8 Low-Cost Ways To Reduce Stress

by Veronica Bowman

People deal with stress in many different ways, but not all are healthy or affordable. These stress-reducing ideas won’t damage your budget or your health.

Stress is something most of us are all too familiar with. According to CNBC, 77% of Americans report feeling anxious about finances with 56% worried about keeping up with the cost of living and 45% about managing debt levels. It seems folks aren’t worrying about nothing considering the uncertain economy and the layoffs we’re seeing.

Over eating, indulging in unhealthy snacks, and excessive or compulsive shopping are just a few stress-relieving behaviors that can adversely affect your health or seriously damage your budget. And add additional stress.

The suggestions listed below are offered as healthy, budget-friendly ways to relieve stress.

1. Take a hike.

Sometimes just a walk around the block can provide relief from a stressful moment. Incorporating a regular, mind-clearing walk into your daily routine is a great way to relieve stress.

2. Meditation is an ideal way to relieve stress.

All that you need is a quiet place and a few moments and you can experience the peacefulness that meditation offers. You can find tips for learning how to meditate at online.

You may find it helpful to create a meditation space in your home or yard.

3. Listening to music is a great way to relieve stress.

Some people find soothing music the best form of stress relief. For others, the best stress relieving music is something lively that they can sing along with or dance to.

Find what works for you and let the music take away your stress.

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4. Observation and distraction are ways to reduce stress that cost you little or nothing.

When you’re feeling stressed about something, find an object or activity to focus on and give it your undivided attention. Everything from watching a sporting event to watching activity at a bird feeder fits into this category.

If you’re stressed over a problem, you will often find that if you allow something to distract you from that problem, a solution will come to mind. A hobby, a phone call to a friend, a housecleaning frenzy or numerous other activities can be stress-relieving distractions.

5. Laughter is a wonderful way to relieve stress.

Those that enjoy a frugal lifestyle are always interested in things that are both beneficial and inexpensive and laughter covers both of these things.

George Gordon Byron advised, “Always laugh when you can; it is cheap medicine.” That frugal advice is still relevant today.

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6. You can find numerous statistics that support the fact that pets help relieve stress.

One source of information relating the positive benefits of pet ownership is HelpGuide.org. Here you will find information regarding the many therapeutic benefits a pet provides.

A dog makes a great companion on a mind-clearing, stress reducing walk.

7. A very inexpensive form of stress relief is journal writing.

There are various ways to approach the process of journaling to relieve stress. An excellent source of inspiration and guidance can be found at EverydayHealth.com.

8. Exercise has been described as “meditation in motion.”

According to the information provided at MayoClinic.org, exercise has some direct stress-busting benefits. Following the tips offered by the Mayo Clinic staff can get you headed in the right direction when it comes to setting up a stress-busting exercise routine that is best for you.

The previously mentioned stress-reducing ideas involve little or no financial investment. They do require action and commitment on your part.

Ultimately, finding and implementing ways to relieve stress is a personal process. You stand to gain in various areas of your life when you engage in stress-relieving activities that have health benefits and are emotionally uplifting.

Reviewed March 2024