10 Ways to Relieve Stress Naturally

When you’re feeling stressed, your whole day can seem like a struggle. Sleeping, focusing, and even maintaining good relationships can become challenging. And if you experience stress for a long time, it can have a huge toll on your health. 

But the worst part is that stress is unavoidable. You can’t go through life without experiencing it, especially because the contributing causes of stress are normal parts of life. 

For example, any of the following things can trigger stress: 

• Big changes in your life 
• A lot of pressure at work or school 
• A lack of control over an outcome or situation 
• Juggling responsibilities that are overwhelming 
• Living in seasons of uncertainty 
• Failing to have enough activities, work, or change in your life

All of these scenarios are regular parts of the human experience. You’re going to encounter them one way or another, which means you will feel stressed every so often. However, the good news is that, while stress is a normal part of life, it is easy to eliminate. 

There are many ways to relieve stress naturally so that you feel inner peace. You don’t have to rely on alcohol or drugs to achieve a sense of calm. Instead, you can reduce stress and put your mind at ease with natural remedies that are easy to implement and great for enhancing your health and wellbeing. 

With that being said, here are 10 ways to relieve stress naturally. 

1. Meditate 

Most people meditate because it’s so good at reducing stress. One study even found that meditation has the ability to relieve stress naturally. 

Additionally, another study that lasted for eight weeks discovered that mindfulness meditation—a specific meditation style—reduced the inflammation response that occurs when you’re stressed. 

Research also indicates that meditation can improve symptoms that come along with stress-related conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia. 

2. Exercise 

Exercising isn’t just great for your health. It’s also a perfect way to relieve stress naturally. In fact, it’s one of the most important things that you can do to decrease the stress in your life. 

And the benefits of exercise are even more visible when you do it regularly. The reasons for this vary, but it comes down to the following: 

• Increases confidence: When you work out, you tend to feel better about yourself and your body, which promotes mental wellbeing. Exercising regularly also helps you feel more competent. 
• Deepens sleep: When you exercise on a regular basis, your sleep drastically improves. Typically, stress disrupts your sleep, but by working out, you can enjoy deep sleep every night. 
• Reduces stress hormones: Working out lowers your cortisol levels, which is the primary stress hormone in your body. Additionally, exercise helps release endorphins, which are chemicals that act as natural painkillers and that boost your mood. 

Of course, you don’t need to do extremely difficult exercises to see these benefits. Just walking or jogging can work. Or, you can switch it up and go dancing or rock climbing.  

3. Use CBD oil 

Cannabidiol is a naturally occurring compound in the hemp plant. It’s non-intoxicating, meaning it does not produce a psychoactive effect like THC. 

In fact, CBD is federally legal in the United States and has become increasingly popular because of its many therapeutic benefits. And one of those benefits is its ability to decrease the feelings of stress and anxiety. 

Studies have found that CBD can be a great natural remedy for social anxiety disorder (SAD), PTSD, and insomnia, which you can experience as a result of stress. 

Specifically, in a 2011 study, researchers examined CBD’s effects on people who had SAD. The participants either took an oral dose of 400 mg of CBD or a placebo. And those who took the CBD experienced lower anxiety levels. 

Additionally, several recent studies have indicated that CBD may help reduce the symptoms of PTSD, including replaying negative memories and nightmares. 

But one thing to keep in mind is that you must get a high-quality CBD oil if you want to experience its stress-relieving effects. Ideally, the remedy should be organic, vegan, third-party lab tested, and backed by good customer reviews. 

Kat’s Naturals Relax CBD Oil has each of these characteristics, so you can trust that it will do what it’s supposed to achieve. 

4. Get physical touch 

Cuddling, kissing, hugging, and having sex are all ways to relieve stress naturally. Physical touch is important, and it can work wonders in increasing your mental and emotional wellbeing. 

Simply hugging someone releases oxytocin, which is also known as the “cuddle hormone.” Oxytocin is linked to low levels of stress and high levels of happiness. 

Additionally, a study found that the release of oxytocin can increase positive communication during conflict and reduce cortisol levels after conflict. This insight is really important because stress can easily come from conflict and challenging interactions. 

5. Focus on your breathing 

Stress triggers your sympathetic nervous system, which signals to your body that it’s time to go into flight-or-fight mode. When this happens, your body releases stress hormones, resulting in physical symptoms like quicker breathing and an increased heart rate. 

However, by focusing on your breathing and doing deep breathing exercises, you can jumpstart your parasympathetic nervous system, which controls your relaxation response. This solution is excellent when you need a quick way to relieve stress naturally. 

Research also suggests that breathing techniques can calm your brain and body in only a few minutes. Great techniques to start doing include belly breathing, abdominal breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, and paced respiration. 

6. Enjoy aromatherapy 

Sometimes, all it takes is the right scent to relieve stress naturally. 

Recent studies prove that certain scents have the power to alter brain wave activity and decrease the stress hormones in your body. Some scents that are most typically effective in reducing stress include: