We’re all tensed sometimes, whether it’s because we had a bad day at work, our relationship is on the rocks, we received some disturbing news, and sometimes just like that for no apparent reason. But stress doesn’t only have psychological strains on us, but also physical – when we’re feeling down, it affects our health. It’s not just that we don’t feel like exercising or even leaving the house, but being stressed can actually make us sick.

We like to believe that if we ignore the stress, it’ll simply go away, but unfortunately that isn’t the case – stress only keeps up building inside us, until the point we cant take it anymore, physically or mentally – one way or another, it takes a toll on us. That’s why it’s crucial to try and relieve your stress as much as you can, and we’ve gathered some tips that are ought to to the trick.

Talk about it

It might sound obvious, but it works. There’s a reason why people pay so much to see therapists, and it’s usually not because of their professional advice, but simply because talking about our anxieties and sharing our feelings usually helps to relieve them. It doesn’t work for everybody, but it’s worth a shot. Talking about it can also help you understand and put a name on something you’ve been going through but wasn’t sure how to identify, and it might help you come full circle with some issues you’ve been struggling with. One thing is for sure – it can’t hurt to talk about it.

Go outside

If you don’t feel in the mood that’s okay, and it’s quite understandable, but try and step outside to get some fresh air. Being in the sun and breathing in the fresh air always helps. If you take a long stroll or a run it’s even better, as any form of exercise is known as an efficient form of relieving stress. And it’s not only psychological, but scientifically proven: exercise boosts your confidence, improves your sleep, and relieves the stress hormones in your body.

Take a break

And a big breath. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and remember to take a break every now and then. It sounds silly, but try to follow these steps: close your eyes, sit up straight, clear your mind and focus on your breathing. It’s not a myth – meditating really does relieve stress, by slowing the heart rate and thus lowering blood pressure. When we’re angry, our heart rate and blood pressure goes up – and meditating has the opposite effect. Try and repeat this every day and see if you feel any better.

Laugh out loud

Yes, it sounds silly, but it’s scientifically proven that physically smiling and laughing can help us feel better, even momentarily. Laughing relaxes our muscles (which are tense when we’re tense), and thus helps to relieve stress. The best recommendation is to surround yourself with friends and family, people who you love and make you laugh, but even just watching a stand up show can do the trick.

Eat well

What we eat affects our body more than we know – they say “you are what you eat,” and in this case this might be right. Eating well balanced meals can help you relieve stress, as often what we eat is the reason for our stress. If you neglect your eating, don’t get enough nutrients or just don’t eat enough at all, it can make you feel tired and stressed. Thus, it’s important to eat full, healthy meals, and also treat yourself sometimes to something that you like, whether it’s chocolate, ice cream or anything else that puts a smile on your face.