How does stress impact your relationship?

Too much stress can feel overwhelming, and it often sneaks up on us. When you need to relax your mind and body immediately, try these nine quick, easy strategies.

Easy ways to calm down fast:



1. Take a walk.
2. Breathe deeply.
3. Visualize relief.
4. Reframe your situation.
5. Relax your muscles.
6. Sniff something soothing.
7. Write it down.
8. Drink some water.

Chew gum.

Exercise can be a great stress reliever because it helps you blow off steam and releases endorphins. Even if you have just 5 or 10 minutes, moving your body for a bit will help. If you have more time or can take your walk outside, even better.

Walking with a good friend can be a nice way to find social support, and walking alone can provide you with some time to think, reframe, and come back to the situation with renewed optimism. You could also listen to music that soothes or energizes you (unless the noise wouldn't help).

Taking a walk can bring you the benefits of exercise—both short-term and long-term—and as a bonus, it gets you out of the stressful situation temporarily. This can provide you with some perspective so you can return in a new frame of mind¹.

Stress comes in many forms. It can build gradually or occur in a moment and then be gone. There is even a beneficial type called eustress, which is actually good for you unless it becomes too intense or chronic. If you’re dealing with chronic stress, it’s important to implement some practices to manage stress over the long term.

If you're not in a position to leave where you are, practice some breathing exercises. Getting more oxygen into your body and releasing physical tension are two ways that breathing exercises can benefit you. And you can do them anytime or anywhere, even if your demanding situation isn't letting up.

How to Reduce Stress with Breathing Exercises

To make your deep breathing even more soothing, try closing your eyes and/or pressing your palms together in a prayer position.

Visualize Relief

If you can steal away a few minutes of peace, visualizations and guided imagery are a wonderful way to restore peace of mind. They're easy to do and can relax you mentally and physically. With practice, you can easily access your "happy place" and quickly feel calmer when stressed.

How to Use Guided Imagery and Visualization for Stress

If you can look at your situation differently, you may be able to put it into a different perspective—one that causes you less stress.

Mental and emotional stress can be caused by pessimism, type A traits, and other self-sabotage. A therapist can help you break negative patterns and change the way you look at things. It will come in handy when you're stressed.

Mental Stress and Self-Sabotage

Relax Your Muscles

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a technique where you tense and release all of your muscle groups, leaving your body to feel more relaxed afterward. Just about anyone can do PMR, and with practice, you can fully release virtually all the tension you're feeling in your body in a matter of seconds. This can help you feel calmer and better able to handle the situations in front of you.

How to Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Sniff Something Soothing

Aromatherapy is another easy tool that you can use quickly. A 2020 review in the International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences of five studies found that aromatherapy use, specifically lavender, was associated with decreased anxiety, depression, stress, and fatigue in patients with cardiovascular disease.² Simply light a candle or diffuser, enjoy the aroma, and see if your stress levels go down.

If you have just a few minutes, you might benefit from journaling. A 2020 review published in Critical Care Nurse found that journal writing helps reduce psychological distress in families with critically ill loved ones.³ Write about what's causing you stress and get your emotions out on the page.

Journaling to Cope with Anxiety

In addition to thirsty, dehydration can make you feel tired and dizzy. So, if you're feeling overwhelmed, try drinking a glass of water. Even better: Brew a stress-relieving cup of tea, which can help you step away from what's making you stressed if only for a few moments.