Are you searching for creative or unique ways to deal with stress? Do you want to keep yourself physically and emotionally healthy during a stressful crisis? Are you looking for healthy ways to cope with the trials in your life? Here are a few creative tips on how to cope with stress.
Try laughter yoga.
One fun way to release stress is to join a laughter yoga group. The goal of laughter yoga is to “bring good health, joy and peace through laughter.” There are more than 6000 social laughter clubs across the country. Laughter yoga can definitely help you deal with stress, and prevent stress from taking a toll on your body. To learn more about laughter yoga, and to find a group in your area, visit the website here.
Treat yourself to professional massages.
Massage therapy has shown to alleviate chronic pain and lessen depression. It has been proven to be beneficial to your overall mental and physical health. Consider getting a professional massage at least once a month. The overall benefits can be worth it. If you aren’t sure what to expect, please read “What is a Professional Massage Like?”
Paint.
Painting has been considered to be very therapeutic for some individuals. One idea is to take a painting course at a local community center or art studio. You can also find classes at pottery studios. Google “paint your own pottery” along with your city’s name to find one in your area.
Reward yourself.
Are you going through a very stressful time at your job? One idea, to help cope with the stress, is to reward yourself every week or two weeks with something you’d like. It might be a manicure, new clothing, or even a massage as mentioned above. It will be nice having something to look forward to, and you will deserve it. (Of course, if your job is incredibly stressful, perhaps it’s time to look for a new job.) Obviously, however, not all people can afford to treat themselves nicely like this, however.
Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
This one might not help relieve stress, but it can help you have a better attitude. In many situations, there are people out in the world who are going through a crisis that is much worse than yours. For example, if your husband has lost his job, but you have a great marriage, then remind yourself frequently that you have a wonderful marriage. You might even just browse on a message board of people gong through a divorce, and you’ll be grateful that you’re not in their shoes. Remind yourself frequently of people in third world countries that are dealing with horrific situations on a day to day basis.
Join or start a hobby club or social group.
It can be very beneficial to surround yourself with people with similar interests. For example, if you enjoy hiking, you might join a local hiking club. Or, if you enjoy reading, find a book club to join. One great website to check out is meetup.com here. If you live in a large city, you can find groups on just about anything. For example, in Portland, Oregon there is the “Sober Singles” group. In Houston, TX there’s the “Movie Buddies” group. Search online and see if you can find a group for you. If there’s not one, considering starting one of your own.
Studies have shown that people who have close friendships are less likely to experience the side effects associated with stress.
Volunteer.
This option should be considered on a case by case basis. Some psychiatrists and psychologists will encourage their patients to find volunteer opportunities. This can help boost your self-esteem and more. Some places to consider are Meals on Wheels (deliver meals to shut-ins), animal shelters, and food banks. If you feel you are mentally fit to be a mentor in a child’s life, consider volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister. Read “Why You Should Volunteer as a Big Brother or Big Sister” for more insight on this opportunity.
However, in some cases volunteering can be more stressful. If you think you fall in that category then its probably best to not volunteer at this time.
These are just a handful of ways to help relieve stress. For more tips on stress relief, please read these articles. Take it one day at a time, and take care of yourself.
