The Most Effective Habits to Relieve Daily Stress

The Most Effective Habits to Relieve Daily Stress Stress Management Management Techniques Print 5 Things You Can Do to Manage Stress Every Day Choose one habit that appeals for you By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on May 05, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 24, 2019 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living FrancescoCorticchia/Getty Images We all face stress in our lives to varying degrees; some of it can be foreseen and minimized, some takes us by surprise and is unavoidable, and some of the stress we face is chronic and predictable, but still not completely avoidable. The best we can do is to manage the stress that comes our way and find  different ways to relieve it. A layered approach to stress management is bestâ€"one that involves strategies that minimize stress where possible, other techniques that help us think about things in a less stressful way when we cant avoid them, and additional strategies that build resilience so we can more effectively face whatever comes our way. However, most of us, understandably, want a magic bullet of stress reliefâ€"one thing that we can do every day to relieve the stress of the daily grind. And having one daily stress relief habit will make a significant difference in the level of stress we feel. The catch? That one thing may be different for everyone. While daily stress relievers arent one-size-fits-all, there are a few categories of stress reliever that work especially well for many people: Journaling Research shows that there are many benefits to journaling, in terms of both physical and emotional health, making it a good time investment that can fit conveniently into a morning or evening schedule, or can even be integrated into many peoples workday. You have many options on how to organize your journal; here are some guidelines for a successful journaling practice. Meditation Meditation can take many forms and is found in virtually all cultures as a healthy and even spiritual practice. Whether you meditate for five minutes or an hour, you reap a wide range of benefits by being consistent and making it a daily practice. And while a short session can still bring benefits, long-term practice can build resilience.  Heres more on the benefits of meditation, and on different types of meditation. Exercise Health researchers recommend a daily dose of exercise for optimum health and the avoidance of conditions such as cancer and obesity, and exercise is also a great stress reliever. For those who go to spin class, walk the dog in the morning, or find other ways of working physical activity into their day, there are health benefits on many fronts.  But you may not realize that exercise increases resilience toward stress while it improves longevity and quality of life.   Exercise can be one of the more challenging stress relievers to begin and stick with, but its also one of the most rewarding.   Music Hospitals and therapists are using music for its health-enhancing properties, and you can use it to relieve stress. Music can calm your experience of stress, both physically and emotionally, and leave you feeling soothed and relaxed without having to lift a finger.  There are many ways to work music into your day, and youll find some great stress management benefits if you do. (For example, playing your favorite music during your commute can relieve stress and have you feeling better when you arrive.) If you want to make an easy change that leaves you feeling less stressed each day, just add some music to your dayâ€"it doesnt matter what type as much as whether you enjoy it, so skip the classical (if you dont like classical music) and turn up the tunes you really love! Do Something That Makes You Happy Research on positive affect  â€" being in a good mood â€" shows that when people do small things that lift their mood, it creates an upward spiral of positive feelings that lead, put simply, to an increased resilience toward stress. (The more complicated explanation is that they broaden your awareness of your opportunities, your improved mood leads to a greater motivation to take advantage of these opportunities, and this tendency to build resources leads to more positive moods; its a self-perpetuating cycle.)  So doing one small thing each day can create something much larger that helps you to overcome stress and keep a smile on your face at the same time.  This is one of the most effective strategies to try.