5 Ways to Destress
Do you ever feel stressed out by the things that are going on in your life, or maybe stressed out by current events that are going on in the country? If so, you aren’t the only one out there feeling this way. As someone who stresses out easily, I can assure you that you are not the only one feeling stressed right now. In a way, even writing this article is kind of stressful.
But don’t fear! There are many ways to plug out from the world, even if it is only for five minutes. Everyone handles stress differently, but here are the ways I like to forget about my responsibilities and just life in general:
- Creating Playlists on Spotify
If you’re like me, who listens to music all the time, I can assure you that creating playlists can be therapeutic. When I create playlists, I don’t just throw in songs and call it a day, I like to get creative. For example, I have a bunch of playlists named after cities in the United States or Canada. Most of these cities are places that I have never been to in my life, but I like to imagine what the lifestyle is like and what distinctive traits they each have that makes them unique. Once I have a vague idea of what type of theme I want, I search for songs that match that vibe. It’s fun and distracting; it’s something that occupies my mind for up to an hour at most. That’s just my way of destressing, but you can create playlists however you want.
- Coloring
This one may seem a bit childish, but what the hey, coloring is for all ages. If you don’t have a coloring book, especially a color therapy coloring book, I recommend for you to go out and buy one soon. There are so many different types of coloring books out there. I guarantee that you will find one that suits your taste. I was never really into coloring when I was young; I almost always colored outside of the lines and I’d always get mad about that. As I got older (and gained more responsibilities), I realized that coloring can be therapeutic. The best way to unwind while coloring is by putting on your favorite songs in the background as you color your heart out.
- Reading
If there is one thing you have to know about me, it’s that I absolutely love to read. I read about anything and everything, but sometimes it’s just nice to read a feel-good book. Books that I would definitely recommend to others that have an interesting plot and just an overall good vibe are: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, and of course, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
- Taking BuzzFeed Quizzes
One thing I am grateful for is for Wi-Fi, because without Wi-Fi I wouldn’t be able to take BuzzFeed quizzes. In all seriousness, there is something oddly satisfying about finding out whether I’m turning into a cat (I’m not a cat, but apparently I’m getting there?) and what NYC borough I should live in (I’m from Queens, so my result being Brooklyn was slightly insulting). Sure, some of the quizzes are a little bizarre and out there, but that’s the fun part about it. Having answers to hypothetical scenarios are just one of those things that make you feel a bit sure of your life, in a very extremely odd way. Anyways, trust me on this, while the news may disappoint you, BuzzFeed quizzes will not.
- Napping
This seems kind of lame, but as someone who barely gets any sleep, just the thought of being able to take a nap is divine. Avoiding the news? Take a nap. Avoiding a text? Take a nap. Avoiding your whole entire unit project? Take a nap. Is there anything a nap can’t solve? Unfortunately, naps don’t solve everything in your life, but we can pretend that they do. Sleep is a good thing for your mental and physical state, so make sure you get plenty of it, but don’t be like me who avoids their responsibilities in order to get a decent amount of sleep. Seriously, I’m thinking about taking a nap right now.
These are just some of the ways I like to destress in my everyday life, but if something different works for you, go for it. The point is to find a way that you can plug out from the world, but if my suggestions help you a bit, then I’m glad.
If you find yourself being too stressed out and affected by current events, and it’s seriously affecting your mental and physical health, I recommend finding someone to talk to, whether they be a professional or a friend or family member. Things will get better.
If you have any suggestions on how to destress, leave a comment below!
