It's no secret that stress can take a toll on our physical and mental health. Therefore it's essential to find ways to relieve stress regularly. If you're looking for some fun, stress-relieving activities, you've come to the right place! In this blog post, we will discuss ten fun activities that can help you relax and de-stress.
Why Is It Important To De-stress?
When we're stressed, our bodies go into fight-or-flight mode. This means that our heart rate and blood pressure increase, releasing stress hormones like cortisol. While this response can be lifesaving in a dangerous situation, it's not so great when we're just trying to get through our everyday lives.
Chronic stress can lead to a number of health problems, including an increased risk of certain diseases, obesity, and depression. Hence, looking for ways to de-stress is vital. Luckily, plenty of fun activities can help you do just that!
10 Fun Stress-Relieving Activities
Here are ten fun stress-relieving activities that can help you relax and de-stress:
- Try baking. Coping with stress includes self-soothing skills. Relaxation and calmness can be achieved via the use of all five of your senses. When it comes to baking, there is a slew of these skills. When you're kneading the dough, for example, you're utilizing your senses of touch, sight, smell, and taste simultaneously. And the act of baking itself can be therapeutic, as it requires focus and concentration.
- Listening to music. Music has been shown to have several stress-relieving benefits. It can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation.
- Getting a massage. Massages are not only luxurious and relaxing but can also help reduce stress. Studies have shown that massages can decrease cortisol levels, a stress hormone in your body. A high cortisol level can result in certain health issues like weight gain, low immune system, and problems with digestion.
- Do some art. Professionalism isn't required. Create a scene with sidewalk chalk on your driveway, take a paintbrush and learn about different painting techniques (watercolor, acrylic, etc), or simply color in a coloring book. Adult coloring books with beautiful nature scenes are available. The repetitive nature of coloring can be calming and a great way to unwind after a long day.
- Take a relaxing bath. Add soothing aromatherapy or Epsom salts to your bathtub to help you relax even more. Light some candles, put on some soft music, and de-stress!
- Write in a journal. Writing can be therapeutic, and it's a great way to get all of your thoughts and feelings out. If you don't know what to write about, try prompts like "What are five things I'm grateful for today?" or "What was the best part of my day?".
- Solve a jigsaw puzzle. Spread a large puzzle (we're talking 1,000 pieces here) and get to work. Puzzles can evoke fond memories as well as a sense of accomplishment. Our natural sense of well-being returns when we engage in play that we enjoyed as children. It jogs our memory of simpler carefree times.
- Go on a cleaning binge. Cleaning can be therapeutic and satisfying. There's nothing like the feeling of a clean house! Cleaning your home can help you feel less stressed aside from getting rid of nasty pests. It's a task that requires some planning and physical activity, both of which can help you feel less stressed, and it's likely to give you a sense of accomplishment that will make you feel better.
- Do some gardening. Planting flowers or vegetables can be therapeutic, and it's a great way to get some fresh air and vitamin D. Gardening can also help reduce anxiety and depression. Depression and anxiety can be lessened by spending time outdoors daily.
- Go for a walk in nature. Getting fresh air and spending time in nature can work wonders for your stress levels. If you can, try to go for a walk in the park or the woods. If that's not possible, take a stroll around your neighborhood.
Takeaways
There are a number of fun, stress-relieving activities that can help you relax. From baking to listening to music, there's something for everyone. So next time you're stressed, try one of these activities and see how it goes!