5 Strategies For Fast Stress Relief

Feeling stress may not seem optional, and the way you cope with stress can provide you with choices.

There are many stressors in daily life that can impact your mental health.

You will be inconvenienced, experience trauma, and have resentments throughout your lifetime.

However, you can get better at coping with the daily stress in your life and improving stress management.

A small amount of stress can be healthy for you, and if you are feeling excessive stress, you may need a strategy to help.

Fast stress relief doesn’t have to be impossible.

Here are 5 Stress Relief Strategies That Work Fast

1. Take time for self-care.

By taking time for self-care, you can be preventative and build up a reserve of patience. You can designate a day, show yourself love each day, or better yet both.

Mindfulness is one of the most common and effective stress relief strategies when you’re looking for fast results.

Read More: “5 Strategies To Help Find Clarity”

An option can include using an ice cold gua sha (flat stone) that you store in your refrigerator or freezer on your face for fast relief.

The temperature change of the tool can help you to relax and calm down your nervous system; bringing you to the current moment.

A head scratcher can also be a choice when you are feeling stressed. This instrument can be used to help you calm down by bringing you back into the present moment.

When all else fails, going back to the basics can support you. Breathing, deep breathing, and belly breathing are built-in tools that you can access at any time.

Self-care is important when it comes to fast acting stress relief strategies. Using sensory tools can help ground you quickly and provide you some space to figure out what’s next.

2. Remind yourself that problems are temporary.

When you are feeling stressed, it can seem like the end of the world. You may go into a catastrophic mode and pile on problems that weren’t there in the first place.

However, reminding yourself that most problems are temporary can help you to gain a new perspective.

This doesn’t mean that you gaslight yourself by not holding space for yourself or practicing toxic positivity.

Instead, hold space for your worry, anxiety, and woes.

Then, take a moment to remind yourself that the problem won’t last forever and that you can continue to grow around it. Breathing and sensory exercises mentioned above can help you find space from your racing stress thoughts.

3. Enjoy a crunchy snack.

Stress can cause anxiety and depression, which can be uncomfortable. When a stressor comes into your life, enjoy a crunchy snack.

This can be an opportunity for a mindful moment.

You are engaging not only in touch and taste but also sound when you enjoy a snack that ends with a crunch. Sometimes, stressors can become bigger when you are hungry.

This can also be a way to pause for hunger rather than pushing through the discomfort because you are busy.

Your body will make time for stress if you aren’t proactive with patience and love for yourself.

Again, engaging your senses here with taste, sound, and texture can help bring you to a moment of pause, serving as a fast acting, and enjoyable stress relief strategy.

4. Take a pause.

This strategy is somewhat obvious, and sometimes it is easy to forget.

Read More: “5 Ways To Self-Nurture”

When you give yourself a moment to pause, you can experience a built in breath. This can turn a reaction into a response.

You can avoid saying or doing regrettable things when you take the time to pause.

Your behavior starts with you, and if you are feeling like you can’t contain yourself any longer, a pause is the best option at the moment.

Outward and inward struggle is inevitable, so the point of a pause is to build and use your stress coping strategies.

5. Call a friend.

When you are feeling stressed out, reach out to your community.

To start the conversation, you can say, “Hi! Do you have a few minutes while I vent? I am not seeking solutions. I need to be heard.”

If the person doesn’t have a moment, you can try another friend.

By asking permission to vent and affirming that you need to be heard, the friend will have a clear understanding of what you need from them.

They have the right to engage or not, and you have done your due diligence in stating your needs. It can be really helpful to clearly communicate, even when you are at your most stressed.

Practicing these strategies may make the process easier.

Stressors are inevitable, and you have the tools you need accessible within you.

When you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, stress can increase and impact your mental health. You may need to seek a clinical therapist to help.

That way, you can get an objective opinion about the patterns in your life that cause stress. It is likely that you are already on your way to healing when you consider patterns in your life, especially your stressors.

Can self care really help with stress?
Yes, practicing self care regularly can build resilience to stress. Engaging in activities like using sensory tools, taking breaks, and practicing mindfulness can offer quick relief when stress hits.

How can I remind myself that my problems are temporary?
Reminding yourself that stress is often temporary can shift your perspective. Take a moment to breathe deeply and reflect on past challenges that have passed, reinforcing that current stressors will also fade over time.

What should I do if I feel like I’m about to snap under stress?
When you feel overwhelmed, taking a pause is one of the best stress relief strategies. It gives you a moment to breathe, collect your thoughts, and respond thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively.

Is it really helpful to talk to a friend when I’m stressed?
Yes, reaching out to a friend can help you feel heard and supported. Clearly communicate that you’re seeking a listening ear and not solutions, which can help you feel validated and less stressed.

What are sensory tools, and how do they help with stress relief?
Sensory tools like cold gua sha stones, head scratchers, or crunchy snacks help ground you in the present moment. These strategies engage your senses and can quickly calm your nervous system, making them effective stress relief strategies.

How can therapy help with stress management?
Therapy can be a powerful tool in managing stress. A therapist can help you identify patterns in your life that contribute to stress, offer personalized coping strategies, and guide you through overcoming stressors with a deeper understanding.

How can I prevent stress from building up over time?
Consistently using stress relief strategies, like self-care, mindfulness, and regular breaks, can help prevent stress from accumulating. By integrating these practices into your routine, you can reduce the frequency and intensity of stress in your life.

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Written by: Randi Thackeray, MA
Clinically Reviewed and Edited by: Julie Reichenberger, MA, LPC, ACS, ACC