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Have you ever been so stressed with something that you ended up with a horrible headache? With all the nerve-racking things happening around the household, can you still focus on running your home-based business? With all the kids running around, a pet needing specialized care and financial issues?
Stress is horrible, but it will always be a part of our lives. The big question now is, how do we deal with it?! Even everyday occurrences like working from home, traffic jams, and grocery shopping can make us feel anxious.
Stress looks different for every person. I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed, I find it hard to concentrate on meetings, my stomach gets wonky, and my shoulders tense up. I heard that detaching from the online world can even contribute to stress. There really is no escape. Luckily, there are many ways to relax our bodies and minds even while staying at home.
Sleepless nights and accumulated stress can, later on, result in depression and other mental health problems. Whether you’re a successful entrepreneur, housewife, or corporate employee, you deserve a break.
10 Stress-Reducing Activities You Can Do at Home
1. Doodle your way out of stress.
You don’t need to have any artistic skill or expensive art materials – just let that pen glide its way on a blank sheet of paper. Doodling is a much simpler version of journaling. If drawing flowers, hearts, and swirls makes you feel comfortable and relaxed, go for it. Creating any kind of art can be a great stress reliever, and it can be even more relaxing when combined with your favorite tea and aromatherapy.
I always doodle in my journal after a long day at work while enjoying peppermint tea and lavender aromatherapy.
2. Meditate.
Stress can affect your breathing, increasing your heart rate and contributing to high blood pressure. It can negatively impact how your mind and body feel. If you haven’t tried meditation and mindfulness exercises yet, there’s no better time to start.
These activities are proven to reduce stress and nurture one’s mental well-being. Slow breathing can slow your heart and breathing rate, calming your mind and relaxing your muscles. It doesn’t have to be so complicated.
A simple 10-minute breathing exercise can do wonders in your mood. Here are some tips.
3. Play online video games.
Gone are the days when video games were just for small children. Gaming has officially become an important form of entertainment for people of all ages. It is now a way to relieve stress – a fun escape from work and all the taxing things.
When you play games, you put new beautiful worlds and exciting scenarios in your head. It gives you new things to focus on. Depending on the overall state of your well-being and gameplay, playing can help manage one’s emotions and release dopamine, making people feel good and happy.
Ready to play new online games? Click here for free browser-based online games.
4. Connect with your loved ones.
Simply talking to someone you trust will not only reduce stress, but also strengthen your immune system and lessen emotional and physical distress. It doesn’t have to be in person, too. If you are feeling mentally unwell, remember that a dear friend is just one video call away. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone to communicate your feelings, and let go of stress and unwanted emotions.
5. Listen to music.
For centuries, music has been used to treat illnesses and relax the body and mind. Listening to music can lessen emotional distress and improve quality of life, even for the busiest people.
Feeling down? Try listening to upbeat music. Upbeat songs can make you feel positive about life and be more optimistic. Soothing songs with a slower tempo, meanwhile, can calm minds and relax muscles. The calmer and happier you are, the more productive you will be. You can then function at your best in many day-to-day activities. So yes, Spotify is your best friend!
7. Try yoga at home.
Doing yoga can help people let go of stress and physical tension. It helps people stay more flexible and resilient. Moreover, yoga uses deep breathing, which triggers the body’s relaxation response. But perhaps yoga’s biggest benefit is the mental focus it provides.
Focus is key to effective stress management! Each pose requires concentration, which keeps your mind focused on the exercise, instead of worrying and overanalyzing things. Yoga can be done easily at home, but if you want, you can do it in a studio or at a friend’s house for a more exciting mindfulness session.
7. Maintain a regular exercise routine.
There’s no need to leave home (unless you really want to!) to sweat out all the stressors. Just 10 to 20 minutes of moderate physical activity a day can work wonders, calm your mind and lower your stress levels.
Exercise also stimulates the generation of endorphins, the chemicals that help improve our mood. Ready to shift to a healthier routine? Here’s a simple exercise guide for beginners.
8. Try your hand at gardening.
Gardening is a calming activity that can give you the break you need from day-to-day stress. Plus, it can get you your daily dose of sunshine and gain lots of plant friends. Caring for plants can distract you from negative thoughts and other pressing matters that cause anxiety.
The first thing you need to do is check how much sunlight your yard is getting. Which plants do you think will thrive in that area? If you love flowering plants and you think they’ll grow well in that space, then go ahead and schedule gardening time everyday. Watch them bloom before your eyes!
9. Bond with your pets.
Dogs, cats and other animals are part of the family, and spending even just a short time with them can highly reduce anxiety levels. Studies show establishing a good relationship with pets is beneficial to human’s overall health. Building a strong bond with animals can lessen stress, ease loneliness and improve levels of the feel-good chemicals, dopamine and oxytocin.
10. Read books.
Planning a literary, wonderful escape from the stress of everyday life? Find a book that piques your interest. It can be a cookbook, a self-help book, romantic novel or any other book or magazine. Allot reading time each day in that place where you won’t be interrupted. 30 minutes each day is a good start!
It’s time to shift to a healthier lifestyle and leave all the stress behind.
The happier you are mentally and physically, the longer you will live and the more time you can spend with your loved ones. Totally getting rid of mental pressures in just one day is impossible. We just need to help ourselves everyday by engaging in zen activities. Let’s do what’s best for us! 🙂 You can do it!