Reducing stress can sometimes feel so strange to us. Especially as it becomes more relevant and frequent in our lives. It's easy to fall into the 'stress trap' and just live with it as time goes on. That's why it's important to consistently reduce stress through different ways in order to combat it before it starts. Stress can cause some serious health disrupters and can wreak havoc on our entire body. Stress gives off a hormone, and when we receive too much of that hormone, it affects us greatly. 

Learning how to relax, reduce stress, and enjoy life is the key to staying happy. There are many ways we can reduce stress. Here are my personal favorite top 5 ways to reduce stress: 

1. Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful tool and helps me feel so relaxed. Stretching and moving the body in a way that ignites our mind, body, and spirit. It helps me feel more connected to my own body and the world around me. Giving me a strong sense of calm, comfort, and inner peace. It's also a great workout!

2. Skincare

When I complete my skincare routine at the end of the night, I feel on top of the world. Even if I've had a bad day, something about washing my makeup off, putting on skincare products, along with a hair mask and my pajamas is just utterly relaxing. It gives me a sense of relief as well. Additionally, you could pay a visit to a local spa, take a relaxing vacation, or simply indulge in a bath at home. 

3. Staying Hydrated + Eating Well

When we're stressed it can be easy to forget (or not care) about staying healthy and hydrated. We may skip meals all together or find we are eating less healthy foods and more junk foods. Eating good, nutritious foods helps combat illness and makes sure we are ingesting the amazing vitamins our food gives us. This helps reduce stress in many ways. It also helps us feel good about ourselves, as we make sure we are healthy inside and out. Take a look at the benefits of drinking water here. 

4. Being Well Rested

Getting enough sleep is vital to keeping our stress levels down. Not sleeping enough can so easily add more hectic chaos to our lives without us even knowing it. Sleeping at least 7-8 hours a night (for adults) is key. This helps our stress levels as well as a number of other factors. Including our memory, focus, and more. Check out this article on WebMD for some facts on sleep. 

5. Participating In A Hobby

Having a hobby that is fun and which we enjoy wholeheartedly and want to participate in can have an amazing effect on reducing stress. It makes sure we don't take life too seriously and can do something just for fun. I personally enjoy dance, photography, painting, and playing cards. Sometimes this means playing a game of solitaire on plays.org, an online gaming sight. Other times it means playing cards in person with friends and family.

Plays.org offers so many different games for kids and adults. Some of my favorites are the tennis games, solitaire, bingo, and blackjack. I've found it can be very relaxing and helps reduce stress to participate in a hobby like this. I highly recommend you check out plays.org and find out which game is your favorite as well.