Are you feeling stressed? If so, then you should know that you’re not alone. It’s often said that no matter what you’re going through, millions of others are going through the same thing. This should give you some comfort. On the other hand, if you really want to relieve stress, then you need to go beyond the “misery loves company” approach. Therefore, let’s take a look at some quality cheap-to-free methods of reducing stress.
The first way to relieve stress might come as a surprise to you, but it’s the perfect option if you have a young child. Any guesses? If you guessed coloring, then you’re correct. If you’re the type of parent or guardian who allows your child to color while you clean the house, that’s okay, but in this instance, you need to stop what you’re doing and join your child. Not only will he or she appreciate it, but you will quickly realize that coloring is one of the most soothing activities possible. Your mind is very relaxed when you color because you’re so focused on perfecting the picture. It sounds overly simplistic, but simplicity is often effective, and this is one of those cases. Give it a try. You will soon find that you’re the one asking your child if he or she wants to color.
Another good way to relieve stress is jogging. When you jog, your body releases endorphins into your bloodstream, which makes you happy. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. And if you really want to get happy, then attempt to jog five miles or more. This is only recommended if you’re in good shape, but if you can pull it off, then you will enjoy a runner’s high, which is one of the greatest natural highs a human being can experience. You will find yourself with an abundance of happy energy … and you will sleep well that night.
If you don’t have a child and there’s no chance that anyone would ever catch you jogging, then at least consider doing push-ups, sit-ups, or jumping jacks while you’re working. Set a timer or promise yourself to do 100 jumping jacks every hour. You won’t want to do them, but when you complete them, you will be very happy that you did. If you can handle push-ups or sit-ups, then you will feel even better, invigorated in fact.
Another great option is caffeine. It’s true that caffeine gets a bad reputation, but it’s not completely justifiable. As long as you stay under 300 milligrams per day, you’re fine. How much caffeine you require will depend on the tolerance level you have built up over the years. Coffee is a great source of caffeine. If you’re not a coffee drinker, then consider Bing, which is a healthy energy drink with no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavoring, and only 10 grams of sugar. It has 122 milligrams of caffeine, and it’s filled with antioxidants. Since caffeine is known to put people in better moods, you won’t just be improving your mood, but you will be doing so in a healthy way as well.
These are all quality cheap-to-free methods of reducing stress. If you implement them, then you should see your mood improve in no time.