How to stress bust at Stanford

Even in the midst of our crazy, hectic, and stressful lives, we all undeniably have a few seconds to spare to make our days a little happier, healthier and productive. Taking one minute to try these simple tips and tricks will make your day more fun and will immediately leave you smiling.

The one minute rule

This rule is probably one of the quickest and easiest rules to live by: if it can be done in less than a minute, do it now. Instead of dropping your jacket on your floor, take a few seconds to hang it up in your closet. Respond to that email or text that only needs a few words. Make your bed (its amazing how just straightening your sheets can make your whole room look cleaner.)

By taking less than a minute to do the little things, you will automatically organize your day by not letting tiny responsibilities pile up into something that seems much less manageable and more time consuming to tackle. Taking less than a minute to get on top of these little things will not only help you truly increase your productivity, but also will help you effortlessly declutter your life.

Keep a one sentence gratitude journal

In our busy lives, it seems almost impossible to take the time to journal every day about what we’ve done. However, we all have time to write down one sentence. Before you go to sleep, take a minute to write down one sentence about something you are thankful for that happened during the day. Stopping to be mindful of the good things that happen in your day will not only allow you to appreciate the positives in every day, but will also help you keep a positive perspective and will help lower your stress. On days that you feel sad or insecure, read back through your journal. This will remind you of all the little things that do in fact make your life pretty great.

Call a friend or family member, and go on a walk

Feeling a little out of sorts? Call someone you love from home. Reconnecting with a friend or family member not on campus is a powerful way boost yourself with some love and support. Hearing a familiar voice of someone you miss will remind you of how rich your life is beyond just what is happening on this campus. Go on a little walk as you talk to them, and the fresh air, activity, and chat will do wonders to recharge you.

Light a candle

Light a candle, and instantly give your room both a little mood lighting while making it smell better. Smell is actually the most powerful trigger of memories of all the senses, and the sense of smell plays a significant role in effecting our emotions and mood. Taking a second to light a candle that has a scent you love is an instant and effortless way to turn your room into a happier, more pleasant environment and bring yourself some joy.

Flip through your old Facebook photos

There is a lot of power in looking at your happy memories. Facebook is a place where usually the funniest and happiness memories over your last few years are posted. Research has even shown that flipping through your old photos helps to boost mood, relieve anxiety and stress. Flip through your old photos, and allow yourself to reminisce about all of the fun and positive experiences that you have had over the past few years (and maybe even some of the embarrassing ones from your high school days.)

Stop to have an intentional conversation

Take a moment to ask someone how they are, and allow that conversation to become more than just what they’ve been up to that day. Delve into how they are doing personally, and allow yourself to share how you’ve been personally as well. Adding an intentional, personal conversation to your day allows you to reflect on yourself while also strengthening your relationship with another person. These purposeful conversations help to remind us that relationships and friendships truly are the most important things in our lives, not just our work, responsibilities, and day to day activities.