Stress is an unavoidable part of everyday life. Not all stress is negative, though. Preparing for a long vacation, or getting married can cause stress just the same as work, school, or family.

There are plenty of options for home remedies for stress. Your approach to dealing with your stress is key.

Home Remedies for Stress – No Medication Needed!

While some forms of anxiety may require prescriptions to help manage stress, most people don’t have to use medication to de-stress.

Exercise is an all-around benefit for both short term and long term health. Exercise is not only good for your body, but it helps lower stress levels. Endorphins, the “feel good” chemical released during vigorous activity, naturally reduce tension and stress.

A regular exercise routine will help improve your overall mood, stabilize sleep patterns – which are often affected by anxiety or stress – and help boost self-confidence.

Cutting back on caffeine and nicotine can also reduce your stress levels, since both can cause the jitters when taken in excess.

Having a great support system is beneficial, too. Sometimes just talking about what’s stressing you and getting it off your chest can help. Friends or family can also help you work through solutions to problems that may be stressing you out.

Get Your Mind off What’s Stressing You

Even when the subject of your stress is extremely important and demands immediate attention, it’s good to take a step back. Take a few minutes to focus on breathing – in through the nose, and out through the mouth – and don’t think about the problem.

This technique gives you some distance from the problem, and allows you to have a few minutes to re-center yourself. You’ll be able to go back to the problem fresher, instead of trying to think or work while overwhelmed.

Put Relaxation on Your Schedule

Making relaxation a part of your schedule is important for your daily routine. While relaxing doesn’t eliminate any stressful situations, it’s still essential for you to take some time away from those stressors. Consciously stepping back and taking care of yourself will help keep your stress at a minimum.

Everyone finds different activities relaxing, so the suggestions below may not be right for you. In that case, take some time to figure out what best helps you unwind, and then do those activities daily.

• Tea such as chamomile and peppermint have naturally soothing qualities. Unwind by enjoying a cup and reading, or watching a favorite movie or show.
• Green tea is also a helpful addition to an afternoon unwinding ritual. Green tea has many health benefits, and the antioxidants in a daily cup of tea can help reduce daily stressors on your body.
• Treat yourself to a bath or hot shower. The hot water will help relax tense muscles.
• Try meditation! This can easily be done either at home or at work. Letting go of your troubles, even if for a few minutes, can reduce your stress and help you feel calmer.

The most important thing to remember is that you need to make time for yourself. Make a conscious effort to set aside part of the day for yourself, and enjoy this personal “you” time!

Deal With the Problems You Can Control, One at a Time

With money, work, family, and everything between always being potential sources of stress, it’s not uncommon for multiple stressors to hit at one time. It’s also impossible to control all the sources of stress in your life. But you can take steps to minimize them!

The first step is to recognize which problems you can control, and which ones you can’t. For instance, you can’t control the hurricane which may require you to evacuate your home. However, you can control the prep-work and planning, as well as staying calm during the evacuation.

That’s an extreme example, but it’s not so different in any other situation. Recognize what’s in or out of your control, and then address them one at a time. You’ll only become more stressed if you try to accomplish multiple things at once. Work deliberately and consciously on the things you can change, and don’t stress about the things you can’t.

Home Remedies for Stress and You

As you can see, there are many home remedies for stress. All of them begin with experimenting with a few options and seeing what works best for you. From there, you can integrate your new stress-reduction activity into your daily routine.

By taking control of your approach to dealing with stress, you can improve your mental and physical health, and feel better overall.