nchecked, stress can be a killer, which is why every year, the month of April is dedicated to stress awareness. With National Stress Awareness month 2021 on the doorstep, here are 21 activities to reduce stress for you to try.
DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES
Getting your mind to focus on something else other than what is distracting or causing you anxiety is key to minimising the effects of stress. These are just a few ideas of activities that can help to reduce stress. The key to all of them, especially in helping with short term stress, is to make them easy, fun and do-able.
1) EMBROIDERY SET
There are hundreds of small embroidery kits for sale from online and high street retailers. These small sets contain everything you need to learn the skill of embroidery.
2) BAKE OR COOK
Stress-busting activities ‘distract’ your brain, forcing them to focus on something different. Baking or cooking is ideal. Choose a simple recipe and enjoy the reward. Don’t set yourself an impossible standard: keep the recipe simple!
3) ADULT COLOURING BOOKS
Another great activity that pulls your focus away from other stuff is adult colour books. Better still, grab some paintbrushes or pencils and create your own masterpiece.
4) COMPLETE A JIGSAW PUZZLE
This type of activity can last for a few days or even weeks so is great for long term stress. Invest in a large puzzle – 1,000+ pieces – so you have an ongoing, regular activity that will pull your attention when you need it to.
5) GET OUT IN THE GARDEN
Spend half an hour a day pottering in the garden. From dead-heading plants so they flower again to a little bit of pruning, time outside is always stress-busting. If you’d rather sit in the fresh air (and it is just a little too fresh right now), snuggle under a blanket and enjoy the view (or a good book!)
6) EXPLORE MUSIC
We all have likes and dislikes when it comes to music but why not explore a genre you haven’t previously?
7) KEEP A JOURNAL
Journaling is great for self-development and can help you manage your stress. There are several different journaling ideas to try.
8) PET SIT
Pets are known to reduce stress and whilst this isn’t a reason to own a pet, dog-sitting or dog walking for a friend is. You could also volunteer at a local animal shelter.
9) TAKE UP KNITTING
A practical hobby that is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, as well as helpful magazines and websites, there are online knitting groups to discover too.
10) PLAY AN INSTRUMENT
From taking lessons to teaching yourself, playing an instrument is great relieving stress.
11) PLAY CARDS
When was the last time you enjoyed a game of cards? Cards can be fun and again, there is a range of card game ideas to be found online.
12) WATCH SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Like music, we tend to stick to TV programmes that we like. Try something different like a documentary series on dinosaurs or space, something that transports you to a different place.
13) READ
Books are great for doing what we suggested above. Join a library and make going to get a novel or two a regular activity. Or, enjoy relaxing in bed propped up with an eBook on your electronic device.
14) LEARN A LANGUAGE
Getting your mind to focus on something else is key to reducing stress. Learning a language is engaging and fun. Take it at your own pace and simply relax!
15) GO CAMPING
Nature is great for relaxing the mind, body and soul. Extend the parameter by sleeping under canvas and waking before the sun rises so you can watch daybreak. Then grab your trainers and enjoy a stress busting walk.
16) VOLUNTEER
Stress forces us to become fixated on a handful of issues. Volunteering allows you to expand your horizons and think about other things. From animal shelters to helping out in a rest home, there are plenty of charities and organisations looking for help.
17) TRY ORIGAMI
The ancient art of paper folding is both soothing and intriguing. From simple folds to more complex ones, the options are almost endless.
18) LEARN TO RELAX WITH GUIDED IMAGERY
This is the art of taking a short holiday in your mind. Guided imagery is when you use your mind to take to a happy place. It takes some practice, especially if your mind is clouded with stressful stuff.
19) MEDITATION
Another great skill to have is to be able to meditate. Even when you are not outwardly stressed, meditation is great for calming the mind and becoming more resilient to stress. You can light a mood candle and make a spa-type experience out of it. If you find any places where there is tension while meditating, consider a heat pad to relax your muscles.
20) BREATHING TECHNIQUES
Stress can build slowly or it can hit you hard and quick. Breathing exercises are ideal for physically slowing your system so you can slow your mind so you can think around an issue.
21) EAT WELL, EXERCISE WELL
Long term, stress can be hard on the body and mind. Long term, eating well and exercising regularly is key.
SHORT TERM VS. LONG TERM STRESS
These suggested activities are all great ideas to reduce stress. But when you are under severe stress, it can seem frivolous to suggest you take up knitting. This is because there are different types of stress. Short term stress is part of the flight or fight reaction humans have. Short term stress can be good, firing us on to reach a deadline or complete a difficult task, such as an exam.
When you feel stress is hanging around, you need to:
- Identify the trigger – what is it that is causing you to feel anxious and stressed?
- Action – can you change what this trigger is? It may be something at work that can be changed or is part of a bigger issue that will take time to resolve. It is, however, important to take steps to reduce to eliminate stressors.
Long term stress is the knot-in-the-stomach, brain-fogging stress that makes us feel both physically and emotionally unwell. It grinds someone down, often leading to a range of other issues.
When this is the case, you need to seek professional help. This could be from your GP, through counselling or another channel.
Getting out of a stressful cycle is possible. But you might need professional help, as well as opting for some of these activities to reduce your stress levels too.
Embroidery Photo by Hata Embroidery on Unsplash, Tulips Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash, Dog Photo by FLOUFFY on Unsplash, Reading Photo by Emily Rudolph on Unsplash & Woman cutting fruit and veg photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com