Finding stress relief activities that you actually enjoy can be a very important part of self-care. They don’t have to be complicated or involve a lot of money either!
As life gets stressful (whether it’s work, family, money, etc.) that stress can pile up inside of you. If you don’t practice expressing your emotions or some other kind of stress reliever, this will build up over time and make things a lot harder.
Practicing easy stress relief activities that you enjoy can be an essential way of life and it can include some fun things to do to!
Highly Effective Stress Relief Activities and Tips
Some of these tips you may not even realize are stress relievers! Try sprinkling some of these tips into your week and see how much better you feel.
Stop and Rest Before You Need To
I’m putting this at the top because it’s my number one tip! If you struggle with overwhelm or exhaustion, this is one to practice.
I tend to get really excited about projects and go all in until I can’t anymore. So you could say that I’ve learned this one the hard way!
Some examples of this may mean practicing 15-minute sessions of laying down in silence or unplugging after 7pm.
Compliment Yourself
Try listing out some things you like about yourself and practice saying them daily.
Really want to step this one up? Try Louise Hay’s Mirror Work as a daily self-love practice.
Practice Gratitude
Every morning start your day listing out five things you are grateful for. This practice is very quick, easy to do, and really uplifting!
It’s one of my favorite ways to start the day.
Sometimes I take things for granted, but this practice helps me to be grateful for the home I live in, the food on my table, and all the little things that make my life easier.
Take a Shower or Bath
This really helps me to clear my mind!
Do you get your best ideas in the shower too? It’s great for shutting off and letting ideas flow in.
Sing Along With Your Favorite Song
I tend to do my best singing in the car (with the windows rolled up haha). But it always helps me to feel better!
Find Something Fun To Watch
Sometimes you just need a little laughter or entertainment after a busy day. I like fun comedies like Jane the Virgin or New Girl.
Do Your Easiest, Repetitive Tasks
If you tend to get stressed out or overwhelmed at work, sometimes doing the more basic, repetitive tasks can help you to feel calm again. Then you can reassess your priorities.
If this happens at home, practices like knitting, chopping fruits or vegetables, or coloring can also help to calm your nervous system.
Cook A New Recipe
Bonus points if it involves a lot of chopping! This is one of my favorite stress relievers.
Plus, not having food prepped can be an additional stressor. So having meals and snacks ready to go is a great practice to keep up with!
Clear Out The Clutter
I don’t know about you, but I find it really hard to relax when there is a lot of clutter in the room.
If you don’t have a bunch of time to clean, just pick one space in your home to keep clutter-free and relax there.
You’ll thank yourself later!
Go For A Drive
This is one of my favorites! Turn up some good music and go for a drive by the water, mountains, or forest and feel the stress melt away.
Try A New Hobby
Hobbies that are repetitive, creative, or social can be great stress relief activities! Things like sewing or puzzles or painting or drawing are especially fun.
Go Someplace New
Try checking out your local art museum or gallery, a new park, bookstore, or cafe. Play tourist in your nearby towns!
Foam Rolling
I LOVE using my foam roller! I have a medium-density one and it is so nice to lay on it or roll out my back.
It’s a great way to physically let go of tension in your body.
Gardening
Gardening is an excellent stress-relieving activity! It’s so therapeutic to grow something and take care of it.
Plus it’s a bonus if you are able to grow some yummy herbs or vegetables!
Bird Watching
I wouldn’t say I’m a bird watcher, per se, but I do love having bird feeders out and seeing these little creatures close to my home!
They are really cute to watch and it doesn’t take a bunch of work to take care of a few bird feeders!
Want even more ways to relieve stress? Check out this article for 13 relaxation techniques for anxiety and stress.
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