Tried and Tested De-stress Activities
11:29:00
Anyone who knows me, knows already that I am a VERY stressed
and anxious person. It’s just in my nature to worry too much about the future
and the past. In doing so, I often forget to pay attention to the present. I make conscious efforts to not let stress
get the best of me, sometimes all in vain. And I am pretty sure I am that many of you
will have a similar condition. Stress isn’t something one can get rid of
magically to be honest. I do believe, however, that it can be curtailed to
quite an extent. I have seen myself grow out of being a total nervous wreck to
a relatively calmer (all emphasis on relatively) person and I thought I’d share
my secret.
Following is a list of the many simple activities that I have
partaken over time that have ACTUALLY helped. As you scroll down, you’ll notice
that many of these are basic but trust me, the most basic could be the most
effective!
Remember, your ONLY goal should be inner peace. All else will fall into place automatically. And
if it doesn’t, be patient and give it some more time.
The Pretty Conventional Activities Any XYZ Would Recommend
1. Prayer
This is my personal treasure. Faith can take you places, really. There
are times when I go astray and irregular but as soon as I bring myself back to
my praying routine, I feel a drastic change in my mood.
2. Meditation and Yoga
For those who don’t find their solace in prayer, you can always try yoga
and meditation. Both of these together or individually are known to bring
serenity in one’s life. While meditation is more of a personal activity, yoga
is something I enjoyed as part of a class.
3. Sleep!
As entertaining as it is to catch up with far off friends in the middle
of the night, tuning out of social media in time for a good night’s sleep can
turn out to be VERY relaxing. Many researches have shown that the ideal sleep
requirement of an adult is somewhere between 7-9 hours. (Read more here for reference) I urge you to try
sleeping maximum by 11 pm one night and waking up at 7 am. You will
automatically feel a huge difference in your productivity!
4. Pick a hobby and invest in it!
If you already have a hobby, well and good, otherwise look around for
something that spikes your interest and then invest yourself in it. Make out time. DO NOT compromise on
your interests. I am sure that scheduling business meetings on the weekend over
gardening seems to be more productive to you but it IS NOT. You NEED to focus
on yourself. Like I said earlier, your goal is inner peace, and hence, the work
stuff can wait a while. Here is a list of hobbies you could look into:
i. Cooking/Baking (Or Eating… that works best for
me!!)
ii. Gardening
iii. Listening to Music/Dancing/Singing (do it
anywhere, anytime—as long as it makes you happy)
iv. Photography
v. Walk/Run/Gym
vi. Sports: swimming, badminton, football, cricket,
table tennis (the options are endless)
vii. Puzzles/Adult Colouring Books
The Not-So Conventional Activities Recommended by Yours Truly
1. Reading
I haven’t included this in the hobbies section because for me reading is
much more than that. I may not be a crazy bookworm with my nose deep in books
24/7 but there is NOTHING else that makes me happier than the mere sight/touch
of books; bookshops and libraries are my sweet haven. Funnily, I also read a
very selective genre of books (you can join my book-journey on my Goodreads
profile). Coming back to the point, you can read ANYTHING from articles to
magazines to newspapers to books and even comics- guaranteed de-stressing right
there!
2. Binge-Watching Series
Pick a TV series and just binge watch. If you don’t have time for that,
dedicate your weekends to it. Believe me, engrossing yourself in good TV
programs really makes you forget your
own worries and makes you more concerned about the dilemmas of your favourite
characters (although sometimes, it can really devastate you *all melodrama
intended* when the series comes to an end). Find some recommendations here.
3. Learn a new Language or Skill
This one is on top of my list nowadays. Learning a new language can be
super fun as well as practical when travelling and you can even show it off at your
work place and impress your boss! (I am brushing up on my French and learning
German simultaneously nowadays using this app called Duolingo) Same goes for learning
a skill. Always remember that one is never too old for learning; in fact, it is
possibly the best gift you can give yourself. Check Coursera for (free)
interesting courses and/or download a software like Adobe Photoshop and learn
using video tutorials.
4. Write a Journal
Pouring your heart out on paper can be awesome therapy. You can write
anything and everything down without worrying about judgment. Also makes an
interesting memory-keeper to look back at and often laugh about some insane
moments.
5. DIY Activities
Make a new storage system or a key hanger using materials you have lying
around. Decorate your child’s nursery. Paint the porch. Infinite options
really. Be ready for some disasters too—that’s where the fun lies! (You can
check my Pinterest boards for some inspiration)
Whewwww.. That’s a long list! But before I sign off, last,
but by far not the least:
- DO SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS
Do anything that would get the adrenaline
rushing! Hop on to the bus and visit some new part of town or gather your
friends and go for a morning jog that’s more of a photography session (shoutout
to my BFFS!) or skip work one day and go to a theme park!
 |
| This one is from one of the best days of my life! |
- LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE
As clichéd as this sounds, laugh. Watch a
comedy show or talk to someone or do something silly that will make you laugh. Instant
stress reliever.
Let me know if you have tried any of the
above! Hope this post helps everyone out there in some way! Au revoir/Thchuss!
;)
*a few pictures for this post have been taken from Google
1 comments
Very inspiring :)
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