As the holiday break has dwindled away, stress has reappeared for many. The daily hustle and bustle of life is back, as most students have to navigate through school, clubs, work, and outside activities in the midst of a pandemic.                                                                                                                        But what if there was a way to stop the stress from consuming you?            For those of you who like the sound of that, I offer a small list in no particular order of some of the best ways to relieve stress.

1. Listening to music 

Music is a great outlet to help the mind and body begin to relax. According to the University of  Nevada’s Studies, Music has been proven to help quiet the mind and soothe the muscles, allowing for the body to release the stress of everyday life. Everyone has their own taste of music, but a slower tempo is known best for helping the body release stress. It only takes a few seconds to type in relaxing music, therefore this is a very accessible option that is easy to try out!

2. Aroma Therapy 

Aromatherapy is the usage of essential oils and other aroma compounds to help improve the physiological and physical welfare of the human body. The National Library of Medicine has shown that Aroma therapy stimulates receptors that send messages to the nervous system, making it a good candidate for relieving stress. You can simply light soothing candles, buy the aromatherapy brand at Bath and Body, or use an essential oil diffuser to participate in this stress reliever. 

3. Yoga 

Everybody reacts differently to stress relievers, but what I have found to be most effective for me is definitely yoga. Yoga focuses on connecting the body and mind. Practicing yoga is a great way to meditate and just breathe your stress away. A local studio that I highly recommend is Yoga Flow, which can be found in both Murrysville and Irwin. This studio acts as a wellness center as it aids your mental stress, chronic pain, and even chronic stress. It is a great way to wind down and simply just breathe. Use this link to view their website (https://www.yogaflowpittsburgh.com/). 

4. Get Outside

It is amazing what some fresh air can do for you! Just taking a step outside is a great way to reduce stress as The American Heart Association has shown it reduces cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. In our lives it is easy to get caught up in screens and forget how beneficial nature is. Whether you’re sitting outside and just observing, or doing an activity it is a great way to get the mind and body to relax. 

5. Exercise 

Whether we like to admit it or not exercising is another great way to relieve anxiety and stress. By pumping up your endorphins, exercising helps your overall well-being, especially by relieving stress. It is a great way to get stuff off your mind, and it is accessible any time. You do not need a gym or anything special to get your body moving, so get moving that stress away!

Madison Klobucar, Staff Writer