Being stressed is the worse. I'm stressed constantly between keeping my grades up, volleyball, and thinking about college. Unfortunately, I haven't been dealing with the stress well lately. So, I've found some tips to help with stress and anxiety and I really hope these tips help for you too.
1. Put down your phone
My phone causes me a lot of stress. It's also a major distraction when I'm doing homework. Stop procrastinating and set your phone down.
2. Aromatherapy
I'm not entirely sure how effective this tip is, but I will say that when I take a bath with bath bombs that smell like tangerines or lavender, it does calm me down.
3. take a bath or shower
This tip helps me so much, especially baths. The warm water calms me down. I also read once that the warmth from the water can sooth your muscles.
4. drink more water, less caffeine
I know, I know, "drink more water" is probably the most cliché thing said on self care lists, but it's true. Caffeine does have a lot of sugar and sugar isn't good for your brain, especially when stressed.
5. listen to calming music
THIS HELPS SO MUCH. When I have anxiety attacks, music has really helped me through it. I recommend listening to any song by Sleeping at Last. Their songs are beautiful. Here are a list of songs that I recommend. If you have any recommendations, feel free to comment them! The ones in bold are the songs I highly recommend.
Light ~ Sleeping at Last
Saturn ~ Sleeping at Last
Arctic ~ Sleeping at Last
I'll Keep You Safe ~ Sleeping at Last
In My Blood ~ Shawn Mendes
Never Be Alone ~ Shawn Mendes
come out and play ~ Billie Eilish
Fix You ~ Coldplay
The Scientist ~ Coldplay
Somewhere Only We Know ~ Keane
Photograph ~ Ed Sheeran
Chasing Cars ~ Snow Patrol (Sleeping at Last also has a cover for this song and it's beautiful)
Everdream ~ Epic Soul Factory
Hold On ~ Extreme Music (HIGHLY RECOMMEND)
Aeon ~ Nick Murray ft. Juliet Lyons
Cecilia and the Satellite ~ Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
Silence ~ Marshmello, Khalid
New Year's Day ~ Pentatonix
You Will be Found ~ Dear Evan Hansen
A Million Dreams ~ The Greatest Showman
Iridescent ~ Linkin Park
6. repeat a positive message in your head
Sometimes this doesn't help, but there have been a lot of times when I think, "it's just a bad day, not a bad life" when things get bad and it's put me back into perspective. Here are some quotes that I love:
"So many people love you. Don't focus on the people who don't."
"Keep going, because you did not come this far just to come this far."
"My self worth is not determined by others."
"Life is tough, but so are you."
"Perhaps you were born for such a time as this." - Esther 4:24
7. write down your thoughts
I can not tell you the amount of journals I have filled because there are too many. I've found that it really helps to write down or rant about how you're feeling. You can let it all out.
I hope that these tips have helped. If you have any others, please comment them! I would love to hear them.