High school is supposed to be the time of your life, we are constantly told that these four years are going to be the best years of our lives, but no one ever tells you how stressful it is going to be. Loads of homework, and only 24 hours in a day can create a burden of stress. With what seems to be zero extra time in the day, finding opportunities to relieve that stress are few and far between. Sometimes a deep breathe and an open mind can open ways to relieve stress, with these four ways to relieve stress we can jump back right into having the best four years of our lives, with as little stress as possible.

1. The power of doodling

Take a deep breath a deep breathe and go back to way simpler times, being a kid. Coloring and doodling was totally socially acceptable back then so there’s no excuse for it not to be now. Giving the brain a simple task to focus on alleviates the stress that you’re experiencing. Not to mention that it’s fun, sometimes it’s good to try to just try to get your mind of things. With a simple task like doodling or coloring it gives you time to forget about your stressor and regain focus. It requires very little thought allowing the stress to simply fade away.

   2. Listening to music

Put in your earphones and turn up your favorite song. Listening to music isn’t only good for sounding out the world around you, but for relieving stress. The familiarity of your favorite song and the ability to hear nothing else arounds you, will help you focus on what you’re doing. The background noise cancels out those extra thoughts in your head, and without the ability to over think everything that you are doing, everything becomes a lot clearer. Listening to music is something that you can do virtually everywhere, so seize this opportunity of focus and clarity. Different types of music stimulate different moods, so find that one song or that playlist that make you the most calm, pop in headphones and forget about the world and stress that’s around you.

 3. Breathe and actually think

Now this might sound kind of basic, or simply impossible in times of stress, but actually taking the time to breathe can be extremely beneficial. So stop close your eyes and actually think about breathing. Start counting down from 100 and in between numbers say, “let go.” This will steady your breathing and your heart beat, which in the end will add clarity to your thoughts. Taking the time to calm down and look at the tasks at hand is a really important part of stress relief that gets left behind. Thinking can add stability, and even lighten your mood. So maybe thinking about breathing doesn’t work for you, instead think about something positive that’s happened to you. Reminisce about all of your childhood memories, and times where you had less stress. This in the end can save you a ton on your overall stress level, making task easier to take on.

  4. The underestimated power of animals

It’s time for a little adventure, maybe this adventure is to your room, the pet store, or maybe even youtube. Animals are good for more than just being adorable. Animals are the perfect distraction from that extra stress, and lighten your mood. Find your favorite animal or pet and let them simply just do their thing. There is something about animals that is very soothing, and the best part about it is that animal therapy is completely free. With a simple search on youtube or google, you have the world of pet antics at your fingertips. Laugh, play, and pet your stress away. Allow the love and cuteness of animals to take all fo your stress away.