Watch Your Stress Improve With These 12 Cheap Life Hacks

It's not uncommon to feel the stress of everyday life weighing down on you. Between all the responsibilities we have to juggle with work, family, and relationships, it's actually really easy to get carried away with the stress of it all.

There are, luckily, several cheap (or free) life hacks that one can implement to instantly feel the stress melt away. The key is to practice these hacks on a regular basis if you want to improve your overall stress levels. Read on to learn how to get started!

Portrait of senior woman smiling and looking at camera. Cheerful mature woman wearing eyeglasses in the park.Photo byGround Picture/Shutterstock.

1. Breathe

Breathing is what keeps us alive, but when we are stressed, we tend to take short and shallow breaths, which don't do much for our stress levels. Practicing slow and deep breaths can have a number of benefits on stress levels, so incorporating it into your daily life can really do wonders for your stress levels.

2. Take a Quick Walk

A quick 10-minute walk is all it takes to get the blood and the endorphins flowing.

3. Stretch

Getting up from your office chair to do a few stretches is great for relieving muscle tension and can ease your stress levels on a hectic day.

4. Chew Gum

Believe it or not, chewing gum for a few minutes can actually reduce your stress levels by lowering cortisol levels and therefore, anxiety levels, too.

5. Drink Green Tea

Green tea contains the compound L-Theanin, which promotes relaxation and decreases anxiety levels. Sipping on this soothing drink whenever you're feeling tense can do wonders for your stress levels.

6. Journal

Journaling is a great way to organize one's racing thoughts, and it can help you clear your mind and reduce your anxiety levels, too.

7. Create a Zen Zone in Your Home

Setting up a comfortable chair or floor pillows and kitting it out with some zen decor and soft lighting can be a great place to escape when you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed.

8. Talk to Someone

Sometimes, the best way to deal with the burden of stress is simply to talk to either a friend or a professional who can give you good advice.

9. Paint, Draw, Sculpt or Get Crafty

Sometimes, we don't want to talk to someone or write anything down, so the next best thing is to get busy with our hands. Art is a therapeutic outlet for dealing with excess stress and freeing the mind.

10. Reduce Sugar and Caffeine Intake

Sugar and caffeine are stimulants that can fuel stress, especially when consumed in high volumes.

11. Focus on the Good

When we are stressed, it's so easy to fall into a slump and think about all the things that are going wrong. Try to focus on the good things in life, such as having eyes to see and waking up every morning. You may need to write these things down to cement the good things into your mind.

12. Meditate

Meditating is one of the fastest ways to reduce one's overall stress levels. The best part about it all is that you can do it anywhere and anyhow, and you don't even need to have any equipment for it.

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