood at stake? Your friendship or marriage? Is this a life-threatening situation? Remind yourself of parts of your life that are stable. Look for solutions. Figure out what your responsibility is.

Make a plan. Once you’ve gained perspective, think through what you can do about the situation. Let go of what you can’t change, figure out actions you can take, and trust your efforts will be enough.

Re-engage with a positive, relaxed, proactive attitude. If when you return to the situation, emotions are still running high, you may need to help the other people involved relieve their stress. Find ways to solve the problem together without placing blame.

It's essential to have a plan for stressful situations. If you are often stressed out, you will benefit from regular stress relief activities.