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We are living in very stressful times. Work, classes, kids, dating, and family, not to mention trying to keep up with current events, adds up to a whole lot to handle. Feelings of anxiousness and worry can seem impossible to escape. Fortunately, when it comes to stress and anxiety, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
From a pleasantly scented candle to a quality yoga mat, we’ve compiled a categorized list of affordable products all readily available on Amazon. They will help you manage your stress levels and soothe anxious feelings, even if just for a few minutes a day.
For the Bedroom
Sheets
There’s nothing better at the end of a long, stressful day than crawling into clean, fresh sheets. Treat yourself to this bamboo sheet set. They’re breathable, highly rated, and come in a multitude of different colors, for nearly every size mattress. You’re sure to find something that fits your decor.
Pajamas
If you struggle to stay warm at night, treat yourself to a pair of warm fleece pajamas. Great for snuggling up in bed, and grabbing a blanket to watch movies on the couch. A comfortable set of PJs is essential for any relaxing night at home.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Experts have been stressing for years the adverse effects that blue light from our electronics is having on our quality of sleep. It’s great to have an hour of no screen time before bed, but if you’re anything like us, sometimes it’s just too hard not to indulge. If you can’t stop the urge to scroll through Instagram but notice your sleep is suffering, try blue light glasses! They filter the light, reduce eye strain, and allow you to fall asleep faster.
Comfortable Pillows
Stress and tension can easily lead to neck pain. An old or uncomfortable pillow can exacerbate the problem. After some time, pillows can break down, lose volume, or become completely unsupportive. Research suggests you should replace your pillows every one to two years. If you’re consistently waking up with a sore neck, it might be time to invest in some new pillows.
Sleep Masks
Quality of sleep plays a significant role in helping to manage your anxiety and stress levels. Catch some serious Z’s no matter the time of day by adding a sleep mask into your routine. Whether you’re trying to up your nap game, or sleep through a bright hallway light or TV, a sleep mask can help prevent interfering light and sensory disruptions that may keep you awake.
Scented Candle
The perfect scented candle can change the entire energy of a space. Nothing screams self-care like lighting a candle and laying down in bed with your favorite book. For those looking to prioritize relaxation, look into scents such as rosemary, lavender, or ylang-ylang. If being environmentally friendly as you relax is a concern, look into soy candles, which burn clean and are very affordable, but don’t use beeswax.
For the Kitchen
Tea
We all love coffee, but sometimes the added caffeine can trigger stress and anxiety. If you’re looking for a more soothing alternative to your cup of joe, look into herbal teas. Many herbal teas are designed with particular goals in mind. From enhancing sleep to reducing stress to promoting focus, there’s a blend you’re sure to love.
Decaf Coffee
If you can’t bear swapping out your morning coffee, try a decaffeinated option. With little to no caffeine, decaf coffee has come a long way. Try it whole bean, ground, or single serving. For people with busy lives and schedules, k cups are a fast and easy way to get your morning going, without the caffeine crash later on.
For The Bathroom
Epsom Salts
One of the most affordable and effective ways to elevate your already relaxing bath is to add bath salts, otherwise known as Epsom salts. Tried and true, bath salts are made in many different scents and include calming essential oils. Baths can relax sore muscles, and aid sleep, not to mention they just feel luxurious.
Cooling Eye Masks
Stress and anxiety can keep you up at night. Lack of sleep can lead to puffy, red, and irritated eyes, not to mention the strain many of us experience from long days looking at computer and phone screens. Relax the area and depuff under-eye bags with a cooling eye mask. Simply place the mask in the fridge or freezer. When desired, place it over the eyes for a spa-like experience, all from the comfort of your own home!
Face Mask
Nothing says, “I’m stressed” like a good old fashioned breakout. Dermatologists have studied the effects of stress on our skin, and the resounding conclusion is anything from desirable. The same hormones produced when stressing over a big work project are responsible for those pesky little friends that pop up on our chins, cheeks, and foreheads. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to banish a pimple fast. From pimple patches to face masks, you can tackle acne from the comfort of your bathroom.
This tried, and true option is wonderful for spot treatment or a full face mask.
For Work
Comfort Floor Mats
If you’re like many other health-conscious Americans, you may have recently opted into a standing desk. Standing desks increase mobility for otherwise sedentary office jobs, which is excellent for circulation and general health. However, hours of standing can begin to take a toll on backs and feet. Reduce the stress on your joints and body by investing in a comfort floor mat, which provides comfort and support, while allowing you to keep your standing desk setup.
Headphones
Long commute? Too much time to think can lead to increased stress and anxiety. If you take long trips on public transportation, quality headphones are a must. Cut out the chaos of buses and trains by investing in a decent pair of headphones. Quality headphones come at all different price points and in all kinds of styles. For a loud, busy commute, we like this noise-canceling option.
Car Diffuser
Anxiety can happen anywhere, and triggers vary widely from person to person. A significant amount of people find that driving can trigger stress and anxiety responses. Rush hour traffic is enough to give just about anyone a headache. To create a more soothing, calming atmosphere in your vehicle, look into an aroma diffuser for the car. Much like indoor scent diffusers, there are many models, scents, and styles to choose from.
Small Projects for Stress Relief
Coloring books
Coloring books aren’t just for kids! Many experts recommend intricate adult coloring books as helpful activities to focus, distract the mind, and offer relief from stress and anxious thoughts.
There are all different themes of coloring books to choose from, but we thought this one was appropriately named.
(And if you’re going to start coloring, you definitely need some good colored pencils, right? Don’t worry- we’ve found some great basics here.)
Window Garden Starter Kit
Adding plants to your space can be a perfect way to bring a calming effect to your home. Why not grow some yourself? Growing your own plants from seed can not only add green to your space, and be a lovely source of calming entertainment, but can also be rewarding. Kitchen window herb gardens are easy to use, require low levels of maintenance, and offer payoff in the form of delicious herbs you can use in a whole slew of dishes.
Gratitude Journals
A gratitude journal is a fantastic way to start practicing mindfulness! Being mindful can help you to focus less on what is scary, or worrisome, and more on the present moment. Actively journaling for a small amount of time each day can lead to healthier coping habits and increased productivity. Journaling is also an effective reminder that sometimes, you shouldn’t focus on everything that might go wrong, but instead, the things that are currently going right.
Specifically designed gratitude journals may be a fairly new phenomenon, but plain old journaling can work much the same. However, if you’d like a more guided experience, check out the journal below!
For Restless Hands
Worry Stones
Many people claim different kinds of crystals have energy properties that can have calming effects on people in their vicinity. Whether or not this is true, worry stones have been a calming tactic for individuals with restless hands for decades. Combine the worry stones with the potential healing energy of crystals, and you may find some brief release for anxious feelings.
Fidget Toys
When anxiety strikes, it may feel like there’s no outlet, especially when you’re at work, school, or on the go. Fidget toys are designed to help manage anxiety and stress in any situation, allowing you to channel nervous or anxious energy into simple repetitive movements. These toys are not just for kids and are useful in managing anxiety for people of all ages. Designs range from simple to complex, from very small, to a little larger. Regardless, if you’re having trouble channeling your worry, they’re worth checking out.
Stress Balls
Stress balls have been around for ages, and are aptly named. These squishy items are meant to help you channel your pent up stress, anxiety, and frustration quietly, as well as give your hands something to do. Stress balls have been around for so long that they have an extensive slew of colors, designs, styles, and textures.
For the Body
Heart Monitor
An anxious or panicked episode can get your heart racing. Sometimes we may not even notice we are beginning to feel anxious until our hearts are pounding out of our chests. Heart rate monitors can help you take notice of a spike in your BPM and allow you to work on calming down before your heart rate really takes off. Fitbit, one of the leading fitness tracking devices, is a little pricey. Still, in addition to monitoring heart rate, it can provide you information about sleep patterns, track calories, record daily step counts, and give you a better idea of how powerful your workouts are.
Yoga Mats
Yoga is excellent for relaxing both tense muscles and a worried mind. Just a small amount of daily yoga or light stretching can help manage stress. However, trying to plank or stretch on scratchy carpet or a hardwood floor can be the exact opposite of comforting. This is why a good yoga mat is crucial.
This option comes in eight different colors, is thick and padded, and has nearly five stars with over 26,000 reviews.
Scalp Massager
There’s nothing better than a good scalp massage. Unfortunately, we don’t always have someone around who is able (or willing) to give our heads a good scratch. That’s where a self head massager comes in. These little tools are cheap, sufficient, and incredibly relaxing. Next time you’re cozying up on the couch, wishing someone was there to play with your hair, hop online and order one of these.
These are some of the fun, unique and effective products we found on Amazon for helping you manage anxiety and stress while navigating life. There’s no magic solution to getting rid of stress, but having the right tools can certainly help make drastic improvements.
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