20 Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Stress Quickly

Relieve Stress

When you feel your tension rising, try one of these fast-acting tips to bring on the chill in just a few minutes.

How does your body feel right now? Is your jaw clenched, are your shoulders tight and does it feel like your neck is in a vice? Or maybe you feel chill right now, but boy, those symptoms sound so familiar!

We hear you — stress can sometimes feel like a part of daily life, and that’s not great news for your health. According to the Mayo Clinic, when this type of tension runs rampant in our lives, it can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and more. Along the way, it can cause headaches, muscle pain, exhaustion, stomach issues and depression.

So to protect your well-being — and to find a measure of happy calm in your day — it makes sense to have a number of quick moves and fixes that can bring down your level of tension quickly.

Ways to relieve stress quickly

1.Use your breath

Breath-work is a tried-and-true, research-based method that’s a gentle but speedy way to bring down your anxiety level, by lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. One type of breath-work to try: alternate nostril breathing. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, put your right thumb over your right nostril and inhale through your left nostril; then release your thumb, place your ring finger over your left nostril and exhale via your right one. Without moving your finger, inhale via your right nostril, close it with your thumb, exhale left, inhale left, close that nostril, exhale right, etc. Experts suggest that you start with 11 rounds at first.

2. Get up and dance!

The same study review also found that when dance movement is worked into therapy, subjects reported a significant decrease in physical signs of stress (such as reduced cortisol levels) — and people reported that they were better able to psychologically cope with stress in their lives as well. So take dance breaks when you’re at home, or sign up for dance classes — also stress-busting!

3. Take a walk

Even just a 10-minute brisk stroll can lower your anxiety levels, research shows shows. It makes sense, considering that any sort of exercise boosts mood-regulating neurochemicals in your brain. This includes serotonin, which helps induce a feeling of calm, and dopamine, which activates the brain’s reward system. Combine your walk with listening to music you love, or a phone conversation with a friend, and you’ll get an extra boost. Or walk with a friend or even a group, because socializing is another feel-good activity.

4. Create some art

A large-scale review of studies found that drawing, working with clay and doing other sorts of art activities can significantly reduce anxiety and bring on a feeling of calm, as measured by a decrease in cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure. It doesn’t matter if you’re good at it: What you produce is less important than just the process of creation itself.

5. Listen to music you love

A study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology showed that listening to relaxing music helped lower the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in college students during exams, and they also self-reported feeling less stressed. Listening to music that they considered energizing had the opposite effect — however, in general, listening to the stuff they enjoyed seemed to be very important. So if bouncy music is your jam, you may just find your muscles unclenching.

6. Stretch your body

Stretching relaxes and loosens the body, of course, but there’s also evidence that it can ease the mind — because when your body is tense, your mind gets, well, tight as well. A 2013 controlled trial showed that doing 10 minutes of stretching for three months made people feel less anxious and burned out. And according to UHS Berkeley, stretching in a slow and mindful way is a great way to reduce stress. Research there suggests that as you stretch, you breathe in a slow and controlled way, and focus on the muscles you want to stretch.

7. Get outside

There’s a reason why nature has been called “Vitamin N” — there’s plenty of research backing up the idea that it’s not just good for the soul, but good for the body as well. It can reduce feelings of stress overall, and help you deal with tension as it comes up.

8. Do progressive relaxation

This is a long-established technique that lets you release feelings of mental stress by tensing and relaxing your muscles. According to the Mayo Clinic, this can lower your blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and make those pesky stress hormones become less active. One method of progressive relaxation you can try out is to work your way from your toes up to your neck and head. Lie down or sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and tense the muscles in your toes and feet for five seconds, then release. Move on to your calves—tighten the muscles, hold, then release. Keep going up your body until you reach your neck, your jaw, your forehead—and by then, you should feel pretty chill!

9. Try chewing gum

Yes, it sounds weird, but for various scientific reasons, there’s some evidence that when you chew gum, it can reduce stress (it has to do with neurons in various parts of the brain, but the research isn’t clear about exactly why it can help). Just make sure the gum is sugarless, because having to visit the dentist to deal with cavities is definitely not good for one’s stress level.

10. Pet your fur-baby (or someone else’s!)

There’s a bunch of research showing that interacting with dogs and cats is good for both improved mood and stress relief. For example, one study on college students that were given the chance to interact, pet and cuddle with these critters for 10 minutes in an animal visitation program found a reduction in cortisol levels in saliva and reported less psychological stress. Other research has found an increase in emotional support when the pet is the person’s own. So if you have a dog or cat, take advantage of that when you’re feeling tense; and if you’re not, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter — for the animals’ benefit as well as your own!

11. Take a quick nap

If you had a lousy night’s sleep, there’s some evidence that taking a nap could ease some of your body’s physical stress the next day. Note that the study was small, included only men and was done in 2015 — but it actually measured the levels of exuded stress hormones in the body (in other words, it wasn’t just that the study subjects felt better). And hey, any excuse for turning off your brain via a quick catnap is probably welcome. One thing to note, though: Naps aren’t recommended for those with sleep disorders.

12. Get a splash of chill (literally)

Splash or dunk your face in a bowl of ice cold water for 15 to 20 seconds. Weird but true: There’s some evidence that immersing your face in cold water engages your body’s relaxation system to counteract your stress response. You can also ttake a cold shower, or hold an ice cube or chilly drink to your face.

13. Get rid of one nagging little task

Pick one thing you’ve been putting off — dropping that pile of clothes off at the drycleaner, calling your financial planner, returning the too-small jacket you ordered–and just do it. Today. Chores like this take up space in our brain, causing an underlying level of stress; crossing even one of them off your mental list will give you a few moments of “ahhhhh.”

14. Cross off a health worry, too

Stressing about a weird-looking mole, a postponed vaccine or an unusual bump on your leg? This kind of concern also leads to underlying tension that can wear on our souls. Call your doctor to discuss it, to cross that worry off your list.

15. Get your ha-ha on

Watching a funny video and experiencing “mirthful laughter” had an immediate and significant effect on perceived stress, according to a study on healthy women done at Western Kentucky University. The study didn’t look at whether the stress reduction lasted, but when you’re looking for a quick way to bring your stress temperature down, grab your phone and look at whatever cracks you up, whether that’s videos of cats doing weird things or your favorite comic’s latest Instagram reel.

16. Swap chores with a friend

Here’s a way to get in some socializing (good for your body and mind!) and get rid of an annoying chore that’s eating away at your well-being: Agree that you’ll spend some time at your place, say, cleaning out your junk drawer, and then go to her home and tackle the dusting. Follow it up with a glass of wine for the win!

17. Sniff some lavender

There have been a lot of dubious health claims about essential oils, but there’s actually research to support the relaxing power of lavender. One study showed its effectiveness in helping to ease anxiety in people with anxiety disorders, so it’s worth a try to see if it brings you a measure of peace. Put a couple of drops in an aromatherapy diffuser or simply onto a piece of cloth, close your eyes and inhale.

18. Cancel something — anything

Especially if you tend to over-schedule your time, take a look at your calendar and see what you can postpone or even cancel. It’s key to your mental health to give yourself the time and space in your brain in order to recharge, particularly since there’s so much of life that can’t be changed or cancelled!

19. Reconsider negative friendships

Speaking of cancelling: You know those people who just suck the life out of you, either with constant negativity, criticism, judgy-ness or gossip? If there’s no reason why you have to keep them in your life (meaning, they’re not a relative you can’t avoid), then it’ll definitely lead to less stress if you can see them less often or end the friendship completely.

20. Ease Sunday stress

If you spend the last part of your weekend worrying about the week ahead, it’s a great idea to take some steps to ease that tension. One way to do that: Schedule something fun or pleasurable for Monday or Tuesday, whether that’s an after-work meet-up with a friend, or a quick lunchtime mani self-care break! Having a cool activity to look forward to can reduce some of that dread, and that good feeling can snowball into a better week all around.

229 thoughts on “20 Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Stress Quickly”

  1. Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help
    with SEO? I’m trying to get my website to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m
    not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share.
    Appreciate it! I saw similar article here: Eco product

  2. Hi there! This post could not be written much better! Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I will send this information to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!

  3. I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I am hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own blog now 😉

  4. Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thanks, However I am encountering difficulties with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I can’t join it. Is there anyone else getting the same RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  5. Prevent leaving behind large amounts associated with finance in any affiliate marketing or even event web page! Almost all sites employ a rigorous insurance plan on spamming along with for anyone who is at any time falsely accused (deservingly and also mistakenly) involving transmitting unrequested email messages, you’ll probably have your levels shut down, that may cause a person getting rid of the initial funds way too!

  6. An impressive share, I just now given this onto a colleague who had previously been doing little analysis about this. Anf the husband the fact is bought me breakfast simply because I stumbled upon it for him.. smile. So permit me to reword that: Thnx for your treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending some time to debate this, I find myself strongly over it and enjoy reading more about this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, might you mind updating your site with more details? It truly is highly of great help for me. Huge thumb up because of this text!

  7. I enjoy you because of your whole work on this blog. My daughter loves engaging in research and it’s really simple to grasp why. Most people know all of the compelling way you give vital items by means of the web blog and invigorate participation from the others on that subject matter while our own girl is always discovering a whole lot. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. You’re carrying out a powerful job.

  8. hey there and thanks to your info – I have definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did then again experience several technical issues the usage of this web site, since I skilled to reload the site lots of instances previous to I may just get it to load correctly. I had been pondering if your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances occasions will sometimes impact your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if advertising and with Adwords. Well I’m including this RSS to my email and can glance out for much extra of your respective exciting content. Make sure you update this once more soon..

  9. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your weblog. You have some really good posts and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an email if interested. Thanks!

  10. Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful information specially the last part I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  11. Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile.

  12. I’m not sure why but this web site is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

  13. After study a few of the blog articles with your website now, we truly such as your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark site list and you will be checking back soon. Pls take a look at my site likewise and tell me if you agree.

  14. I simply wanted to write down a small word to be able to thank you for all the pleasant steps you are sharing at this website. My prolonged internet lookup has at the end of the day been rewarded with sensible knowledge to talk about with my two friends. I ‘d assume that many of us site visitors are undoubtedly fortunate to live in a fabulous place with many special individuals with very helpful suggestions. I feel pretty blessed to have come across your entire website and look forward to really more thrilling times reading here. Thanks again for everything.

  15. Many thanks for creating the effort to discuss this, I feel strongly about this and love learning a great deal more on this subject. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your website with a great deal more info? It’s really useful for me.

  16. I would like to get across my admiration for your kindness supporting folks that must have guidance on in this subject matter. Your personal dedication to getting the solution throughout had become particularly advantageous and has encouraged regular people just like me to achieve their pursuits. Your insightful information means a lot to me and substantially more to my fellow workers. Thanks a lot; from all of us.

  17. Hey this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding experience so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  18. Hiya, I simply hopped over to your website by way of StumbleUpon. No longer one thing I’d generally learn, however I preferred your feelings none the less. Thank you for making one thing worth reading.

  19. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but after going through some of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m certainly pleased I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often.

  20. Aw, this was the actually quality publish. In theory Let me create like this as well??§o? spending time as well as actual effort to make a great post! however so what can I say! We procrastinate a lot and in no way seem to obtain some thing carried out.

  21. I am extremely impressed together with your writing abilities as smartly with the layout for your weblog. Is this a paid subject matter or did you customize it yourself? Anyway stay up the excellent high quality writing, it’s rare to look a nice blog like this one nowadays.

  22. Generally I do not read article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, very great post.

  23. Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem together with your site in internet explorer, would check this¡K IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a huge component of people will miss your excellent writing because of this problem. Prishtina Travel

  24. I’m excited to find this web site. I wanted to thank you for your time due to this fantastic read!! I definitely liked every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to see new things on your site.

  25. When I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I recieve 4 emails with the same comment. There has to be an easy method you can remove me from that service? Kudos.

  26. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t join it. Is there anybody having similar RSS issues? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!

  27. Hello there! This blog post couldn’t be written much better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I will send this information to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

  28. Having read this I believed it was very informative. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this content together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worth it.

  29. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such fantastic information being shared freely out there.

  30. Hi there! This article could not be written much better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!

  31. Hi there! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!

  32. I continue to read blogs like this, because I am trying to better my ability to write great article, this is an awesome example. I apologize, but I will be trying your style of writing in my work(if possible). I learn from the best and forget the rest.

  33. You have made quality elements in that respect there. Used to do a search on the subject issue and located most of us is going to agree to on your web site. My family and I already went through a your site and even seek out your posts.

  34. hello!,I love your writing very a lot! share we keep in touch extra approximately your article on AOL? I need a specialist on this area to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Looking ahead to peer you.

  35. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been conducting a little research on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this matter here on your site.

  36. This occurred as each quickly ascending demand from the vinyl polymer chain market and the unusually robust seasonal demand and no new production capacity on the speedy horizon coincided.

  37. After I initially commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I recieve four emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is a way you can remove me from that service? Cheers.

  38. I blog quite often and I truly appreciate your content. This great article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to take a note of your site and keep checking for new details about once a week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.

  39. I have to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this site. I am hoping to check out the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my very own blog now 😉

  40. I really love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you build this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own site and want to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called. Thanks!

  41. I truly love your website.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own website and would like to know where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Cheers!

  42. An interesting discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you ought to publish more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people do not talk about such issues. To the next! Best wishes.

  43. I really love your blog.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own website and would like to know where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Cheers.

  44. An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you should write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people do not talk about such subjects. To the next! Many thanks!

  45. I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.

  46. Hello there! I simply want to offer you a big thumbs up for your excellent information you have got right here on this post. I’ll be returning to your web site for more soon.

  47. Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It will always be exciting to read through articles from other writers and practice something from other sites.

  48. Hello, I do think your blog might be having browser compatibility problems. When I take a look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, excellent website!

  49. Your style is very unique in comparison to other folks I have read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.

  50. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who had been doing a little research on this. And he actually ordered me lunch simply because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this topic here on your website.

  51. Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this article together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile.

  52. Some banks offer the option of linking a number of accounts for overdraft protection, so if you do not have enough cash for that skinny cinnamon dolce latte, they’ll transfer some from a financial savings or credit card account to cover it.

  53. Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t fail me just as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read, however I really believed you would probably have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.

  54. Exceptions are volunteer fire departments and similar groups collecting funds to be used for public purposes, and most veterans’ organizations as covered under 501(c)(19).) Interestingly, the IRS says that donations to 501(c)(4) groups can be deducted as business expenses.

  55. BDS uses digital pattern-recognition technology to identify songs that are played on radio stations and music video TV channels across the United States and Canada.

  56. On The Map; Remembering a Boarding Faculty for Black College students”, The brand new York Times, October 1, 2000. Accessed November 4, 2007. “He based the school in 1886 in his living room in New Brunswick after which moved it to Bordentown on the property of the family of Admiral Charles Stewart, the captain of the U.S.S.

  57. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many thanks, However I am experiencing difficulties with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else having identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks.

  58. The company did the same issues all recreation corporations do, went by means of the identical issues, but as a result of we painted an enormous ol’ “suck it down” target on our chests, the gaming press and a fair number of hardcore players went after us with a vengeance.

  59. Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon on a daily basis. It will always be exciting to read through articles from other authors and use something from their web sites.

  60. I have to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I am hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own blog now 😉

  61. You are so awesome! I don’t believe I’ve truly read something like that before. So nice to find another person with a few original thoughts on this issue. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is needed on the web, someone with a bit of originality.

  62. Moderately than prepare college students for a specific discipline or specialty, the Minerva Colleges (Minerva, for brief) seek to turn schooling on its head, trusting students to trace down info and basic data on their own, and teaching them the way to assume critically, create and talk across each tutorial discipline.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top