In today’s high-speed era, the busy affairs at work, the trivialities of daily life, and the complex entanglements in interpersonal relationships pile up like mountains, weighing heavily on people’s hearts.

Learning to relieve stress is like opening a skylight in the airtight walls of life, allowing fresh air and warm sunlight to stream in and bringing life back onto the track of ease and joy.

Stress never arises without a cause; it usually has clearly identifiable sources.

In the workplace, mountains of tasks, tight and demanding deadlines, and overt or covert competitions constantly keep one’s nerves on edge. Working overnight to rush out a proposal or worrying endlessly about performance targets leave one’s body exhausted from continuous work and the mind burdened and anxious.

On the life front, household chores range from daily necessities like groceries to taking care of the elderly and children. Every little thing matters, and a single mishap can lead to a mess, with irritability and helplessness quietly taking root in the heart. In complex interpersonal relationships, the delicate balance in dealing with colleagues and the vicissitudes of feelings in interactions with relatives and friends can let negative emotions creep in at the slightest friction or misunderstanding.

The body is the front line in the battle against stress, and exercise is an excellent way to relieve it. There is no need for high-end venues or professional equipment. Jogging on a park path, measuring the ground with each step, breathing in fresh air, washing away physical and mental exhaustion with sweat, relaxing the taut muscles in the rhythm, and letting the stress fall behind with each step. Or when night falls, stretching and twisting on a yoga mat at home, finding inner peace and balance in the combination of focused postures and breathing, just like pressing the “restart button” for the mind and restoring a state of lightness and ease.

Doing “subtraction” in life means streamlining the living environment. Clear out the redundant files on the office desk and tidy up the clutter at home so that everything within sight is neat and orderly, which will clarify one’s thoughts. Sort out the daily schedule by making a list of tasks according to their importance and urgency and setting time limits to avoid getting bogged down in a jumble of things and handling them calmly, thus eliminating anxiety. Practice “letting go” in the social circle, staying away from those who drain energy and spread negative emotions, and getting closer to positive and optimistic friends. Nourished by sincere friendships, one can regain enthusiasm for life and build a solid “psychological defense line”.

Cultivate a growth mindset, regarding setbacks and difficulties as stepping stones for growth. Work mistakes and life problems are all good opportunities to toughen oneself up. Analyze the root causes from different angles and explore solutions, so that the mindset changes from gloomy to resolute and determined. Learn to be humorous and self-deprecating. In embarrassing situations, use humor to dissolve the solemnity. With a laugh, the tense atmosphere is “broken”, and the stress disappears.

Engage in hobbies such as singing and reading. Soothe emotions in the melody and roam freely in the world of words, immersing oneself in a state of self-forgetfulness, shutting out the outside noise and filling the heart with joy and satisfaction, lighting up the light of an easy life.

Life should not be a arduous journey of climbing uphill with a heavy load, but a leisurely voyage on a light boat. Learning to relieve stress will fill every moment of life with songs and laughter.