This article originally appeared in Shape.
You need relief! Stress relief, that is – and you can start calming down and achieving a more balanced mindset with these 18 stress relievers. (Or psych yourself up by turning stress into positive energy.)
1. Prep for tomorrow.
Nothing is more stressful than being unprepared. Get organized so you're ready for the next day, taking a few minutes to make a to-do list and clean up before you leave. Knowing you've got everything covered means you'll be less likely to fret about work in the evenings. When you come in the next morning, you'll have the sense that you're in control of the situation and can handle it. This sets a positive tone for the day, which can help you get more accomplished. (You can even turn your nightly beauty routine into a stress-relieving practice.)
2. Arm yourself with healthy snacks.
Raise your hand if you've ever scooped your way to the bottom of an ice cream pint, went to town on a bag (or three) of gummies, or even reached for some frozen pizza when the going got tough (think: global pandemic, impending presentation at work, a recent breakup). Everyone? Sounds about right. After all, 27 percent of adults say they eat to manage stress and 34 percent of those report who overeat or jump on the junk food bandwagon when stressed say this behavior is a habit, according to the American Psychological Association. Here's the thing: When you're stressed, your body releases cortisol (aka the stress hormone), which "triggers cravings for pleasure, or for sweet or salty indulgent foods," Lisa Mastela, R.D., M.P.H., founder of Bumpin' Blends, a pre-made smoothie company, previously told Shape.