I Tried Everything to Manage My Stress — Here’s What Didn’t Work (And Why)

I’ve done it all. From yoga and running to herbs, meditation, and EFT. If you can name a popular method for managing stress, I’ve probably tried it — some for months, others for years.

And while many of them brought temporary relief… not one of them eliminated the deep, recurring stress patterns that kept showing up in my body, my business, and my relationships.

Because here’s the truth:

You can’t manage away a root-level problem. You have to dissolve it at the source.

This post isn’t about dismissing these practices — many are powerful tools and beautiful rituals. But if you’re still waking up wired, overwhelmed, and exhausted despite doing “all the right things”, this list might hit home.

Let’s walk through the long list of things I tried to manage stress — and why none of them led to lasting peace.

⚙️ Mind-Body Techniques I Tried

These practices helped me feel more grounded — for a few hours. But the stress always returned, like weeds I hadn’t pulled from the roots.

• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
• Yoga (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin… you name it)
• Meditation (guided, silent, transcendental)
• Breathwork (box breathing, Wim Hof, pranayama)
• Hypnosis
• Visualization exercises
• Guided meditations and affirmations
• Loving-kindness meditation
• Body scans
• Mindfulness training

✅ Momentary calm. ❌ Long-term transformation.

🏋️‍♂️ Physical Practices That Helped… Until They Didn’t

Movement gave me a break from my thoughts. But when I stopped, the anxious mind crept right back in.

• Running (pushed myself to the edge)
• Hiking and nature walks
• Swimming
• Weight training
• Tai chi and stretching routines
• Daily yoga
• Cuddling with pets
• Taking warm baths
• Napping or power naps
• Walking meditations

These were great for resetting my nervous system — temporarily. But they didn’t address the belief systems driving the stress.

🌿 Natural Remedies & Holistic Tools

I dove deep into the world of alternative health, hoping to “treat” my stress like a physical ailment.

• Herbs (adaptogens, calming teas)
• Essential oils & aromatherapy
• Massage therapy
• Reiki and energy work
• Acupuncture and chiropractic
• Homeopathy and naturopathy
• Special diets (raw, plant-based, anti-inflammatory)
• Digital detoxes
• Limiting caffeine and alcohol
• Hydration tracking

I felt like I was managing symptoms, not solving the real problem. Stress kept resurfacing.

🧘‍♂️ Spiritual & Reflective Practices

These connected me to something bigger — but still didn’t release the emotional knots within.

• Attending religious services
• Reading spiritual books
• Journaling and expressive writing
• Contemplation or silent retreats
• Prayer circles and sacred rituals

They gave me peace in the moment… but I still woke up stressed. Still reactive. Still exhausted.

🧠 Productivity Hacks & Life Management

When I couldn’t “heal” the stress, I tried to out-organize it.

• Time-blocking and GTD methods
• Keeping a clean home and desk
• Habit trackers and productivity apps
• Journaling apps and bullet journaling
• Decluttering, minimalism, inbox-zero systems

I was trying to control my outer world… while ignoring the inner one that created the chaos in the first place.

So What Did Work?

All of these tools have their place in the path to less stress, but they only deal with SYMPTOMS after the fact. They do serve a purpose — especially in the beginning.

But here’s the truth bomb that changed everything for me:

Stress isn’t something happening to you. It’s something happening through you.

It’s the internal resistance to what is — the pushing, controlling, and unconscious patterns — that creates your stress. Not the event. Not the email. Not the client.

When I stopped trying to manage stress and started eliminating resistance at the root, everything shifted.

That’s the work I teach now in my Stress Less training — a completely different path that goes beyond coping and helps you rewire the very beliefs and nervous system patterns that create stress in the first place.

If you’ve been trying all the things I listed above or any of the other myriad of stress management modalities, and you’re still not free…

👉 Read this next: Why Managing Stress Doesn’t Work: The Science Behind Failed Techniques

(It connects all the dots and explains the missing piece.)

Final Thought

Don’t beat yourself up for trying. I did, too. The problem isn’t that you didn’t work hard enough.

The problem is that most stress relief tools are designed to cope with stress, not to eliminate the source of it.

Ready for a different path?

Start here: Join the Stress Less Movement