Hello, lovely YOU!
This week I want to continue on with the idea of how we can all deal with the craziness and stress that is going on in the world today. At this point it honestly feels like some very bad people are doing some very bad things to intentionally hurt the citizens of the world. I don’t think there is any other explanation for what is going on.
Obviously, this knowledge makes it incredibly difficult to go about our daily lives feeling joyful and safe and secure. But go on we must, so how do we deal with the chaos and madness?
Well, in order NOT to get sick, we’ve got to get this stress out of our body. I’ve continued to talk with friends, family, and colleagues to get some ideas about how they deal with stress. And it turns out there are some pretty fun and unique ways some of them are dealing with it.
If you’re looking for a way to get stress out of your body, try one or more of the following:
Exercise Aggressively
Sure, we all know any exercise is good for releasing stress hormones – also known as the fight-or-flight hormones – from our bloodstream. But there is something to be said for being a bit aggressive with your exercise as opposed to say doing some light yoga.
Now, I’m not suggesting you hurt yourself, that’s not the goal here. But what I have heard from some of the people I spoke with is that they got a bigger release of stress when they put their emotions into it. So maybe you want to do some shadow boxing or hit a heavy bag. Maybe instead of going for a jog, you do some sprints and put your stress into those. Instead of doing some slow, smooth laps in the pool, take your stress out on the water and move through it aggressively. Again, be careful so you don’t hurt yourself, but putting your emotions into the movements can help you release that stress.
Do Something Tactile
The worst thing we can do with stress is to ruminate on it. That is, we must find ways to stop thinking and thinking and thinking about what it is that is making us stressed. One of the best ways to get out of our heads is to get into our other senses. Some of the people I spoke with told me they popped bubble wrap, used a spinner, or played with an old Rubik’s Cube for a little while.
You can also use your other senses. One person told me she goes into the kitchen and smells all of her spices in her spice jars. You could also head outside to smell some flowers or sit in your backyard with eyes closed and listen to all of the ambient noises.
Give Yourself a Task
Another way to stop that stressful chatter in your head is to give yourself some sort of task to do. Solving a problem, I have heard from a few others, is a great way to shift your brain. Try a crossword or Sudoku puzzle. A couple of other people told me when they are stressed and their mind is racing, that’s when they tend to reorganize their closet or pantry!
Have Sex
It’s tactile and it definitely gives you a fun task to do. An Israeli study found that people who had satisfying sex had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva. Hopefully you have a loving partner to have sex with who doesn’t stress you out. But if you have to fly solo, go for it. An orgasm will help you feel stress relief no matter how (or who) gets you there!
Clean Like a Fiend
Maybe not as fun as sex, although some people really like to clean. If you actually feel better when your house is clean, then you may want to channel all of that angst, stress, and aggression into getting your kitchen or bathrooms spotless. You’ll end up with an immaculate home and a sense of accomplishment, which can give your mood a boost!
Doodle
You don’t have to be an accomplished artist or have any real skill to doodle. Simply grab a pen and paper, or if you have kids borrow their markers, crayons or colored pencils. Simply doodle on the page, allowing your emotions to dictate how the shapes and lines form. You may also want to pick up an adult coloring book. I have used these in the past and I can tell you that immersing yourself in the art of coloring can be incredibly relaxing and satisfying.
I thought these were all some pretty fun and unusual ways to deal with stress. Tell us in the comment section how you relieve stress.
One Response
I turn to music and dance to destress my life. Dave will often find me dancing and singing in the living room! Get out there and live your life. Do what you love to do. No rules. Turn the music up and dance!