These days being a human seems to be synonymous with overwhelm and stress.

Even though this experience of being human is becoming more and more common, it’s not something that you have to simply cope with or tolerate.

There are simple and effective ways to de-stress that require only one thing from you: the willingness to pause and tune into what your body needs.

In this post, you’ll learn about 13 actionable self care strategies to help you relax, feel grounded and restore a deeper sense of calm (both in the moment and long term).

Note: this post contains some affiliate links and I earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you use them to make a purchase.

1. Practice Yoga Nidra

woman in relaxing yoga nidra savasana pose

Sometimes referred to as “yogic sleep” or “NSDR – non sleep deep rest,” yoga nidra is a deeply restorative, guided meditation practice that allows you to relax physically and mentally.

Even though it’s a meditation, you do it lying down. There are two benefits to this:

  • You don’t have to worry about the physical discomfort that often comes with sitting in a traditional meditative, cross legged position.
  • When you lie down, you don’t have to work on keeping your body upright. So it’s much easier for your body to relax and de-stress.

Yoga nidra is part of the yogic tradition in India, where it was originally used as a way to facilitate deep meditation and self-awareness. 

Today, studies have shown that during a yoga nidra session, our brain waves go through phases that are similar to the ones that occur during sleep. Except you’re awake!

As a result, one yoga nidra session can be very relaxing and restorative. In fact, one 30-minute yoga nidra session may provide benefits similar to 2 – 4 hours of sleep (source).

To get started with yoga nidra, check out Ally Boothroyd and Kristyn Rose on YouTube.

Their yoga nidra videos have gotten me through some seriously challenging times. 

You won’t be disappointed!

2. Read a Physical Book

With the rise of digital devices, our eyes and brains are often overstimulated. 

This overstimulation affects hormones like melatonin (which is thrown off balance by the blue light from our devices).

With the imbalance in hormones like melatonin, other hormones, like our stress hormones can go up.

A simple way to bring more balance to your body and reduce stress is to simply read a paper book.

It allows your eyes to rest. 

Fun fact: Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic approach dating back to ancient times, that uses books (typically, fiction) as a form of therapy to support mental health and reduce stress (source).

3. Listen to a Podcast Instead of Watching One

As podcasts continue to grow, many of us are spending more time watching them on platforms like YouTube.

While it’s certainly nice to see human interaction, the addition of visuals means the brain has to juggle more things.

On the other hand, when you simply listen to a podcast, your senses focus on one thing: sound.

By focusing on one thing, it’s easier for your brain and body to relax.

There’s no multi-tasking. It’s much easier to be in the present moment (which is always good for your stress levels).

4. Qi-Gong Body Tapping

Qi-gong (pronounced “chi gong”) is a 4,000-year-old Chinese practice that involves exercise, meditation, visualization, breathwork and knocking on the body.

Yep, you read that right!

Knocking or tapping on the body is used to stimulate energy (aka chi or life force).

This energy flows through pathways in the body known as meridians.

By knocking on your body (using your knuckles or fingertips) you activate acupressure points, helping to release stagnant energy and reduce stress.

Research on qi gong shows that it helps to lower cortisol levels and improve overall well-being (source).

For qi gong, my go-to teacher is Lee Holden. Watch this short 7-minute routine for examples of exercises that involve knocking on the body.

5. Diffuse Essential Oils

Using essential oils to support our health and well-being – aka aromatherapy – is something that humans have been doing for centuries. 

As time has passed, modern science has confirmed that these fragrant plant oils really can be beneficial when we need to de-stress.

One oil that has been studied for this particular purpose is lavender. For example:

  • One study indicated that lavender oil has anxiety-reducing effects (source).
  • Another study indicated that lavender may suppress the stress response (source).

Besides lavender oil, other oils that may help with lowering stress include:

  • Clary sage
  • Bergamot.
  • Ylang-ylang are particularly effective. 

6. Sip on a Cup of Herbal Tea

If you’re a tea fan, then the simple act of sipping on a warm cup of your favorite tea can help you de-stress.

However, if you’re not a tea person but want to explore how herbal teas can help you feel less frazzled, start with a category of herbs known as nervines.

Nervines are plants that have traditionally been used to support the nervous system. 

A healthy nervous system is essential for lowering feeling of stress, tension and overwhelm.

Some nervines to look into:

  • Chamomile.
  • Lemon balm.
  • Passionflower.
  • Oat straw.
  • Milky oats.

7. Bake a Treat from Scratch

woman holding mixing bowl for baking

Do you tend to reach for sweet treats when you’re stressed?

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Part of de-stressing is giving the body what it truly needs at any given time.

And sometimes, the loving thing to do is to just enjoy that sinfully delicious chocolate cake!

And you can take it even further by baking your own chocolate cake (or whatever your favorite treat is).

The act of baking can be incredibly therapeutic because you are:

  • Engaging in a tactile, creative activity.
  • You’re focused on doing one thing.
  • Igniting a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction (look, I just baked a cake!)

All of this changes your chemical state far more than just going to the grocery store and grabbing something off the shelf that a stranger made.

Not to mention, your home-made cake is generally better for you because you’re not dumping a bunch of preservatives, fake dyes and other nonsense into it. 

8. Listen to Music that Matches Your Mood

Music has a powerful impact on our emotions and stress levels.

Even though soothing music like classical or nature sounds is often recommended for relaxation, sometimes you’re better off going in the opposite direction.

For example, if you’re feeling tense or angry, playing energetic music like rock or upbeat pop can help you release pent-up energy. 

Rather than insist that you must listen to something “calm” tune into what your body needs at the moment.

Then choose your music accordingly

Quick tip: create different playlists for various moods – one for when you need energy, one for when you want to relax, and another for when you need an emotional release. Have them as part of your emergency stress relief kit..

9. Go Outside – Without Your Phone

There’s a reason why spending time in nature is often called “nature therapy” or “forest bathing” 

Research shows that by bathing our senses in all that the outdoors has to offer, we can significantly lower cortisol levels, lower stress and boost our mood. 

If you can, set aside time every day to go outside. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes. 

Also, make sure to leave your phone behind (or put it on silent) so that you can fully engage with your surroundings. 

Notice everything:

  • The rustling leaves
  • The sound of your footsteps.
  • The sensation of your footsteps
  • The sensation of your arms swinging.
  • The warmth of the sun or the chill of the wind.

Focusing on simple things is a great way to naturally let go of the more complicated and overwhelming things that are part of “real life.”

10. Make Time for Earthing Or Grounding

Have you heard of the amazing benefits that come with walking barefoot outside?

This practice – called earthing or grounding – is said to bring balance to the positive and negative ions in the body.

Basically, by exposing your feet, hands or other body parts to the earth, its electrical energy re-balances ours (source).

End result?

You feel less stressed and may experience less inflammation (which is an underlying cause of so many health conditions that plague modern society).

But what if you can’t go outside?

You can get the same benefits from using an earthing mat indoors.

You simply plug the mat into an outlet and the electricity creates a similar balance in your body as you’d get from the earth.

11. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

EFT or “tapping,” is a simple yet powerful tool that combines elements of acupuncture and psychology.

It involves repeating a set of phrases – ideally, tailored to a challenge in your life –  as you tap on specific acupressure points.

The end result is that this process supports the body in releasing negative energy and rewiring our thinking (both of which are helpful for feeling less stressed).

To get started with EFT, here’s a quick, 4-minute tapping session from Dr. Kim D’Eramo

12. The Havening Technique

The Havening Technique is another powerful way to reduce stress by connecting with the physical body.

Havening involves gently stroking the face, arms and hands while focusing on calming thoughts (or repeating a mantra, affirmations and so on).

This gentle touch helps to shift the brain from high beta brain waves – when we’re hypervigilant – to delta brain waves, which are associated with deep relaxation.

You can try Havening any time you feel overwhelmed or as part of your daily self-care ritual.

Here’s an excellent tutorial on havening:

13. Be Gentle With Yourself

Sometimes, the most powerful self-care strategy is to simply give yourself permission to experience stress without judgment. 

Remember that being hard on yourself for feeling stressed only creates a cycle that feeds into more stress.

Also, be mindful of trying to take on too many self-care practices at once.

The modern world has taught us to always be doing something, fixing something.

And when you’re always in a state of mind of “I have to fix X, Y, Z about myself,” you’re also telling your body that it’s broken. That it’s not enough.

Your body is always listening. So be gentle with yourself.

CONCLUSION

Stress isn’t just about what happens to you.

It’s mostly about how you respond to it (which is why you have something called a stress response system).

By using the de-stressing techniques in this article, you can help your body feel more at ease in the moment.

Long-term, you will also be supporting your body’s ability to respond to stress in a way that is more helpful for you.

To get started, pick one or two items that resonate with you and start incorporating them into your routine. 

Remember, small steps can lead to big changes over time.

self care ideas to destress yourself

You Might Also Like:

20 Unique and Unusual Self Care Ideas To Inspire and Revitalize You

10 Tips for Self Care During Your Period: Reduce Cramps, Take Control of Your Hormones and Feel More Ease In Your Body

20 Amazing Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes for Sleep