Stress is something that affects all of us, especially if you already struggle with your mental health. So it’s important to find ways to destress. Here are some things you can try:

  1. Listen to music and maybe even dance or sing along! Putting on some of your favourite songs and even if you feel silly, loosening up by dancing and/or singing can be a lot of fun as well as a good way to destress.
  2. Try meditation or mindfulness. There are lots of apps available to help with this. Try a few and see what works for you!
  3. Try Exercising. Any kind of exercise can make you feel better, from gentle to intense. Yoga is one of my favourite ways to de-stress. It also involves adding in relaxation to the practice.
  4. Make time for your favourite hobbies. Whatever your hobbies are – could be anything from art to reading to baking – they’ll always make you feel better within yourself.
  5. Binge watch your favourite shows or even a new show. Currently I’m watching Greys Anatomy for the first time (Amazon prime) and rewatching comedy Schitt’s Creek (Netflix)
  6. Remember to Laugh. Laughing has been proven to reduce stress. You can find a funny comedy to watch, remember funny memories or create more funny memories with your loved ones (I often randomly end up remembering something funny that happened years ago and start laughing and reliving it all over again) or just learn to laugh at yourself and take yourself and take yourself less seriously.
  7. Spend time in nature. Even a short walk in your local park or woods can make you feel a bit better within yourself. Focus on the beautiful nature around you and appreciate it.
  8. Pet therapy. If you have pets Spending time with them is always therapeutic and relaxing. Holding a pet has actually been prove to calm people down which is why therapy dogs exist!
  9. Write in a journal or Draw/doodle. Even writing this blog for platfform is helping me to de-stress! Getting your feelings out in a healthy way is important.
  10. Spend some time with friends/loved ones. Even if you just go for coffee for an hour for a catch up, you might feel more relaxed.
  11. Take a bath or shower. Feeling the warm water on my skin after a long day always makes me feel better. Perhaps treat yourself to a bath bomb or light some candles (if you can do that safely)
  12. Have some alone time. Switch your phone off, take that well needed break from social media and all the things that are stressing you out and spend some time with yourself.
  13. Learn to say no. It can be stressful feeling like you have to do things you don’t want to because you feel pressured, so learn to say no. Don’t take on too much or you’ll become overwhelmed. You’re not letting anyone down by prioritising yourself.
  14. Accept the things that you cannot control. This is a difficult one for me personally, but learning to accept that you can’t control everything is important for your stress levels. Try not to obsess over these things. Maybe even make a list of things you can control and change in a positive sense and focus on that.
  15. Get nostalgic. Look at old photos or videos of memories that make you happy. Listen to your old music or watch your favourite childhood shows and movies.

Maybe not all of these will work for you (we are all different after all) and they aren’t a cure, but hopefully some of these tips will help ease the stress in your life. Remember, stress management is about finding what works best for you not just doing what other people tell you to do because it has worked for them.

If mindfulness doesn’t work for you but something else like dancing does then dance! If nothing on this list works for you that’s okay but keep looking and trying different methods to help manage your stress and if you think your stress levels are out of control tell someone that you trust or talk to a mental health professional.