Mental exercises to alleviate stress

Stress can be a cold sore trigger but there many ways to relieve stress, including certain mental activities. Our brains need constant stimulation to stay healthy and productive. While routines can be comforting, they also get boring after a while, and too often we get trapped in the many stressful routines of daily life. Boost your mood and reduce stress levels by making little changes — a new route to work, for instance — or bigger ones, like a new hairstyle.

Here are four simple ways to stimulate your mind and stay stress-free.

Make time for things you enjoy. Whether that’s hiking, playing an instrument or doing a craft project, carve out some time in your day to do what’s personally rewarding.

Curb your procrastination. When stressed, it might seem like the last thing you want to do but completing a task you’ve been avoiding – writing that email, purging your closet, paying that bill – can actually boost your mood.

Learn something new. For example: attend a lecture, read a book or learn a new skill online. This will help you stay engaged and help you avoid living on ‘autopilot’.

Set small goals. If the last thing you feel like doing is getting out of the house, then make that your small challenge for the day. Give yourself a nudge to the gym, meet a close friend or go to a movie. Small accomplishments such as these can go a long way when it comes to relieving stress.