What are your tips for relieving stress?

This is brilliant...... what an inspiration for people struggling!

I'm no expert, but am trying to be less stressed after spending a year working in a toxic environment that has made me really anxious. I've changed job which has removed the immediate stressor, but am also aware that I need to ensure I don't stay in the anxious spiral.

Things that I'm doing:

• swim 3 times a week
• yoga class 1 or 2 times a week
• monthly back massage
• monthly aromatherapy facial
• Sunday long walk on the beach
• reading fiction (I use the storygraph app to keep track of my streak, which forces me to read a bit every day)
• gardening - I find growing things really relaxing as you have to slow down and pay attention to nature
• limit coffee to one cup a day, drink plenty of water
• try to eat sensibly (more veg, less cake) as it gives me more energy to keep up all the other habits.

Playing some feel good music... and then dance like noone is watching always gets the endorphins going for me! 😆

Sauna
Reading
Hot bath/shower
Massage
Facial
Hypnotherapy

Yoga - restorative, yin or yoga nidra. I’ve done enough classes so I can work through a few sequences on my own at home. Otherwise there’s loads of videos on YouTube.

Showers - I find these so good for resetting myself.

I have a desk based job, so find physical tasks like gardening hugely satisfying and relaxing.

I had a huge mental and physical breakdown around 8 years ago. I developed so many strategies to cope and build myself back up, but lately life has been pretty sh*t and I find it tough to do any of them. knowing what’s good for me is one thing, doing them is another.

Well done for exercising, that’s such a great thing for you to do - for body and mind. Sending love and hugs.

Ok I have a lot that I do - I can't say I am a stress free human, and it definitely takes its toll on me physically, but I think if I didn't do these things I wouldn't be here/ able to function in any capacity. I have a crippling amount of stress which will be with me til the day I die, so I am having to learn to live with/ alongside it as it'll never be gone from me.

1. Talking therapy, religiously, every week (I appreciate this is expensive)
2. Cold water therapy - you essentially need to trigger your parasympathetic nervous system into action, as that is what promotes a sense of calm and wellbeing within you - cold water therapy is a way to do this, and you can literally do it in your shower
3. Running 3/4 times a week - I find the more painful it is, the better I feel for longer after (I am NOT a great runner, I creep along for 20 mins but that's enough)
4. Set aside three sessions a day (morning, noon, night) to do a few minutes of the 4-7-8 breathing technique (I do it in the shower, at my desk etc)
5. Audiobooks when falling asleep - this helps my mind settle faster so I'm better rested
6. Don't drink alcohol - it just isn't worth it as an anxious person, it really isn't
7. Take a magnesium supplement

hope this helps xx

I'm a massive fan of ambient noise to calm me down. I love a thunderstorm or waves at the beach. It really helps to keep my own nagging out of my head.

Add that to a really good book and I'm happy as a clam.

I also love reruns of favourite programmes, especially The Office (US) and Peep Show.

Duvet/ F*all days! (with a good book or box set.)

I have one every fortnight- it's bliss!

Divorce

Exercise is all good and well unless you're too crippled by the stress to move

Lidl middle aisle is a welcome and easy stress relief especially if it's also a walk away so mistake to your audible on the way

Three minutes with my vibrator.

Audible books or Drama from BBC sounds

Takes me to another place

I find a long walk in fresh air with my dog works wonders, although I don’t have the stress you are experiencing. After my DH was ill in 2020, I do stress over his health. I no longer worry about money, we have enough, but don’t live extravagantly. We are retired early, but DH’s job was stressful and getting worse, so glad in that respect. I do love a long soak in the bath with a book or magazine, that also helps me relax.

Edited because I read the OP as 2 posts.
Since you can’t leave, I think exercise is a great start. Also as the weather starts to get better can you get out by yourself more for walks or runs? Maybe find groups to socialise with to give you more resources outside the marriage?