In the US, 83% of workers suffer from work-related stress, costing companies $51 billion due to absenteeism and $26 billion in treatment costs. Approximately 0.54% of the female population and 43% of the male population fight stress every day. Work-related stress causes 120,000 deaths and results in $190 billion in healthcare costs yearly. Overall, stress is destroying lives and we need ways to deal with it. Here are a few suggestions.

Origami and papercrafts are not only aesthetically pleasing, and relaxing generally, some therapists have found that origami helps those with low self-esteem, anxiety, ADHD, autism, mental retardation, and some psychological conditions. It is also said that such a docile activity can help with depression.

Stream of consciousness is a person’s thoughts and conscious reactions to events perceived as a continuous flow. Often when one has no one to talk to, an easy way to let everything out is to write or record your thoughts–all of them, even the random ones. The idea is not only can you get everything down onto paper, but also the random thoughts help you transfer into a happy mental state.

Fidget toys are a very popular form of stress relief. While there is no scientific evidence that fidget toys decrease stress, many people have found that the constant movement involved with fidget toys helps them focus. They were originally created to help people with ADHD and other kinds of anxiety-related disorders, and after 2015 they became a hit among all people not just those with mental disorders.

Gum. Researchers noticed an increased vigilance, a lower level of anxiety, a decrease in the experience of stress and a lower elevation of cortisol levels when the participants were chewing gum. Everyone has been told that gum helps you focus on tests and it is 100% true.

Read or watch something funny! Laughter produces serotonin, the chemical that keeps you happy. Serotonin is an important chemical and neurotransmitter in the human body. It is believed to help regulate mood and social behavior, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire and function.

Just stop; get some water and breath. Hydration is crucial to your mental health and your physical health. As a plus, taking a minute to re-center your mind helps you calm down. Eating during the break can also replenish your energy and maybe give you a new perspective.

This is a relatively small list but stress relievers can be hard to come by, so, hopefully, some of this help. Stress is a problem for so many people, especially today’s high schoolers. It’s important to remember to take good care of yourself!