Relief from worries is (literally!)

But what if we told you that theres anotherstress relief hack?

One that isquite literallyat your fingertips?

a woman texting on her phone

Getty Images / Verywell Mind

Well, it turns out there is: the Notes app.

What makes the Notes app particularly effective is that its always within reach, she says.

Most of usalready have our phones on hand, meaning we have unfettered access to the Notes app.

you could easily use it to journal, jot down to-do lists, manage triggers, and more.

Plus, it’s a practical resource for routine purposes like grocery lists and itineraries.

Journaling on the Go

It seems likeeveryonestalking about journaling these days, and for good reasons.

Research supports the effectiveness ofjotting down our feelingsfor better mental health.

They also reported greater resilience and overall well-being.

Journaling in our Notes app doesnt have to be complex or highly structured.

You dont have to worry about what youre writing, Mendez says.

You simply write down whats on your mind.

Journaling also helps us identify patterns in our thoughts, which leaves us feeling more grounded and in control.

Making To-Do Lists

To-do lists: we either love them or we hate them.

But when used intentionally, they can benefit our emotional well-being versus becoming another looming stressor.

The best to-do lists arent catch-all listsuse a separate brain dump list for that, Hilton suggests.

Consider making to-do lists in your Notes app for different areas of your life to avoidfeeling overwhelmed.

However, its important to pause and collect ourselves before we say or do anything we might later regret.

This helps us avoid impulsive responses that might contribute to making the problem bigger, she adds.

And our social media feeds just throw more at us!

Theres so much content out there, Mendez says.

It can be hard to keep track of it all.

Mendez has found this approach helpful in keeping track of TV shows she wants to watch.

Making Joy Lists

Gratitudeis one of the simplest yet most effective practices for boosting our well-being.

According to Ferrer, creating joy can reduce our stress and lower our risk for certain mental health conditions.

Research supporting the health benefits of gratitude has been robust.

They also train our brains to focus on what’s going well in life.

you might even consider making a list at the end of each day, week, or month.

Conclusion

With the Notes app, relief from pressing worries is just a few taps away.

The Notes app is a great tool, but a good old journal works wonders too.

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