Stress is an unpleasant part of our life and if taken for granted, it can result in real physical effects on our body. It has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including mood, sleep and even heart disease.

The good news is that you can take action concerning stress without spending a dime. Try out a few in this list of 13 cheap ways to de-stress yourself and let’s see what works for you.

1. Sleep

Whatever mood I am in, sleep is always one of the luxuries most of us adults don’t always have, unless you’re already swimming in a lot of money and you don’t need to work anymore. If you have enough sleep, you’ll be in a good body and mind thus enables you to think clearly and plan out a solution to free yourself from the thing that is stressing you out.

2. Read a Book

Make sure to read a positive book and a book from your favorite genre and author, probably something with a happy ending.

My favorite book to read whenever I’m stressed is romance, particularly chick-lit or rom-com. Mystery suspense thriller might be my first favorite genre but romance will always be a good book for me whatever mood I am in.

3. Eat

Definitely not perfect advice if you’re on a diet, but believe me, it’s effective. Recommended are foods that are sweet like chocolate or ice cream as they help you focus and become alert. But remember to eat in moderation.

4. Go Travel

Unless your problem is money, traveling and going to places you’ve never been before would be a great idea to rest your mind from the thing or things that are stressing you out.

My suggested places would be going to urban areas, fresh cool air does something in our mind thus making it easy for us to see everything in a clearer picture and will also make us feel better. Some other suggestions include hiking, riding a bike or going on an adventure trip. Either way, I’m pretty sure all of those activities will help you focus on the good and get your mind out of the things that’s keeping you worked out.

Ofcourse if you’re low in budget, you can always spend a good time in the park (but away from a lot of people for less distractions) or other places near you that has less people and is peacefully quiet.

5. Let it Out

Sometimes you just need to let it out to someone. Someone who will never judge you and just be there to listen. You’ll be surprised how well you are feeling after releasing all those toxic frustrations out of your system.

If you’re not good with talking, you can always write it down.

6. Adopt a pet

Eversince we got our little troublemaker, I seldom get stressed out. Caring for someone and seeing them happy is a rewarding feeling. Even a simple pet on their head can already relieve your stress.

7. Sweat it out

If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t want to talk, then the best thing to let things out from your system is to sweat it out. You could either go to the gym, do yoga, Zumba or even play sports.

Your body will not only thank you but also your mind. Trust me, you’ll be in good shape after shedding a few sweat.

8. Throw something

When you’re frustrated big time, it helps to release it by throwing something not to someone but on a target. We don’t want another stress are we? So set a picture of your most hated person/thing in the world and let that be your target and throw a ball, a stone, a plate, a knife or anything at them. After doing that, tell me what you feel. And I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a good one *wink

9. Shout it to the world

Sometimes, it’s best to shout all the frustrations away from you. Ofcourse do it in a place where there’s no people around or they will think that you’re crazy or worse your neighbors might call a police on you lol.

Shout all of your frustrations using all the cuss words you know (or maybe not haha) and everything you want to say. It may not totally erase all your problems but it will sure make you feel a little better.

10. Watch a movie

Another good way of distracting yourself from stress is to delve into the world of fiction, particularly a comedy one where you can laugh it all out. Besides, didn’t they just say that laughter is a good medicine?

If you’re like me who loves anime, then that would be a good distraction too. For me, I’m always going for a shojo anime or an anime where all the characters are so kawaii or good looking. Didn’t I tell you I’m a very visual person? Haha.

11. Listen to music

Relax yourself by either listening to soothing music or to your favorite songs. Listening to music can make you feel more relaxed, but in some cultures, it’s actually used to ease pain. So rummage your playlist and check out some songs you want to hear!

12. Get creative

When I’m stressed, one of the creative things I do is either create a paper swan or work on my coloring book. Yep, you read it right. You’ll be surprised how well you’ll be feeling when you try one *wink.

You can check out some of these creative DIY ideas you can try at home.

13. Try Some Intense Rides

You might find this suggestion a little weird, but trust me, it’s effective. Try riding a roller coaster or viking and it will really blow your mind. I tried a short roller coaster ride one time and my! It knocked the wind out of me (and believe me) as well as my frustrations, stress and everything negative inside me. 

Since this activity is pretty intense, it’s definitely a perfect distraction.

How about you? How do you de-stress? You can share your suggestions below.

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