Tips for Relaxation – How to Relieve Stress


We all have stressful days.

Fortunately, there are a few common tips for relaxation that can help you unwind and relax, no matter what type of stressful environment surrounds you.

It doesn’t matter if your stress is caused by screaming babies, tight deadline at work, family feuds, etc.), stress is universal and some common solutions can help you relax…

…at least for a few minutes.

Top Ten Tips for Relaxation

Some of the following tips for relaxation may only work when a particular person is responsible for your high stress level, but it could still be handy to think about using the techniques suggested below:

  • Can you enjoy the humor of the situation? Make a joke to lighten the atmosphere or take a second and force yourself to smile. It’s amazing how powerful a smile (even a fake one) can be.
  • Go for a walk or exercise in some way. If you’re dealing with short-term anger or stress, a 15-minute walk could make a big difference. Make time for relaxation activities, event if they only last 5 minutes. See some quick breathing exercises here.
  • Feeling angry or stressed toward a specific person or organization? Write a letter. You don’t need to mail it (and perhaps you shouldn’t) but writing the letter and letting your emotions out on paper should help release some of the tension.
  • Think about the big picture. Getting stressed out or angry at your partner for finishing the milk before you had a chance to pour some in your coffee isn’t the end of the world, is it? Is it worth it to argue or stress about such small things? Would your relationship end up suffering for no real reason? It’s OK to swallow your pride every now and then …and enjoy a cup of black coffee.

More Useful Tips for Relaxation


  • Will worrying about it make it any better? Most of the time, we end up stressing out about things that are totally out of our control. Take a second and think about what you can do about a specific stressful situation. If the answer is "nothing", then say this to yourself (out loud if needed): "I might as well forget about it. I’ve done the best I can, and it’s now in someone else’s hands.". Think about it… It may be one of the best tips for relaxation you will ever get.
  • Feeling upset about something someone just told you? Leave it for now. Take time to cool off. Bringing your negative emotions into a business or personal discussion can only hurt. Sleep on it (if you can) and you may even be able to offer new solutions when you meet with the person in question the following day.
  • Although you may think I’m contradicting myself (see previous point), I recommend that you communicate openly about what stresses you out. I am NOT saying to vent angrily, but I’m suggesting that you have a polite discussion about how you feel when a particular situation happens. Always start your discussion with "I feel…" instead of "You are…".

    You want to calmly be able to discuss the stressful situation and possibly come up with solutions that will satisfy both parties. If you are feeling stressed out by a situation, find a friend or family member you feel comfortable with and talk about it. Sometimes, voicing your concerns out loud helps to alleviate your stress levels.

  • Can you avoid the stressful situation all together? For example, if you stress out before traveling to a foreign country (because you don’t speak the language), why don’t you choose a different country where they speak English? When you take time to consider your options, you may be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to avoid stressful situations.

A Few Final Relaxation Tips and Techniques

  • Many people feel stressed out when thinking about large projects or goals. For example, you need to save up $2,000 in the next year to go to your sister’s wedding on a cruise ship. Well, you have a goal. Now you need to break it down into smaller, actionable chunks.
    For example:
    1. Write down and calculate how much you expect to earn from now until then.
    2. Write down a list of mandatory expenses (heat, water, electricity, rent, car payment, etc.)
    3. Track down every expense down to the penny for a full month.
    4. See where the rest of your money goes and see where you can save money by cutting down unnecessary expenses.
    5. If you still can’t find a way to make ends meet while saving enough for your goal, then you need to consider other options (part-time job, garage sale, etc.)
    6. Then repeat the process until all you have to do is simple and do-able. Take it one day at a time, one small task after the other.
  • When none of the previous tips for relaxation work, just accept the fact that you are currently feeling stressed, but this situation will end sooner or later. There is always sunshine after a storm. Be patient and seek the positive sides of life.

More Good Relaxation Tips

You can find more relaxation tips in the footer. These articles contain tricks, techniques and other useful information that may be helpful in relieving stress: