Here are 10 offbeat and science-backed ways to manage stress and keep calm

Stress management can be a real task but these effective ways can help you keep your mind calm and free of any tension.
stress management
Not just meditation, here some other ways to help you manage stress. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Grace Bains Updated: 27 Jul 2020, 15:03 pm IST
  • 98

Stress is a part and parcel of modern life. However, long-term stress won’t just affect your mental health but it will also reflect in your physical health too. From anxiety to heart disease, cortisol aka the stress hormone, can be extremely harmful for you.

So what can you do? Well, the only thing you can do is keep yourself away from stress. Stress management is extremely important if you want to live a healthy life. Which is why we’ve brought for you 10 offbeat but super effective tips on how to manage stress and keep yourself calm:

1. Chew gum
When you’re feeling stressed, pop a chewing gum! It will help you to stabilise your mood and reduce stress, helping you manage your tasks better. A study from Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia showed that chewing gum can help reduce stress levels while helping you feel less anxious.

chewing gum can help manage your stress. GIF courtesy: GIPHY.

2. Do the dishes
Dive into that sink full of utensils when you’re stressed out. Well, not literally but wash those dishes! It will ensure that your sink is clean and empty but more than that, it will reduce your stress. According to study by the Florida State University, washing dishes in a mindful manner helps people feel less nervous.

3. Make a vision board
We are usually dissuaded by others about daydreaming but the truth is that you need to dream and visualise what you want from life in order to work towards it. Making a vision board with images and symbols of your goals can be calming to create and also look at. When you visualise all your dreams coming true, you feel more positive and hence, more inspired to not lose motivation.

4. Squeeze that stress ball
You can use these squishy toys to vent your frustrations or just take a break to give your mind some time off in the middle of a busy day. In fact, David Posen, the author of the book “Is Work Killing You?: A Doctor’s Prescription for Treating Workplace Stress” is of the belief that the squeeze and release movement can really reduce tension.

Stress management
Don’t let stress get the best of you. GIF courtesy: Giphy

5. Go for a warm bath
There’s very little that a warm bath can’t fix. Feeling the warm water on your skin is enough to make you forget all worries in the world. In fact, if you can immerse your whole body in hot water, the effects of it can be extremely good to reduce stress. A study published on PubMed Central noted that doing so has positive effects on one’s mental health.

Also, read: This basic crash course on stress management is what every millennial woman needs in 2020

6. Stand under the sun
When you find yourself too stressed and looking for the strength to deal with things, go outside in the sun. Sounds a little too simple but it can help you clear your mind and confront your problems better. In fact, a study from Trinity College Dublin noted that there could be a link between a lack of vitamin D and deteriorating mental health. Hence, being in the sun for at least thirty minutes everyday can be extremely helpful for you since it will maintain the optimum levels of vitamin D. Not to mention that there ain’t anything that a little sunshine can’t solve!

Seasonal Affective Depression
GIF courtesy: GIPHY

7. Solve a puzzle
Some things never go out of fashion and the puzzle section of the newspaper is one of those vintage leisurely things that can instantly take all that load off your mind. Puzzles and games can be great stress busters, then be it the crossword or sudoku. Forget your grown-up worries and indulge in some childhood fun.

Select Topics of your interest and let us customize your feed.

PERSONALISE NOW

8. Spend time with your pet
Our furry friends are actually great for our mental health. A study from the Washington State University found that just 10 minutes of petting cats or dogs can help you reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

having a pet
Holding those paws can actually make you calm and happy! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

9. Declutter your home
Be it your cupboard, desk, or kitchen cabinet—organizing them will help you feel more in control and hence, less stressed. Moreover, it will add to your sense of achievement and a wave of calm will follow once you look at all your hard work.

10. Munch on some dark chocolate
Eating chocolate makes you feel better about the world, doesn’t it? Well, there’s actually science behind that. A study published in Journal of Proteome Research found that eating dark chocolate everyday for two weeks reduced the stress levels of the participants. Hence, munch on some dark chocolate and watch stress disappear into thin air.

Mood boosting foods
Yes, that bar of chocolate counts as a mood-boosting food. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Manage those stress levels to maintain that mental calm!

  • 98
About the Author

Grace is someone who likes writing enough to make a living out of it. When she isn’t writing, you will find her having chai and reading a book. ...Read More

Next Story