Six Stress-Busting Activities You Can Do Alone
Stress is not only an emotion that can cause crippling thoughts. It also presents itself with physical symptoms, such as sweaty palms, increased heart rate, aches and pains, and fatigue. When you are overwhelmed by the feeling of stress, you want to follow some advice from our counselors in Richmond, VA to decrease your stress level and maintain a stable mentality. These are a few simple stress-busting activities that you can do alone.
Journal
Journaling can be a great practice to get out of your own head. When you are overwhelmed with anxious or racing thoughts, take some time to jot them all down. Recognizing your emotions and writing out how you feel is often one of the first steps to learning how to combat them or reduce them. Journaling as a routine hobby is also an affordable and easy-to-implement activity to fit in everyday for at least 10 minutes.
Exercise
Moving your body can also be another great way to release stress. Consider taking up an exercise class, such as yoga, Pilates, or kickboxing, to get you through stressful weeknights. Exercise can take your mind off what is going on around you, giving you a chance to focus on movement, activity, and physical health. When you boost your physical health, your mental health will also be improved.
Take a Hike
Similar to exercising, hiking is another great activity to boost endorphins, strengthen your body, and decrease your stress levels. When you embark on a hike, you are also spending a good bit of time in nature. Nature has many positive benefits on your mental health, such as clearing your mind and grounding your thinking. It gets you away from all the noise and distractions of everyday life, which can also work to decrease stress.
Spend Time with Your Pet
Although this one is not done completely alone, it can be beneficial for your mental health to spend time with your pet. When you own a dog or cat, spend some time sitting on the couch, petting your animal. This grounding technique can bring you back to the present moment and calm your mind with tangible, comfortable familiarity. Also, petting your animals can just be fun too.
Work on a Puzzles
When you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, put your mind to work with a few puzzles. Next time you are at the store, grab a few puzzles to focus on something else. Not only will this improve your cognitive thinking, but it gives you something to do with your hands and truly escape what is stressing you out in the first place.
Get Artsy
Getting in touch with your creative side can also help to reduce stress by giving you something external and carefree to focus on. Grab a few crayons or a glue stick and start making something. Crafting and coloring can help to reduce stress by boosting your creativity and releasing tension from your mind.
If you are looking for more ways to reduce your stress levels, trust our counselors in Richmond, VA to provide you with techniques tailored to your lifestyle. Contact us to schedule an appointment with our professional counselors today!