Yet Another List of Stressbusters for These Trying Times
The world hasn't ended yet, so try these techniques for relaxing so you can weather the storm.
For many of us, life sucks right now. Money is tight, food prices are sky-high, and jobs are few and far between. Even if you're not directing affected by the world financial crisis yet, simply reading the news can add a little more tension in your already stress-filled life. I think everyone wishes they could simply take a break and get away for a while, but with the price of a vacation out of most peoples' reach, all we can really do is find ways to cope with the stress.
I do realize there are probably thousands of lists of stress-busters out there, and you've probably read just about all of them. I know I have. For the most part, I've found that the vast majority of what's recommended by "experts" doesn't really work for me. I've had to find my own ways to relax. I'm going to give you a few of the stress-relieving activities that have helped me in hopes they might help you. Even if they don't, perhaps you'll be inspired to come up with your own!
Repetitive Activities
Doing something repetitive-yet-constructive can keep our minds just busy enough so that we can block out other worries and concerns that might be going through our minds. I've found crocheting to be a great way to calm my mind. My attention deficit disorder makes meditation next to impossible, so I've found that crocheting while listening to some music does the trick. Whether you enjoy crocheting, knitting, brushing the cat or dog, or even cleaning the bathroom, if it doesn't take too much brain power and keeps your mind off your worries, it certainly couldn't hurt!
Games
Whether it's video games or card games like Solitaire, games keep us engaged and can give us a sense of accomplishment. As a gamer, I find a simple role playing games on my Playstation to be fairly relaxing. Some people enjoy crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Even something as simple as playing chess against your computer can keep you distracted long enough to calm your nerves, even if only slightly.
Critters
I really like pets. Any look at the past articles I've written here would tell you that. Whether it's a cat or a turtle, a dog or a chinchilla, a rabbit or a hedgehog, pets have been proven to relax us. While they can sometimes be a lot of work, they provide us with love, attention, and companionship. If you're allergic, there are plenty of hypoallergenic pets out there: hairless rats, poodles or poodle-mixed dogs, fish, and tortoises, just to name a few.
Reading
Reading a good book can take us away from the hectic real world and, for a short time, transport our minds into a world far different from our own. This allows us to take a break from our own daily struggles to concentrate on the struggles of someone else, whether they're fictional or not.
Sleep
Many of us are not getting enough sleep, or have a difficult time falling asleep because their minds are too busy. Try to get to bed a little earlier each night, if at all possible, because there is no better reliever of stress than sleep. That's what sleep is for! If you are experiencing insomnia, see your doctor for advice on how to get the sleep you need to keep stress and anxiety at bay.
Do What You Love
I realize most of us are so busy that we can't seem to find any time for ourselves, but we all should really find an hour or so every week to do something we truly enjoy. I like going out to movies and spending time with my boyfriend. My brother spends his free time playing Halo with friends over the internet. Another friend of mine will sit down and play piano. Whatever it is, don't be afraid to allow yourself time to do it. If you think you can because of familial obligations, get your family involved! Read a book to the kids rather than reading by yourself, or teach your significant other how to play your favorite card game. Sharing ones hobbies can make us incredibly happy, and what could be better for beating stress than being happy?
These are all simply things I find work for me. I know some suggestions that the experts always push on us, like meditation and exercise, are things I probably should do, but the point of a stress-buster is not to create more stress. The point is to relax yourself so that when you do return to your responsibilities you feel better, work harder, and have a more satisfying life overall.
I do realize there are probably thousands of lists of stress-busters out there, and you've probably read just about all of them. I know I have. For the most part, I've found that the vast majority of what's recommended by "experts" doesn't really work for me. I've had to find my own ways to relax. I'm going to give you a few of the stress-relieving activities that have helped me in hopes they might help you. Even if they don't, perhaps you'll be inspired to come up with your own!
Repetitive Activities
Doing something repetitive-yet-constructive can keep our minds just busy enough so that we can block out other worries and concerns that might be going through our minds. I've found crocheting to be a great way to calm my mind. My attention deficit disorder makes meditation next to impossible, so I've found that crocheting while listening to some music does the trick. Whether you enjoy crocheting, knitting, brushing the cat or dog, or even cleaning the bathroom, if it doesn't take too much brain power and keeps your mind off your worries, it certainly couldn't hurt!
Games
Whether it's video games or card games like Solitaire, games keep us engaged and can give us a sense of accomplishment. As a gamer, I find a simple role playing games on my Playstation to be fairly relaxing. Some people enjoy crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Even something as simple as playing chess against your computer can keep you distracted long enough to calm your nerves, even if only slightly.
Critters
I really like pets. Any look at the past articles I've written here would tell you that. Whether it's a cat or a turtle, a dog or a chinchilla, a rabbit or a hedgehog, pets have been proven to relax us. While they can sometimes be a lot of work, they provide us with love, attention, and companionship. If you're allergic, there are plenty of hypoallergenic pets out there: hairless rats, poodles or poodle-mixed dogs, fish, and tortoises, just to name a few.
Reading
Reading a good book can take us away from the hectic real world and, for a short time, transport our minds into a world far different from our own. This allows us to take a break from our own daily struggles to concentrate on the struggles of someone else, whether they're fictional or not.
Sleep
Many of us are not getting enough sleep, or have a difficult time falling asleep because their minds are too busy. Try to get to bed a little earlier each night, if at all possible, because there is no better reliever of stress than sleep. That's what sleep is for! If you are experiencing insomnia, see your doctor for advice on how to get the sleep you need to keep stress and anxiety at bay.
Do What You Love
I realize most of us are so busy that we can't seem to find any time for ourselves, but we all should really find an hour or so every week to do something we truly enjoy. I like going out to movies and spending time with my boyfriend. My brother spends his free time playing Halo with friends over the internet. Another friend of mine will sit down and play piano. Whatever it is, don't be afraid to allow yourself time to do it. If you think you can because of familial obligations, get your family involved! Read a book to the kids rather than reading by yourself, or teach your significant other how to play your favorite card game. Sharing ones hobbies can make us incredibly happy, and what could be better for beating stress than being happy?
These are all simply things I find work for me. I know some suggestions that the experts always push on us, like meditation and exercise, are things I probably should do, but the point of a stress-buster is not to create more stress. The point is to relax yourself so that when you do return to your responsibilities you feel better, work harder, and have a more satisfying life overall.
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