6 Quick Ways To Relieve Stress & Boost Your Mood

decreases arousal & increases valence for calm

When two slightly different frequencies of sound combine, they create a humming vibration. And when you listen to this vibration in headphones?

It creates a fascinating auditory perception called binaural beats.

Your brain responds by creating calm brain waves. Similar to ones you produce during calm focus, meditation and restful sleep.

Meditones are binaural beats mixed with beautiful ambient music.

This makes meditones a fantastic option for autistic, ADHD or other neurodivergent people who may struggle with traditional forms of meditation.

Because meditones make you calm without you having to do a thing.

Just listen with headphones, and the meditones effect occurs naturally and easily.

You can discover hours of meditones inside the Restful app.

Check out the meditones Mood Booster playlist inside the Restful app. Download for free on Google Play or the App Store today!

increases arousal & increases valence for happiness

Virtually any form of exercise can act as a stress reliever.

Physical activity increases your brain’s production of euphoric ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters called endorphins.

The most important thing is to pick an activity that you enjoy.

You could try yoga, Pilates, dancing or Tai Chi.

You could even jump on a trampoline with your kids, play fetch with your dog, or throw a frisbee with friends.

If you have limited mobility, exercising in water can be especially beneficial as it supports the body and reduces the risk of muscle or joint discomfort.

Get moving in any way you can and feel the stress melt away.

decreases arousal & increases valence for calm

When you’re stressed your breathing becomes shallow and fast. But breathwork is about consciously using your breath to calm yourself down.

When you focus on exhaling deeply, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

The PNS is the calming arm of your nervous system and helps you:

• decrease alertness
• feel calmer
• digest food, and
• lower your heart rate

When you start to feel tension rising, try exhaling for twice as long as you inhale.

To begin, simply inhale for a count of 2 and exhale for a count of 4. Repeat for a few rounds until you feel your body relax and your mind ease.

decreases arousal & increases valence for contentment

Our brains love patterns and problem solving. And puzzles give you both.

1. as you search for the right pieces, and
2. as you piece together the larger picture.

Puzzles require a certain level of concentration, so your brain is creating a mindful moment.

For many people, doing a jigsaw puzzle feels like meditation.

And with each puzzle piece successfully placed? You get a hit of dopamine which soothes the brain. This rewarding neurotransmitter reaches its peak with the puzzle’s completion.

There are so many different types of jigsaw puzzles available these days, so you can easily find an image that speaks to you.

Our current fave puzzles are from Whiled with their bold, modern artistic prints.

Or hunt for some vintage puzzles at your local thrift store for a bargain.

increases arousal & increases valence for happiness

Laughing reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins (the body’s natural feel-good chemicals). Which makes watching comedies an underrated form of stress relief.

There’s no shortage of material. You could search for comedy on Netflix. You could find comedy podcasts to listen to, or even search your local comedy clubs for a fun night out.

decreases arousal & increases valence for contentment

Low blood sugar makes you moody. Because it’s pretty hard to feel calm and resilient when you’re buffeted by waves of hunger and exhaustion. It’s called ‘hangry’ for a reason.

Blood sugar is also known as glucose. Without enough glucose, your body can’t perform its normal functions.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• mood swings
• nervousness
• sudden fatigue
• headaches
• trouble concentrating

To stabilise blood sugar, eat regularly and embrace healthy fats - nuts, avocado, eggs, cheese and fatty fish. Meals and snacks high in healthy fats and protein help you feel sated and stabilise your blood sugar.

Note: hypoglycemia from diabetes or medication can be very dangerous. If someone is having a severe reaction, such as unconsciousness, contact emergency services immediately.