27 Motivational Quotes on Stress Relief for Better Health

We have handpicked these 27 quotes for stress relief to help you with anxiety, depression, and stress management. In simple words, stress is a result of our reaction or response to a given situation. We become too involved with the situation and forget the moment. Stress not only affects our mental wellness but also affects our overall health. We hope you will find these quotes helpful for relieving stress.

The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it

– Sydney J Harris

We often get involved with something we think we need to finish before we can even take a breath. But the truth is everything can wait. The speed and restlessness are harmful. It takes us nowhere. A short break in between, a simple practice of meditation can do much benefit – it can even help us change our perspective for the better. The above quote on stress relief tells us to relax between work, even if it is a great way to relieve stress for a while.

Life is really simple, we insist on making it complicated

– Confucius

If we analyze carefully, life itself is simple. But our ambitions, aspirations, and greed make it complicated. We are in a constant race to stay ahead without realizing that we are missing out on the true beauty of the moment. We never live in the present but always think of a future concerning the past. And this constant race is one of the main reasons for stress. To manage stress, we need to go slow and live in the moment.

Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there’

– Eckhart Tolle

Very few of us are ever happy being where or whatever we are. We always want to achieve something looking outwards. Success is something which the outside world tells or certifies; satisfaction is inside. We look inwards. We know what truly makes us happy. The above motivational quote on stress relief tells us to be content with where you are and leave a peaceful ‘no rush’ life.

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another

– William James

We can master our thought, but most of the time, we allow thought to guide us. The thought is a product of time and knowledge – and based on our wisdom and experiences collected over the years – the end product of which guides us in every step. As knowledge is never complete, our thought will always give rise to conflict, leading to stress. But we do have the power to decide which thoughts we allow to guide us and how they are relevant for our well being.

In times of stress the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.

– Fred Rogers

This is one of the best quotes for stress relief. Sharing our concerns reduces a lot of stress and anxiety. And again, if we ourselves listen to others with sincerity. Even if we cannot help directly, lending ears to someone in distress helps them immensely reduce stress. Speaking out to someone who cares reduces a part of the pain and helps in reducing anxiety. Have a friend or a shoulder to lean on during times of distress is important.

Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for answers.

– William S Burroughs

The universe has an answer to almost every situation. We only don’t have time to listen. The noise in our everyday life is so much we often overlook simple solutions. Our mind also is a part of the universe, and everything is connected. Often we think too deeply about the problem, which prevents us from listening to the answers. If we relax, maybe listen to some soothing music and wait for a while, we will find all the answers hidden in our mind.

Doing something that is productive is a great way to alleviate emotional stress. Get your mind doing something that is productive

– Ziggy Marley

Creativity is the key to handling stress effectively – that’s what the author of this stress relief quote wants to say. A mind pondering continuously on a problem can often alleviate the issue beyond proportions. One of the best options is to take a break and get involved in something creative and productive. A mind busy with creativity is normally stress-free as it will seldom find time to think about issues.

How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward

– Spanish proverb

Apparently, this proverb seems to be like humor but an ideal fit as a stress relief quote. Humour has a great role in stress relief. When there is nothing to do, we can watch a comedy show or ready humorous quotes or even watch funny videos. Laughing out loudly is a good stress buster and a proven method in quick relief from anxiety. Worldwide there are many laughing clubs where groups of people keep when they gather to laugh out loudly. Also, the fact that those who sleep better enjoy good health and less stress.

You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

– Christopher Robin

Don’t ever underestimate your own qualities. Apart from physical differences, we are more or less the same – at least physiologically. Physically we may be different given our genetic makeup and training, but mentally we are all conditioned and hardcoded to survive almost any situation. Very often, we don’t know our smartness or strength unless pushed to the extreme. Meditate, have faith in yourself, and believe that you can overcome most of the situation independently.

It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.

– Lou Holtz

A simple work can look different to different people. Some might find it easy, while for some, it may seem difficult or even impossible. The best way is to enjoy everything you do, and then you won’t even feel like doing it. The above quote on stress relief emphasizes that work can become play, and the stress from such effort will disappear.

We all have those things that even in the midst of stress and disarray, they energize us and give us renewed strength and purpose. These are our passions.

– Adam Braun

We are all passionate about some things close to our hearts, things that give us a sense of accomplishment and a sense of satisfaction. It’s easy to choose to do such things during times of anxiety as they are proven methods for providing body-positive hormones and help relieve stress. It can be as simple as drawing a picture, writing poetry, or simply cooking a dish, or playing a game with your smart phone. These things keep us alive and help in stress relief in a friendly way.

It’s not the events of our lives that shape us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean.

– Tony Robbins

Now and then, something happens, and we try to make meaning out of it. This is when our thought, our notions of our beliefs come into play. Our mind interprets and judges things, not at face value but tries to dig deeper and find something else. This something else creates more complicated thinking and ultimately results in unwanted stress. It’s better to take most of the things at face value and move on with life. The motivational quote on stress relief suggests that life will become simple and less complicated if we do not interpret everything and thus reduce anxiety and depression.

Stress is that alarm clock that lets you know you have attached to something not true for you.

– Byron Katie

How many of you hate the alarm clock? I guess most of us hate to be woken up from our sweet slumber with the shrilling sound of the alarm. Yet most of us cannot do without it. Likewise, we get attached to thinking, making meaning, interpreting everything causing distress for the mind. How can we expect sound mental health when we try to remain attached to something we hate, something we all know is bad for our health? For the best stress management, ignore most of the happenings and noise around you, which can otherwise make no difference in your life. Listen to music, use music for meditation, relax with a music-based stress relief app, and take everything in easy steps.

Take chances, make mistakes – that is how we grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.

– Mary Tyler Moore

A good quote for stress relief worth practicing. It’s not possible to succeed in one chance most of the time. Sometimes it takes several attempts before we can taste success. However, we often feel down or go in deep pain when we fail in the beginning. Maybe we did not put in our full effort. Maybe we missed some steps; maybe our attempt was not wholehearted. But, if we take these things by heart and invite stress for the unfinished work or unsuccessful attempt. The best approach is to take everything as a lesson for a better step next time use the failure as a pointer to our shortcomings. Not everyone is perfect, and the number of attempts or failure does not count as long as your intentions are positive.

In times of great stress and adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.

– Lee Iacocca

Some stress is overbearing, and some conditions adverse. And often, there seems to be no way to avoid those situations as there can be no solutions. Take, for instance, the recent pandemic – can you avoid that? Most of us are restricted to our house’s four walls with nothing much to do and suffering from the Coronavirus depression. Yet we can open a whole new world simply by nourishing our talent and skills in creating something. Writing something, making a video – the possibilities are endless.

Just being surrounded by bountiful nature, rejuvenates and inspires us.

– EO wilson

Nature has a great way of lifting out spirits – that’s the only meaning in the above motivational quote. A simple barefoot walk on the grass can uplift your spirits – a walk among the trees will open new possibilities. A stream or a river or the sound of moving water has a wonderful calming effect on our mind and can help relieve stress to a great extent. Be with nature whenever you get the time for unwinding and will always feel young. The influence of nature on our mental wellness is well researched and documented.

Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.

– David Allen

We plan to do a lot of things, we start projects, and quite often, we leave them unfinished. We start writing something and then leave it halfway. Most of the unfinished things are a major cause of hidden stress. It’s nothing to do if our hands are full and what we are busy with. Instead, stress has a lot more to do with unfinished things.

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.

– Etty Hillesum

Once again, taking a much-needed break is the best form of stress management. The mind pushes us to finish and complete everything – true, but it never harms to take breaks in between, as this can be the best form of stress relief that we can gift our body and mind.

There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.

– Alan Cohen

Keeping busy with any form of work, creative or otherwise, is quite helpful in dealing with stress. The above stress relief quote emphasizes the virtue in both work and rest. Work keeps our mind occupied while rest rejuvenates it and gives new directions and ideas, which only enhances work quality.

We can boost our immune systems by strengthening our social networks and decreasing stress.

– Jane McGonigal

An idle mind doing nothing but procrastinating is a true catalyst for stress. My advice to people suffering from this covid depression is simply checking out on social media, be it Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, or Instagram. Find a friend or friends and chat with them. Speaking and listening to them on various forums on various forums is a sure way to reduce stress and keep the mind active in a different direction.

Letting go helps us to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance.

– Melody Beattie

The power of ‘let go‘ is often understated. The above motivational quote on stress relief highlights the importance of letting go and the inherent peace within. Sometimes we cling on to facts, things, people, memories way too long, ignoring the present and get into depression and ill health. Just try once and let go of a particular incident for once and all. Feel the difference it brings, and the positivity – ‘letting go’ can generate a peaceful state of mind and thus relieves stress.

I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.

– Montesquieu

When in stress, pull a book or type an URL to read your choice article. Not anything – a subject you like – it can be on unexplained facts, meditation, mindfulness, the human mind, mystery, and even poetry. You will get engrossed if it’s one of your favorite subjects – reading a book is a much-proven way to relieve stress.

One of the main benefits of spending time in nature is stress reduction.

– Richard Louv

A walk through the forest is never tiring – a stroll in the park always leaves us with a sense of happiness. Nature has such amazing power. Look at the trees as they stand with silent wisdom for decades, observing everything and giving away all the while. Be it shade for the traveler, fruits for us, a place for birds to build a nest – trees have been giving for millions of years and without any expectations. You can try Tree meditation for mental wellness. Nature can be a true inspiration for the very purpose of our existence.

If we can really understand the problem, the answer will come out of it, because the answer is not separate from the problem.

– Jiddu Krishnamurti

We feel afraid of fire, but fire is not the problem. The problem is the fear of fire, which takes birth in our minds. The above motivational quote on stress relief comes from one of the most enlightened and reputed philosophers of all time – Jiddu Krishnamurti. With these words, he simply wants us to analyze the problem and find the answer within it.

Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that’s what makes you strong.

– Sarah Dessen

It’s easy to hide from situations and problems, but this will haunt us more often. Instead, facing situations with determination and without expectation can lead to a more positive way of life, making us stress-free. Even if we fail, we will never regret not trying.

Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it.

– Brian Tracy

The above stress quote highlights one of the most pertinent things to follow. Before we attempt something or before we start introspecting, a simple question can make life easy. Is this going to steal my peace of mind? Will I feel disturbed with the result or in the process? It’s then better not to pursue such misadventures unless you can take it with the right spirit. Peace of mind is valuable and should be the highest priority in one’s life to avoid stress, anxiety, and depression.

The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.

– Jiddu Krishnamurti

Once again, we reserved the best motivational quote on stress relief for the last. While apparently, it seems difficult, it’s not unattainable. Thoughts guide each of our actions. Can we really observe anything without our thought, our beliefs interfering – can we see a white rose as just a flower and appreciate its beauty? If you can see coffee as a hot drink, then maybe you will enjoy it every time. However, most of the time, our mind will tell us if it’s good if it’s strong, if it’s too sweet compared to something we had earlier. Keeping the mind silent while observing or experiencing anything is the highest form of intelligence.

We hope you find inspiration from these quotes on stress relief and manage your mental health in a much better way. It’s impossible to ignore stress, but we can avoid much of the anxiety and depression arising out of stress by following these simple guides to provide us the much-needed peace of mind.