Author: Jadilyne Baca-Slater

Hey there, how are you guys doing today? Stressed? Same. I can’t even count how many times I’ve asked Google “how do I handle stress” — at this point, Google probably sighs before answering me. And of course, it gives me the same basic tips every single time: take a walk, breathe deeply, exercise, listen to  music. (Sure, the music works… until your kids start arguing in the background or your neighbor decides today’s the day to mow their lawn at 7 am on a Saturday morning). I’m just trying to bring something a little different to the therapy table. (Yes, pun intended. And no, I’m not apologizing for it.

Brain Dumping

I’m sure at some point, while panicking and Googling “stress relief,” you came across the advice to journal your emotions. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed, the last thing I care about is whether my sentences are complete or if I’m abusing commas like they owe me money. And journaling? Please. It just turns into one long rant that would make zero sense to anyone else—but hey, that’s actually the point. That’s what I like to call a good ol’ brain dump

You just grab a notebook, scrap paper, a napkin—literally anything—and scribble down every single thing that’s stressing you out. Don’t worry about making it neat or poetic; this isn’t English class, and nobody’s grading you. It doesn’t matter if your handwriting looks like a toddler’s or if halfway through you give up and start doodling angry stick figures stabbing “Monday” with tiny pitchforks. (Honestly, that’s encouraged.) When you’re done—and no, it probably won’t be 20 pages long, but hey, if you’re that stressed, go off—here’s the dramatic part: you burn it. Safely, of course. I’m not trying to have you explaining to the fire department that your therapist told you to “light your problems on fire” like some emotional arsonist.

Why does this actually help? I’m glad you asked. The scribbling part is basically a stress detox for your brain. You dump the junk out of your head and onto paper so it stops ping-ponging around in there. And the burning part? That’s the fun bit—it’s like firing your problems. Literally. It’s your own mini “you’re fired” moment, except instead of a toxic coworker, it’s your anxiety going up in smoke. Plus, there’s something oddly satisfying about watching those little paper worries curl up and disappear like they were never there. It’s the cheapest therapy session you’ll ever have.

Cold and Warm Contrasts Showers.

Anyone who’s desperate to deal with stress will try just about anything once. Cold showers? Yeah… it’s not exactly my first pick for stress relief. In fact, it feels like it should cause more stress than it fixes 😅. But stick with me here because, apparently, science knows better than my brain. The trick is simple: at the end of your shower, switch the water to cold for 30 seconds, then back to warm. That’s it. Thirty seconds. You can survive that.

Why does it work? Well, for starters, your body releases endorphins—basically little happiness messengers running around your system, and doing high-fives inside your brain. Then, it restarts your fight-or-flight response like a mini pep talk for your nervous system. Who knew a bit of icy water could tell your body, “You’ve got this!” It’s like a tiny boot camp for your stress levels, minus the sweating and awkward gym shorts.

Create a Victory Jar

This one takes a tiny bit of effort, but I promise it’s worth it—and by “tiny bit,” I mean so small you can do it while binge-watching Netflix. It’s basically a little pick-me-up in a jar. Grab a mason jar (or any random glass jar you have lying around that isn’t already holding spaghetti sauce), a pad of sticky notes, and a pencil. Keep them together so they’re easy to grab.

Every time you do something good—no matter how tiny or ridiculous—write it on a sticky note and toss it in the jar. Did your kids survive the day without setting the house on fire? Stick it in the jar. Did you somehow get through a mountain of laundry without crying? Jar it. Did you resist eating the entire carton of ice cream in one sitting? Definitely jar it. Seriously, there are no rules here. Even “I didn’t hit snooze six times this morning” counts.

Then, when life decides to throw a surprise tantrum your way, you open the jar and remember: hey, I have done some good stuff. Little victories add up, and this jar becomes a weirdly satisfying little trophy case of “look at me being a human!” It’s cheap, it’s silly, and it works. Plus, it’s fun to shake the jar and imagine it rattling with all your tiny but mighty accomplishments.

Fake Laugh

Have you ever had to “fake it till you make it”? Yeah, me too. Sometimes life is less “thriving adult” and more “confused raccoon with a Wi-Fi bill.” But here’s the thing—your brain is basically that gullible friend who will believe almost anything you tell it. If you trick it into thinking you’re having a good time, it actually releases dopamine, which is like your brain’s little party favor.

That’s why people say laughter is medicine—it’s basically your body’s way of handing you a free antidepressant without the side effects or pharmacy line. And the bonus? While you’re busy cracking up (even if it’s at your own bad jokes, memes, or that time you texted your boss instead of your best friend), your cortisol—the stress hormone—starts taking a backseat. Slowly, but surely, your stress levels come down. It’s like giving your brain a bubble bath while you’re just sitting there giggling at cat videos.

Create a Worry Box

While we’re out here stressing like a cat who just caught a glimpse of its own shadow (or worse, a cucumber), we still secretly want to be creative and in control. So here’s a little trick: get yourself a jar. Or, if you’re feeling extra Pinterest-y, go ahead and make a whole box—just don’t let it turn into a “craft project” that stresses you out even more. The idea is simple: write down whatever is gnawing at your brain, fold it up like a tiny paper burrito of worry, and toss it into the jar or box. Why does this help?

First, you don’t have to keep repeating your worries like a broken record player from the ’90s. Second, it’s like giving your brain a hall pass that says, “Hey, it’s okay, I put that problem on timeout.”I just gave you 5 things you can do to help with your stress, and let’s be real—none of them are magic wands (though honestly, if Amazon ever starts selling those, I’m buying in bulk).

And honestly, sometimes we just need to trick our own minds into chilling out. Because let’s face it—worrying is part of being human. We all do it. But the trick is not letting it set up camp, start a bonfire, and roast marshmallows in your head. Life is way too short to let stress hog all the snacks at your mental party.

Wrapping Things Up

It’s not easy to admit when you’re overwhelmed, and it’s definitely not easy to ask for help 😕. But whether you ended up here because you searched “how to handle stress” on Google, or because you accidentally typed “why am I like this” and landed on a rabbit hole of life advice, the point is… you took the first step. And that’s huge. Like, give yourself a cookie huge.

The truth is, everyone has bad days. Some people just get really good at hiding it behind fake smiles, sarcasm, or pretending their third iced coffee of the day is just “a little treat.” Others are probably reading posts like this one, nodding along like “yep, totally got my life together now,” when really they’re also one traffic jam away from losing it. And that’s normal. Stress doesn’t care how strong you are—it’ll show up uninvited like that one neighbor who always wants to “borrow” something but never gives it back. The trick is finding ways to deal with it before it eats up all your energy.

So hey, whether this post helps you laugh, breathe, or at least remember that you’re not the only one secretly Googling your way through life—mission accomplished. And if nothing else, now you know at least one other person (hi, me 👋) is also winging it and trying to figure it out along the way. 😅 Well, I think my work here is done, so until next time, have a blessed day.

“If you’d like to make my day (and help keep the blog fueled), consider buying me a $2 coffee! It’s the kind of support that comes with caffeine and gratitude.”