When it comes to conceiving, it’s important to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible. There’s a reason why a lot of people will advise you to “relax and let it happen”; stress has a notable effect on a person’s fertility. So it’s high time to develop habits to relieve stress.

Women who are under a lot of stress find it harder to get pregnant because their bodies ovulate less frequently, while men who have similarly stressful lifestyles tend to suffer from reduced testosterone levels and sperm production.

If you want to get pregnant, the best way to start is to reduce the amount of stress in your life. It will not only make you happier but will also ensure that you’re more likely to be in the mood.

1. Go for a walk

Taking the time to exercise regularly helps to reduce your stress in a number of ways. Even a quick 30 minute walk is enough to make you feel better because it pumps up your brain’s “feel good” endorphins. Regular exercise has been proven to lower the symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. In addition, getting your body healthier and losing weight will help to ensure that your pregnancy goes well.

2. Switch to herbal tea instead of coffee

closeup of rooibos tea, shallow dof

Sometimes it can be hard to get through the day without a cup of coffee. But did you know that having too much coffee can affect your chances of getting pregnant?

Instead of coffee, why not try taking a sip of green tea? It has less than half the caffeine content and contains healthy antioxidants as well as theanine – an amino acid that has a calming effect on the nervous system. While it can be hard to wake up without that caffeine rush, you’ll find yourself feeling happier and less stressed in the long run.

3. Put down your smartphone

Though they are undoubtedly useful, nowadays people are becoming unhealthily attached to their technological devices. While permanently disconnecting from technology is not feasible for a lot of people, learning to set aside your phone for an hour or so before bedtime will allow you to enjoy a deeper and more fulfilling sleep cycle.

This is because your smartphone’s bright screen can throw off your circadian rhythm, making it harder to get a good night’s sleep. For a more satisfying sleep schedule, put aside your phone and try drinking some warm milk or hot chocolate before bedtime.

4. Change your sleeping habits

Speaking of having a good night’s sleep, it’s no secret that getting enough sleep helps to reduce the amount of stress that you feel. Try to get around eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night to ensure that you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.

5. Take a break

If you find your stress levels rising, don’t be afraid to take a short break. Read a book. Watch a TV show. Take up knitting.

Whatever you choose to do, it’s good to have a hobby to let off steam. Put aside some time every week to do something that you enjoy and you’ll find your stress levels dropping faster than you might expect.

6. Meet up with some friends

It’s easy to overlook the importance of having a healthy social life. In today’s busy and high tech world, it can be all too easy to wake up one morning and realize that you haven’t spoken to your friends in ages.

When you’re feeling stressed, try calling a friend and talking about your problems. You’d be surprised at how helpful it can be just to have someone who’s willing to listen to you.

7. Laughter is the best medicine

Have you ever heard of the phrase “laughter is the best medicine”?

If you’re feeling down, try watching some comedy shows or looking at funny videos. Laughter releases endorphins which improve your mood while decreasing levels of stress causing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. The act of laughing can trick your nervous system into making you feel happy, so go ahead and giggle away!

8. Set up a proper schedule

You might be surprised at how relieving it can be to have a proper schedule for your work. Setting up some clear guidelines for how you manage your time is a good way to avoid getting bogged down in the stressful ‘grey zone’.

Arrange for regular breaks, set clear start and stop times for work, and make sure to take regular days off so that you can focus on your family and personal life.

9. Breathe easy

As cliche as it might sound, taking a deep breath can in fact help to lower your stress levels. One of the old and time tested ways of dealing with the stress and pain of natural childbirth is deep breathing exercises.

There are a few different techniques for deep breathing, but they all have the same effect – getting a larger than normal amount of air into the lungs and holding it there for a short time.

10. Get rid of uncertainty

Instead of relying on luck, try using an effective ovulation test kit such as the Clearblue Digital Ovulation Test to find out the exact days when you are most likely to get pregnant.

It is a sophisticated and efficient method to monitor ovulation by measuring the change in Luteinising Hormone (LH) levels in a woman’s body. LH levels will rise about 24 to 36 hours before ovulation occurs. Just place the tip in your urine stream to get a 99% accurate reading that gives you the two best dates to conceive.