When it comes to stress management, there are a number of ways you can reduce the negative experiences of stress, such as increasing your exercise and getting enough sleep (via the National Alliance on Mental Illness). Though some individuals may look to activities, like yoga, meditation, or therapy sessions, as a means of reducing stress, these options can require changes to your regular lifestyle that may be difficult to fit in or implement without causing additional stress. After all, feeling guilty that you failed to get up early enough for a yoga session before work can start the stressful cycle before you’ve even clocked in.
Managing stress can be challenging, particularly if the changes needed to reduce stress involve drastic behavior or lifestyle changes. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, Americans can lack motivation to adopt new behaviors solely for the purpose of reducing stress, despite the recognized detriments that chronic stress has on an individual’s health and well-being. Luckily, not all stress-relieving practices require such drastic changes to an individual’s lifestyle.