stressrelief

Have you ever noticed how stress doesn’t just live in your mind—it shows up in your body too? Tight shoulders, racing thoughts at night, a stomach that feels like it’s in knots. For many of us living with mental health conditions, chronic illness, or just the pressures of daily life, stress can feel like an unwelcome companion we can’t shake.

I’ve been there too—caught in that cycle where every small task feels heavy and even rest doesn’t feel restful. That’s why I want to share seven gentle, evidence-backed ways to ease stress that have helped many people (myself included). These aren’t quick fixes, but they’re practical tools you can lean on—especially on the tough days.

1. Take a Breath (Literally)

Stress often hijacks your breath, making it short and shallow. Try this: inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 6. A longer exhale tells your body it’s safe to calm down. Five minutes of this can shift your whole day.

2. Mindfulness in Small Moments

You don’t have to sit on a cushion for an hour. Try bringing awareness to everyday moments—like noticing how your coffee smells, how your feet feel on the floor, or how your breath moves in your chest. Even 10 minutes can lower stress levels.

3. Move Your Body in Ways That Feel Good

You don’t need a gym membership. A gentle walk, stretching, or even dancing in your living room can release endorphins and reduce stress hormones. If you live with chronic pain, even small, slow movements count.

4. Write It Out

Journaling can be surprisingly powerful. Putting your worries on paper helps clear your head and process emotions. Try setting a timer for 10–15 minutes and letting your thoughts flow without editing.

5. Lean on Your People

Stress feels heavier when carried alone. Text a friend, share how you’re feeling in a support group, or even comment on stories here on The Mighty. Connection is one of the strongest antidotes to stress.

6. Gentle Yoga or Stretching

When your body holds stress, gentle stretches can help release it. Simple poses like child’s pose or lying with your legs up a wall can calm both your body and your mind.

7. Remember to Rest

Breaks are not weakness. Even a few minutes away from your screen or a short pause between tasks can restore your energy. Rest is part of healing, not something you have to earn.

Extra Tips I’ve Learned Along the Way

1.Put your phone down once in a while (endless scrolling often adds stress).

2.Fuel your body with foods that make you feel steady, not jittery.##

3.Practice “micro-moments” of calm—a single deep breath, a stretch, or a pause. They add up.

You’re Not Alone in This

Stress is real, and it can feel overwhelming, especially when layered on top of health challenges. But you don’t have to tackle it all at once. Start with one or two of these practices and build from there.

Let’s Talk

💬 Which of these stress-relief practices has helped you the most?

💬 Do you have a go-to strategy that works when nothing else does?

Share in the comments—your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.

#stressrelief #MentalHealth #ChronicIllness #selfcare

#Mindfulness #Nature #Appreciation #Picture #Anxiety #Depression #stressrelief

Kind reminder #reminder #stressrelief #Anxiety #Depression #coping #Kindness #compassion #Selflove #hardtimes #youarenotalone #itsokaytonotbeokay #YouGotThis #don ’tcompare #loveyourself #Survivor #fighter

My dear sweet mom and I used to scrapbook from 2003 til she became extremely ill in 2015 and passed away. I miss her greatly and really miss the friends we made during that time. Scrapbooking provided me with a very creative outlet for the extreme stress that I was under in my Information Technology career! #scrapbooking #stressrelief #Photography #BipolarDisorder #creativeoutlet

Nature heals and and if you can try to get outside and if you can't make it that far, maybe the sunlight through a window.

#sunlight #Healing #MentalHealth

This week will be an extremely busy for me personally.

My organization has been planning a major youth entrepreneur event for months before the pandemic hit, causing us to postpone our event for over a year. Our event is finally taking place this Saturday and we are in full preparation and promotional mode. However, because of the pandemic, we’ve experienced some unique and difficult challenges which has caused a lot of stress on me and my colleagues.

This is just one of many things on my plate. I do summer homeschooling with 3 kids, run a blog and serve as a contributor and moderator for a couple of communities. I’m also in the final stages of writing my first children’s book.

But this time, I am changing the game plan…

Instead of being superwoman and doing it all, this week I have implemented the PURE stress management method and decided to focus on making this youth entrepreneur event successful.

PURE stands for:

– Pause what you’re doing

– Use your stress management strategies

– Regain your composure

– Establish a new game plan to help relieve the stress in your situation

For me, this means putting my blogging and book-writing projects on hold. It also means delegating my tasks to others in the household and just saying no to things and opportunities that I can’t do.

This will help me not get so overwhelmed and will have some extra time to rest when I can.

Prioritize your health first so you can be able to focus on the things that matter to you. And as my good friend always says:

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

#Anxiety #stressrelief #ChronicIllness #DiabetesType2

When you’re fearful, anxious, feeling defeated, where do you get your strength? What helps you move forward? #stressrelief #Depression #relax #Nofear #fearless

Music has always been my comfort. It may change, but I can always stay with any artist or song since music never dies. I love so many different types of music.
Right now my saving grace is What Makes You Country by Luke Bryan.
#Music #stressrelief #artist #focus #Calming #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Paranoia #BipolarDisorder #Insomnia