By Kenneth Oboh

Do you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? The to-do list keeps growing, emergencies pop up, and there’s always something around the corner, waiting to show up when you’re just about to relax.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Regardless of what unique challenges you face, it all boils down to stress.

The good news is that while stress can often feel insurmountable, there are multiple tactics for coping with stress, feeling better, and boosting your well-being. Let’s discuss them.

1. Exercise

Regular physical activity is one of the most effective daily stress hacks because it boosts your mood, confidence, well-being, and energy levels.

As you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which primarily suppress pain but have also been shown to elevate your mood and even bring a sense of euphoria. If you’ve ever heard of runner’s high, that’s it. This plays a major role in chronic stress relief.

2. Control Your Screen Time

If you’ve ever searched for information on how to manage stress naturally, the suggestion of reducing screen time has probably come up at least once.

While there might not be a clear link at first glance, research actually shows that higher use of electronics, particularly phones and computers, can lead to more stress. This is simply due to overstimulation that can result when we try to keep up with news, notifications, and work or school-related stuff.

Screen time around bedtime can be particularly bad because it affects your sleep by impairing melatonin production and creating anxiety. Instead, simple ways to relax and entertain yourself include:

• Read a good book
• Listen to music
• Journal
• Go for a walk
• Talk to a friend or family member

3. Consider a Supplement

Certain supplements have been shown to reliably reduce stress and promote relaxation. One such example is cannabidiol.

The compound binds to receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a significant role in well-being, mood regulation, memory, and sleep.

Plus, you can pick from various forms of the supplement, including edibles.

4. Have a Good Morning Routine

What’s your typical morning? For most people, it’s to wake up, grab the phone, and proceed to check notifications and scroll through social media.

Or maybe:

Wake up, rush to get ready for the day, and get stressed before even reaching school or work.

Neither is good, and both contribute to elevated stress throughout the day. How you start each day has a big impact on how it goes.

So, rather than getting stressed before you’ve even fully woken up, set up a simple morning routine. That way, you can start the day on a relaxing and productive note.

First, don’t use your phone, even to check notifications, for the first hour.

Stress management techniques worth adding to your morning routine include:

• Meditate
• Journal
• Write your to-do list
• Stretch
• Do some exercise

5. Don’t Forget to Reduce Stress at Work

The average person works 40 hours per week. But add commuting, extra work hours, and, in some cases, take-home assignments. Add everything up, and you could be looking at 50-55+ hours each week.

If you sleep seven hours per night, this means work would take up a whopping 45-50% of your waking hours each week.

Because of that, it’s crucial to also think about work stress and ways to manage it. Some good workplace stress tips include:

• Practice relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing
• Get up regularly to drink some water and stretch
• Take your lunch break and use it for yourself: eat, exercise, and even go for a walk
• Focus on big, challenging tasks first; don’t procrastinate
• Avoid checking emails (unless crucial to your job) before noon

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