Instant Stress Relief

If you're feeling stressed out, some instant stress relief techniques can help you feel better fast. Incorporating these ideas into your daily life will help you relax and be able to rid your system from stress as soon as you start feeling it.

Take a Breath

One of the most important instant stress relief tactics to have in your arsenal is knowing how to take deep, calming breaths. Most people breathe without thinking about it, which is a good thing until you get stressed out. Moments of stress make you breathe more shallow, which just increases the feeling of stress.

The next time you're feeling stressed out, stop and take a few deep breaths. Inhale through your nose to a count of four, hold for two counts, then exhale to a count of six.

As you breathe, try to do so deeply, noticing your abdomen rise as you inhale and fall as you exhale. This is a variation of a yoga breathing technique that can be done any time, anywhere.

Take five to 10 of these deep breaths whenever you're felling tension, anxiety or stress. There's no harm in doing this whenever you need it.

Take a Walk

Another great way to get rid of stress fast is to take a quick walk around the block or do some other kind of physical activity. This is a great technique because, for one thing, it gets you away from the stressful situation.

In addition, getting your blood flowing increases your energy level, making you feel more alert and thus better equipped to deal with your stressful situation. It can also reduce muscle tension, which makes you feel less stressed, and help you get a little much-needed perspective on your problems.

Talk it Out

If there's someone nearby who you can talk to about what's stressing you out, that may be a good instant stress relief method for you. If you can't talk to anyone, writing in a journal or even just writing an e-mail (regardless of whether you send it) can help you.

This is a particularly helpful technique for women, who are more prone than men to want to talk through problems and emotions, and more likely to feel a positive resolution when they do.

More Instant Stress Relief Ideas

• Express your emotions: You might feel like you need to cry, scream, rip something up or throw something. As long as these coping mechanisms are done in a private place and don't do any damage to property, it's fine to express these feelings and may even provide you with a feeling of release.
• Smell something sweet: Smelling scented oil in a scent that you like or one that is known to be calming, like lavender or spiced apples, can take the edge off your stress. Keep a vial of a happy smell in your office, or light a scented candle at home.
• Try naturopathy: Herbal remedies such as Rescue Remedy can be helpful for some people. This liquid herbal blend is sprayed on the tongue to help relieve feelings of overwhelm and stress.
• Visualize calm: If you can get somewhere private, take a few minutes to close your eyes and take yourself through a few minutes of meditation. You might want to combine the breathing exercise above with a mantra such as "calm" or "peace" to help calm yourself down, or imagine your favorite place and feel the emotions of visiting that place.

One of the major keys of stress management is to notice what triggers feelings of stress for you and to minimize those triggers as much as possible. When you start to feel whatever your symptoms of stress are, whether that's a headache or a tightening in your stomach, try one of these instant stress relief tips to feel better fast.

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