10 free and cheap ways to relieve stress

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We live in such as busy world that it’s easy to become stressed or overwhelmed.  Too much stress can have negative effects on both our bodies and minds, which doesn’t do our work or home lives any good either.

Taking a little time to just kick back and relax, enjoy something peaceful or distraction free can really make a difference in preventing and reducing stress and anxiety.

Here are some simple, budget-friendly ways to relieve stress.

1. Make sure you get a good nights sleep

Sleep is so important! When you don’t have enough sleep it can impact on your body and your mind, making it hard to concentrate and making you feel generally rubbish.

Making sure to build a good sleep routine into your life, for example going to bed at a good time and reducing screen time just before bed, can really help prevent stress and keep your feeling fresh. 

2. Take a bubble bath

This is a simple and cheap way to really relax. Pour in some bubbles, light a candle, lie back and let your worries float away.

3. Get some exercise

Getting some exercise is one of the most highly recommended ways to reduce stress. You don’t have to join an expensive gym or suddenly go and run a marathon, you can start gently and you can even exercise at home if you prefer. There are tons of workout videos on Youtube you could check out, and choose whatever you fancy, whether that’s yoga or gentle pilates, or a high energy cardio routine. 

There are so many benefits and even just taking half an hour to exercise 2 or 3 times a week can help with reducing stress and anxiety as well as improving fitness and health.

4. Declutter

Having too much stuff around can worsen the effects of stress and anxiety – a cluttered house can lead to a cluttered mind. Taking some time to go through your home and declutter can help loosen up some space and make you feel freer and less stressed.

You can also try a digital declutter – cleaning up your inbox, sorting out a cluttered desktop, unsubscribing from junk emails – all these things can help you feel clearer and reduce stress.

5. Play games

Sometimes you just need to take some time to switch off and enjoy something simple. We’ve all been there mindlessly scrolling through social media right?

Playing online games such as a daily sudoku can help you to relax but also works on improving your concentration and reducing anxiety and stress. Fully focusing the brain on one thing can help you forget about causes of anxiety and help you to regroup and come back to other tasks feeling refreshed.

One game in particular that lots of people find enjoyable and relaxing is Solitaire or the Spider Solitaire variant. Whilst you can play physically with a deck of cards, you can also play online, making it easier to keep track of your scores and timings.

6. Take a long walk

Getting outside and in the fresh air can work wonders. Taking a long walk (choose a nice scenic route) not only gives you exercise (great for stress) it also gives you a chance to clear your head and blow away the cobwebs as they say.

7. Relax with a good book and a cuppa

Another cheap way to spend some free time and de-stress is to find a comfy place to sit with a good book and a hot cuppa. Curling up to read with your favourite drink and snack is a great way to chill out, take some time to yourself and switch off from the world.

8. Do some gardening 

Gardening is a brilliant way to de-stress. You get out in the fresh air, it’s physical exercise which is great for stress and you can get a real sense of achievement from it. 

9. Listen to music

Music is great. It can be uplifting, calming, meditative…whatever you need.

Popping on some of your favourite tunes can really help to brighten your day and lift your mood.

You could also try listening to some calming meditation music before bed to really help you relax and unwind.

10. Get out in the sunshine

In the same way, simply getting out and feeling some sunshine on your skin can be so good for you. A lack of vitamin D can cause fatigue, depression, feelings of sadness and loss of appetite, but just 15 minutes of sun daily can help you produce more and increase your serotonin levels.