My Top 5 Ways to Relieve Stress

I used to refer to myself as Stressful Sally- well, sometimes I still do. But thankfully as I’ve gotten older and wiser (stop laughing, Mom) I’ve learned how to manage my stress better. I’ve talked before on my blog about having anxiety and how it affected my health and life. Thankfully, I’m in a much better place today. But that doesn’t mean I’m magically cured and lead a stress-free life. Here are my top 5 tips for managing stress.

Get enough sleep

I never used to be a person who loved sleep. I hated going to bed, felt that I was wasting so much time, and rolled my eyes when people said that sleep was their boyfriend. But between working my regular, busy job, commuting, doing freelance work and having a life, I’m tired and in bed by 10 p.m. almost every weeknight. Getting a full 7, 8 or 9 hours of sleep has done so much for my health. I’m awake and alert at work, can concentrate better, and just feel better overall. Sure, I could stay up until 1 a.m. each night working and blogging, but I simply prefer to be healthy and less stressed out by going to bed earlier.

Take RESCUE products

I typically drink Green tea at work to keep my stress levels down (and stay hydrated). In addition, I’ve started incorporating RESCUE products into my daily intake. RESCUE Pearls help you stress less and stay calm and in control. They are natural/homeopathic and developed by a doctor, so you know they are gentle and safe with no side effects. RESCUE products can be purchased from CVS (can be found in the Stress & Anxiety section, or Sleep & Analgesics), Walgreens (can be found in the Sleep section) or Whole Foods (can be found in the Whole Body section). You could try the RESCUE Pastilles, RESCUE Pearls, or the RESCUE Sleep Liquid Melts.

Write everything down

I’m a big fan of lists and notebooks. I write down all my appointments, birthdays, events and blog events or posts. If I don’t write it down, I will most likely forget it. Keeping things organized and in written (or electronic, if you prefer) form helps me stay on top of my work life and my regular life. And I’m sure we all can agree that that crossing things off those lists is one of the best feeling in the world.

Learn how to say “no”

This one is hard for me, but I’ve gotten a lot better at it. Saying “yes” to every opportunity thrown your way can overwhelm you and cause stress. Whether it’s a friend’s party, a new task at work or a blogging commitment, sometimes it’s best to politely decline and take some time for yourself to relax. Those who are prone to stress or anxiety really need to learn to do this. No one is perfect and can do it all, so stop trying to be the “yes” girl.

Talk it out

Whether it’s talking to a best friend, your boyfriend or a professional counselor, just getting it off of your chest can instantly make you feel better. When I’m stressed, I have a few solid people I can talk to about it. They offer me advice, help calm me down and keep me centered. Eliminate those who cause you stress (fake friends, nasty co-workers) and only focus on the good. If you’re not comfortable talking to someone you know, many professional therapists or counselors offer affordable rates. There’s also various online forums and outlets for this.

What are your favorite ways to reduce stress? 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.