5 Ways to Reduce Stress

While the holidays are a great time of year, they can bring on huge amounts of stress with to-do lists a mile long and stores getting busier by the day. Even amongst all the chaos, it can be nice to focus on activities that help you reduce stress. Continue reading for 5 ways to reduce stress.

1.Reading

When I’m feeling overwhelmed and have had too much screen time during the week, I like to put all my technology down and grab a book. There is something about reading a good old-fashioned hardcover or paperback. While I know a tool like the Kindle is quite popular and can be convenient at times, there’s nothing like flipping the pages of a good book and of course, giving your eyes a break from all the blue light exposure.

2. Exercise

While I’m not someone who works out that often, I do feel better when I get some exercise. Even walking my dog or doing the treadmill on your lunch break is better than nothing. It makes me feel so much better and allows me to tackle my never-ending to-do list.

3. Playing Games

Playing games is a great way to get your mind off everyday life and immerse yourself in something that challenges and excites you. I have recently been using the website https://plays.org/ which is great if you want a huge selection of different online games. They have a huge selection of games to choose from and their website is very user-friendly. I enjoy playing World Trivia when I want to give myself a mental challenge (and step up my knowledge of geography and the like). I really enjoy playing World Trivia because it tests me on my geography and world culture skills, something I always need to improve upon. It’s also not too hard and it gives you hints in case you need some help, it’s a great way to digitally explore a place you’ve never been before and it’s super easy to play on your computer.

Another game I love playing is the Jewel Bubbles 3 Tile Matching Game. I have always loved playing matching games and I love how colourful and interactive the Jewel Bubbles game is. It’s quite fun especially as you advance through the levels and a great way to decompress from a stressful day at work. To be honest, I found myself playing for quite a while one day and didn’t realize what time it was before I looked at the clock, which meant it succeeded at taking my mind off of everyday tasks and to-dos.

4. Eat a Nutritious Diet

Eating a healthy diet can help reduce stress because it can boost your immune system, give you more energy and it can help level your mood. Conversely, eating foods with added sugar can increase your blood pressure and cause weight gain which can lead to increased stress levels. Sticking to a diet that includes fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains is much better for you than sugar and junk food, and good for your stress levels too. Even with the holidays, I’m trying not to over-consume junk food and sugary desserts, I allow myself a treat occasionally, but I know that when I stick to a healthy diet, it makes all the difference.

5. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Getting enough sleep at night is vital for both a healthy immune system and can help to reduce stress. As we know, lack of sleep doesn’t do any favours for your stress level, and it can even increase stress because you can become irritable and impatient throughout the day. There are many things I do to help maintain a good sleep routine which can be found in this blog post here.

What are some ways you reduce stress? Let me know in the comments!