Stress and anxiety are two experiences common to everyone. According to statistics, a whopping 60% of adults worldwide complain of stress and anxiety daily. To overcome such a common issue like stress and anxiety, certain activities can help put it at bay. 

Below are some simple ways to relieve stress and anxiety.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the simplest and most effective ways to combat stress. Although this might sound contradictory, putting physical stress on your body can relieve you of mental stress. Exercising helps take your mind off whatever the cause of stress might be. This is so because exercise helps reduce the release of your body’s stress hormone. In addition, it also helps release endorphins. Endorphins are a group of hormones released by the brain and nervous system that give analgesic effects. This means they’re some sort of natural painkillers. 

Furthermore, exercise also counters the negative effect of stress and anxiety on your sleep cycle. Another benefit of exercise is that it makes you more confident of yourself and your body, thereby promoting mental wellbeing. These exercises shouldn’t be too strenuous. You can start out with walking, jogging, running, dancing, swimming, tennis, and other mild sporting activities.

Light up a candle

You can try using scented candles and essential oil. Studies show that lighting up scented candles can help suppress stress and makes you feel relaxed. Some scents are particularly soothing, and below is a list of some.

• Neroli
• Lavender
• Vetiver
• Rose
• Bergamot
• Frankincense 
• Orange blossom
• Geranium
• Sandalwood
• Roman chamomile 
• Ylang-ylang 

The use of scented candles to relax is called aromatherapy. And it is proven that aromatherapy helps reduce stress and improves the quality of sleep. 

Cut down caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, green tea, chocolate, and energy drinks. Excess intake of caffeine can cause anxiety or increase the already existing anxiety. Many studies may show that drinking coffee is healthy; however, that’s not the case with everyone. Each individual has a specific threshold of how much caffeine they can tolerate. This threshold must not be exceeded. 

Take notes

It seems odd, but it actually works. It’s a fact that those suffering from anxiety reported a decrease after writing down what they’re anxious about. This process applies to all ages. The trick is to write out what you’re anxious about and then jot down things you’re grateful for. This gives your mind a lot of breathing space and takes away a lot of worries.

Try supplements

Supplements don’t necessarily mean drugs in this aspect. Green tea is a great supplement to reduce stress and anxiety. Green tea contains polyphenol antioxidants that improve the health of the body and help detoxify the blood. In addition to this, green tea increases the level of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is the hormone in charge of mood, sleep, and happiness. An increase in serotonin level is a sure way to reduce anxiety and stress. 

Another supplement is ‘kava kava’. This is a psychoactive member of the pepper family. It was long used as a sedative native to Native America. Recently, it’s been employed to treat mild stress and anxiety. A sleep aid known as Valerian can also be used to combat anxiety. Valerian root is known for its tranquilizing effects. Because of this, Valerian makes the user feel relaxed by releasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors to lower anxiety. See a complete guide on the best supplements for stress.

Don’t stay alone

When alone, a lot of thoughts keep rushing in and out of your head. When feeling anxious, it’s best to spend time with friends and family. Reach out to people, talk about your problems and seek help. Being part of a network of people where you can share your thoughts reduces the load on your mind. Simply chatting with friends can help improve your mood and even take your mind away from whatever it was you were feeling bothered about. “A problem shared is a problem half solved. 

It’s okay to say no

While some stressors are out of your control, others can be controlled. Learn to take control over the stressful aspect of your life. Learn to say no. Some things can cause you stress because of your inability to say no. Trying to juggle too many responsibilities simply because you don’t want to step on someone’s foot is a sure fire way to increase your stress level. Say no to things that are out of your power, or you’re not comfortable with. 

That’s about it. Although there are other ways to combat anxiety and stress, those listed above are some of the easiest that won’t require much from you or your schedule. Stay safe and live stress-free.