Relieve Stress Now! 25 Ways to Get You Started

Have you ever heard that picturing one of your favorite places can help you relieve stress? If you don't think you have found your ideal place, simply imagine how it may be. When you make that picture in your mind, add as many senses as you can.

For example, maybe you are on a hammock on a white sand beach, looking out over turquoise water. You can feel the sun streaming down on you, and smell the aroma of suntan lotion. You hear seagulls flying nearby.

Invoking your senses helps you feel even more relaxed and happy.

When you are feeling calm and relaxed, stress just fades away. Meditation can also help you feel more in control of your thoughts.

While there are many meditation techniques, the simplest is to simply focus on your breathing. When you feel your attention wandering, just notice what you are thinking and bring your attention back to your in breath and out breath.

You can start with just 5 minutes a day and work your way up to 20-30 minutes a day.

A recent study showed that students who did daily moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) had lower levels of stress than either those who got no exercise or those that exercised strenuously. And if you can do your walk in nature, there is even more stress reduction.

If you are not used to walking, start with 15 minutes a day and try to gradually increase your time. Don't forget to do some stretching along the way, and make sure to walk with good posture. Not sure exactly how to walk in that way? Check out how to walk better and improve your posture.