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A smiling woman with an orange in her mouth raises her hand triumphantly while riding a teeter-totter.

Stress management: 10 creative ways to manage occasional stress

There are plenty of ways to help manage occasional stress. Here are some creative strategies that you may not have considered.

November 1, 2022
A smiling woman with an orange in her mouth raises her hand triumphantly while riding a teeter-totter.

Stress management: 10 creative ways to manage occasional stress

There are plenty of ways to help manage occasional stress. Here are some creative strategies that you may not have considered.

November 1, 2022
A smiling woman with an orange in her mouth raises her hand triumphantly while riding a teeter-totter.

Stress management: 10 creative ways to manage occasional stress

There are plenty of ways to help manage occasional stress. Here are some creative strategies that you may not have considered.

November 1, 2022

Stress relief: Get creative with your occasional stress

With so much uncertainty in the world, multiple things are stressing people out.

Work, school and family can be enough on your plate. Throw in world events and it can seem like a never-ending list of stressors.

Research proved long ago that stress is not good for your health. For starters, it hampers your immune system. There are plenty of ways to help manage occasional stress but here are some creative ways to relieve stress that you may not have considered.

1. Reach for the stars — with your eyes

Need a new perspective? Try focusing on your posture. Studies show that whether you slump your shoulders and look down or sit up straight with your head held high is related to your mood. Research showed that people who slumped were more likely to give up on things. And those with good posture could more easily generate positive thoughts.

You can take that even further by looking all the way up for some night sky therapy. Gazing at the expanse of stars on a clear night can fill you with peace and calmness, helping to put your worries in perspective.

Also, stars are universal: We’re all in this together, underneath the same night sky. That is a comforting thought. Plus – it’s free!

2. Go fishing for aquarium therapy

You have probably heard about forest bathing or natural therapy, where people look to nature for its calming effects.

But what if you’re stuck inside or in an urban environment? Consider getting a fish tank. Studies have found that watching fish helps reduce stress, increases feelings of relaxation and decreases heart rate and muscle tension.

Need to test it out? Visit your local pet store and become mesmerized. Warning: You might end up leaving with an aquarium of your own.

3. Try humming

Did you know that when you hum, you are literally vibrating your brain and that vibration has a calming effect on you? That’s because it activates the vagus nerve, which helps tell your body that all is well.

Humming for about three minutes has a calming effect while also waking up your brain cells. You can’t really put that into practice during an in-person work meeting, but you can always use that mute button online.

4. Connect with your people

Spending quality time with your social circle is always a good for the soul. Plus, research shows that people without strong social connections are more susceptible to disease and illness.

Make time for the important people in your life, whether it’s in a video call, seeing each other face-to-face, or just picking up the phone. You’ll feel better and so will they.

5. Go with your gut: Probiotics can help

Seriously, if you are feeling something amiss in your gut, it can have an effect on whether you are experiencing occasional stress.

There are trillions of bacteria in our gut. And these bacteria can affect the way we feel because when our gut is working properly, it produces more serotonin and dopamine than the brain does. Serotonin and dopamine are chemical messengers that play important roles in how we feel, our mood and our ability to think and plan.

This is when you can turn to probiotics, which can be found in certain foods as well as supplements. Nutrilite™ Stress Relief Probiotic has been scientifically formulated to provide natural support for managing occasional stress. In addition, it will support your focus and help fight mental fatigue.

It also has a unique non-GMO melon concentrate that is naturally rich in one of the body’s most powerful antioxidant defense systems.

6. Might as well jump! (seriously)

Did you like jumping on a trampoline as a child? It was a lot of fun, right? An immediate mood booster. You can recreate that with a mini-tramp in your home. It’s a fun, low-impact way to boost your endorphins.

And this also comes with a bonus. Jumping up and down, also known as rebounding, stimulates your lymphatic system, which is a key part of your immune system. Try it 3-5 times per week for 10-15 minutes at a time and see how you feel.

7. Ground yourself

No, you’re not putting yourself in timeout. Grounding is a term used for calming your mind, especially at the height of occasional stress or anxiety. It forces you to step back and focus on what’s going on inside and outside.

There are several ways to approach it. One of the more common is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, which highlights your five senses.

Stop what you’re doing and start searching for five things you can see, then four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste. You could do this in your current surroundings or envision yourself in your own special happy place.

8. Grab a coloring book

There’s a reason there are so many coloring books on the market targeting adults: It’s a great way to calm down and focus on something enjoyable.

Many of the books feature mandalas, the circular designs that can help turn coloring into meditating.

If you can’t see yourself picking up crayons or colored pencils, seek out one of the many coloring book apps that are available. In this digital world, it might be just the thing you need.

9. Boost your vitamin C intake

Research shows a connection between vitamin C deficiency and occasional stress. Keep your levels up by choosing foods that are high in vitamin C.

Not of fan of oranges? Don’t worry, plenty of other foods can deliver the large doses of vitamin C you need, including guava, chili peppers and bell peppers.

If you can’t get enough of the vitamin C-rich foods in your diet to help support the healthy function of your immune system, consider Nutrilite Vitamin C Extended Release, which slowly releases the vitamin over 8 hours for maximum absorption.

10. Consider a new coat of paint

Your stressful day can be less overwhelming if you come home to a sea of blue or a field of lavender.

Not literally, of course, just on your walls. Painting your rooms certain colors can actually make you relax. Colors proven to boost your mood include blue, violet, pink and green.

Tackle that stress

Don’t let occasional stress overwhelm you. With so many choices, you should be able to find something to help you cope, calm your frazzled nerves and support your immune system. Looking for more tips? Check out our other articles about stress on Amway Discover.