6 Strategies for Coping with Stress in 20 Minutes or Less

Frequent headaches. Upset stomach. Over, or undereating. And even feeling tired. Nope, I’m not just describing a day in the life of a busy, working mom. These are all symptoms of stress and anxiety. Stress is a part of life, and it can even help motivate you to change or do better. But too much stress can keep your body in a fight, flight, freeze mode, leading to chronic diseases like high blood pressure or heart attacks. There are many great ways to work to decrease your stress levels. But, when there’s so little time in the day, we need quick stress relievers – and they need to work. Here are some easy strategies for coping with stress.

You’ll find more tips for managing your stress levels along with some great products to help you destress here. You should also check out this post with highlights on which vitamins can help you combat fatigue and, you guessed it, stress!

Quick Stress Relievers for Busy Moms

#1) Relax or Stretch Your Muscles

You know what your neck feels like when you are stressed. The tightness up the sides. How your shoulders climb higher and higher until they feel like they’re in your ears. It’s not just our necks that get tight too… We can hold stress and tension in almost every body part, including our feet.

To stop the spiral, you need to actively stop the muscle tightening. An easy and effective way to do that is to stretch and relax those tense muscles (cause we love a good yoga session, but as busy moms we need to know how to relieve stress quickly at work). There are some great options for you to use to relieve stress quickly. This foot roller and trigger point massager can help you relieve some tension at your desk.

Sometimes we can make our tension worse by how we sit at our desks. Our computer-slump shoulders just start to ache and add to our feelings of stress among working mothers. This Backpod can help you stretch your back muscles and relieve the tension that comes from being in front of a screen.

#2) Take a Quick, Brisk Walk

Maybe you’ve heard it before, but taking a walk outside can help you relieve stress and anxiety. The fresh air and the quick speed you’re moving can increase endorphins. A walk can also reduce stress-causing hormones. Spending your lunch break moving outside will help you better tackle whatever the afternoon throws at you. These cute sneakers are comfortable and supportive. Keep them at the office to help you stay motivated to walk, and get a little bit of vitamin D.

#3) Get Your Groove On

Music can change your mood with just a few notes. It’s not about the type of music you’re listening to, either… It’s about listening to music that makes you feel good. If you’re feeling overwhelmed working, maybe listening to your “pump up” favorites will help. Or you may want to listen to something mellow and loving. Either way, you can get your music therapy while keeping your emotions private at work with these Bose Earbuds. You’ll be able to more easily move beyond your current state of emotions to a less stressful and anxious place.

#4) Practice Deep Breathing with Essential Oils

Deep breathing also lowers cortisol levels – the stress hormone. One easy deep breathing technique is to inhale for four counts and then exhale for eight counts. By controlling how slowly you exhale, you are able to slow your heart rate. And that slower heart rate will help you reduce stress. Essentially, you are putting your body into the opposite of a fight, flight, or freeze state.

When you combine your deep breathing with essential oils, you can amplify the effects of the breathing. These essential oils are known for their calming properties. This one is in a roll-on, so it’s easy to keep in your purse or desk, so you can relieve stress quickly at work.

#5) Give Yourself a Hand

We neglect our hands. We have strong but small muscles in them, and we rarely pay them attention, except to slather on a cream before bed. But they actually can hold a lot of tension too. Taking a moment to give yourself a hand massage is one of the best quick stress relievers for busy moms.

To really work the joints, ligaments, and muscles of your hands, you may need a little help…especially for your non-dominant hand. This finger massager can help you pull the tension out of your hands. It’s small and discrete enough to use at work or on the go. If you want a full-spa experience for your hands, try this cordless hand massager. And to double down on the spa feeling, as stress management for moms and working women, you can use a luxurious and rich hand lotion. This one is decadent and feminine, plus, the lavender scent has stress-relieving properties too.

#6) Drink Calming Teas

There is a quote that goes something like, “Tea is always a good idea.” And while I’m a coffee drinker most of the time, a cup of tea can soothe stress quickly and easily. There are some chemicals in tea that can boost relaxation (amino acid L-theanine). Plus, drinking hot tea can slow you down, which can help you lower your stress even more. These teas are herbal and contain the leaves of plants that can increase your calming feelings. You can drink the teas all day long without worrying about not being able to sleep, since they’re caffeine-free.

Do you have go-to, quick and easy stress relief strategies? Let us know in the comments.

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