How to Stop Stressing Fast

Stop worrying so much because worrying only makes stress worse.

Stress can come in short spurts or continually affect a person who's going through major life changes. Other people in your life can bring on stress and make it difficult to cope, so sometimes stopping stress fast requires you take a step back and give yourself space from the trigger, regardless of what it is. Tackle problems, stop worrying and make major changes in your life, so you can leave stress behind and become happier and more productive.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Black tea
• Ear plugs
• Honey
• Sugar
• Lemon
• Gym membership
• Soft music

1. Find a quiet place and calm down and meditate when stress becomes too much to bear. Go to the bathroom at work or retreat to your bedroom if you are home when stress begins to mount. Meditation is a simple and fast way to reduce stress. Try various forms of meditation, depending on what's easiest for you. Transcendental meditation involves repeating a word, sound, phrase or mantra quietly while eliminating all other thoughts from your mind. Close your eyes, focus on speaking positively and calmly, such as "all is well" and breathe deeply. Choose words that make you feel calm and at peace. Focus on your breath and avoid all negative thoughts.

2. Drink a cup of hot black tea and put ear plugs in your ears to shut out noise from other people or construction work. Flavor your tea with honey, sugar or lemon to make it more satisfying. "Women's Health" magazine reports on a study conducted at the University College in London, where 75 participants drank one cup of black tea before undertaking two stressful activities. The study revealed that 47 percent of the participants had lowered cortisol levels. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that the body releases in response to stress.

3. Go to the gym and take a yoga class after work to relieve stress. "Fitness" magazine says yoga can help you beat stress. The practice gets you aligned with your mind and body while also opening up your joints.

4. Squeeze acupressure points between your thumb and index finger for a few minutes on your right hand and then do the same on your left hand. "Women's Health" magazine says a study at Hong Kong Polytechnic University revealed that acupressure can reduce stress by up to 39 percent. Acupressure is something you can do instantly to relieve stress fast.

5. Take a relaxing bath and listen to soft music, if you are home when stress hits.

Tips & Warnings

• Fit in at least 30 minutes of physical activity such as walking or yoga, to counteract the cortisol levels that spike in your body when you stress.

References

• "Women's Health" magazine: Stress Reduction Secrets
• The University of Victoria: Counseling Services; Strategies to Reduce Stress
• Medline Plus: Cortisol Level
• "Fitness" magazine: Beat Stress, Weigh Less: Calorie-Burning Yoga Workout; Mary Christ Anderson
• The Mayo Clinic: Meditation

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish