How do you reduce stress?

Question

How do you reduce stress without any drugs, pills, and preferably a way to do it without having to talk or call other people. I have just been getting really stressed out about school. Too much to do with so little time to do it.

Answer 1

music, photography..a relaxing hobby.
painting, exercise..sports..anything that you can get interested in to take your mind off what is stressing you.
remeber to be kind to yourself..and slow it down..
there's a great expression..
" don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff"
don't get stressed about school..just know that each day..you've done your best..and let it go at that...
we are all only human...there's only so much we can do in a given number of hours..each day..
r e l a x.....and.... s l o w d o w n ....
before you go to sleep at night...warm milk with alittle bit of honey..it works!

Answer 2

I'm taking a stress management class now, here are some tips from my handouts:

Identify the stress-is it some life event (like divorce, losing a job, someone dying?) or daily hassles?

Identify your symptoms of stress. Headaches? nausea? shoulder tightness? That way you can nip it in the bud next time.

Prevent stress:
If a situation caused you stress before, prepare for it. Figure out how to avoid it. What I do, is ask for help or start cutting back on what I do, usually both.
schedule meaningful activities-like hobbies, volunteering, art, etc.
schedule time for relaxation-exercise, use a guided imagery tape, meditate, read a novel
Have balance in daily life-too much activity is stressful.
develop a support system-seek out supportive people rather than critical people.
take care of your health-eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, etc.
talk about your feelings or put them in a journal
avoid being hard on yourself. try to be reasonable.

Coping with stress you cannot avoid

talk to others about it.
use relaxation techniques (look at a candle, hot bath, plus what I mentioned above)
use positive self-talk
use humor-watch a comedy, read a funny book
participate in religion (if that applies to you)
exercise
journal
make or listen to music
do or go to see art
play games or do a hobby

My personal tips:

Avoid caffeine like the plague. Also, some cold remedies can cause anxiety. Look for the "agitation in children" warning on the box. Adults can get problems too.

Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. They may seem silly at first, but they work!! They help reduce stress, which makes depression worse. I made my own, by getting “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” (maybe your library has it?) and reading the imageries into a free program I downloaded, called “Audacity.” I can't stand my own voice, so I digitally altered it with the program so I sound like someone else. You could also get a friend to tape it for you.

Go out with friends, and if you don't have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. Isolation makes everything worse. That doesn't mean you have to talk about your problems-it's better if you don't. It gives you a break.

Exercise at least 1/2 hour a day, and anytime you feel really anxious.

If your anxiety makes it hard for you to sleep, here are some good "sleep hygeine" tips so you can sleep better. Like go to bed and get up about the same time each day, even weekends. Don't use your bedroom to watch TV and read and use the computer and all that-just use the room as a bedroom normally would be used. Don't do stuff that pumps you up right before bed, like exercising and using the computer. You want to use that last hour to wind down-Take a bath? Make the bedroom really dark, cover up the clock radio, even so the light doesn't shine at you. If you live in the rackety city, use a noise generator (makes wave sounds and the like) or soft music to cover up the city sounds. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Put a lot of colorful things around the house/your bedroom/dorm room, happy type things, and keep the blinds open and let the sun in. Get yourself some flowers. Put on some nice clothes. Make a list of things that make you happy. Here's some things on my list: A basket full of fluffy kittens, bread fresh from the oven, fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, the first fireflies of the season, the scent of Jergen's cherry almond lotion, the crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, standing in the boat and flicking a topwater lure out onto the lake at daybreak, etc. Use all your senses and read that list when you are stressing.

Work on time management if being overwhelmed and late for things and too much to do is getting to you. (Avoid procrastinating). Cut back on other responsibilities temporarily so you can spend more restorative time with friends and family. Are you being realistic about how much a person can do in a day? Or is it just a temporary time crunch? Also, do you really NEED an A in every class, in other words, are you over-achieving? (OK, YOU know how smart you are, some people can get all A's without running themselves in the ground, but that isn't most people!! Seems like a lot of folks expect perfection of themselves. I'm no better, I'm afraid. )

You got a significant other? Extra physical touch is very helpful. Most people in the US or UK are touch deprived, so hold hands more, hug more, give shoulder rubs, etc. A pet is good to cuddle with, too, if your home situation allows you to get one. (I'm an animal lover, don't get one if you can't commit to it for 15 years). If you already have a pet, Fluffy or Spot would really love the extra attention.

Good luck! Hope this helped. Make sure you aren't overscheduling yourself.

Answer 3

the best thing that works for me is doing my weight-lifting routine and then 30 mins.of step-glider routine.however,if you don't have facilities available,put on your headphones and dance like crazy.helping someone else with a problem will de-stress you too.most important--baby steps--you are overwhelming yourself.learn how to take one thing at a time.no matter how small it is the better.if you need to clean your entire place by yourself where you live don't look at the ENTIRE picture,just take it a room a day or half a room a day....ssssslllloooooowwwwwww ddddddooooowwwwnnnn....

Answer 4

You should create time to relax. Try and complete your
home work early in the evening, so that you can have an early supper and get to bed on time.

Perhaps watch TV , rent a comedy movie, and enjoy your week ends.

Answer 5

You have named 2 of the stress culprits. Number of things to be done, and the limited amount of time to accomplish them.

The best answer I can give you to lighten your load is to either
A) lessen the number of things to be done, or
B) lengthen the time in which to do them

How you figure that one out is up to you.

Answer 6

Walk/jog/run it off
Meditate
Try Yoga
Try aerobics

*Lavender aromatherapy (candles, incense, soaps, shampoos, plug-ins, air freshener, etc.) is relaxing
*Chamomile Tea is also relaxing

Sleepytime Extra Tea with Valerian is very relaxing - it is usually in the vitamin/supplement aisle of most stores.

Answer 7

to reduce stress, just relax, take some time off, don`t worry so much. also thinking to much or overworking in your jobs is not good, so try to ease down, don`t overwork yourself, and just relax. have some time for yourself too (:

Answer 8

I like to bake and listen to the blues at the same time. Its strange, but it works.

Or i look up new make-up tricks and fashions and try them out for tomorrow.

Answer 9

a good orgasm will always reduce stress and it just feels good too.

Answer 10

exercise, masturbation, propper sleep and diet