Americans are stressed. According to a 2023 American Psychological Association study, nearly half of adults cited sleep issues related to stress. That same study found a fifth of stressed Americans have never engaged in an activity to help relieve or manage stress. If you’re among them or simply looking for new routes to relaxation, these five unexpected ideas can help.
1) Color outside the lines
Grown-up coloring books aren’t just a fad — they really do help combat stress! According to The Washington Post, coloring books work in the same way as mindfulness techniques. They slow down your heart rate, loosen muscles and stimulate the brain.
2) Do good to feel good
Have you ever volunteered and felt great after? You weren’t imagining that feeling of happiness. According to research published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, helping others is associated with higher daily levels of positive emotion, improved mental health and less stress.
3) Scrub away the stress
No, this isn’t just a trick to get the chores done around the house. Researchers at Florida State University found that mindfully washing dishes — which includes focusing on the smell of the soap or warmth of the water — decreased nervousness by 27 percent and increased mental inspiration by 25 percent in participants.
4) Discover your green thumb
Gardening can help calm your mind on many levels — whether you’re outside in the spring air or potting year-round in a greenhouse or indoor garden. The earthy pastime combines the de-stressing effects of exercise with mindfulness for an overall relaxing experience.
5) Hugs from household members
Recent studies have shown that hugs, especially with partners or family pets, can help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve attitude. That’s because hugs by loved ones may increase levels of oxytocin, a hormone shown to potentially ease stress.
6) Reap the rewards of reflection
You can practice guided meditation and mindfulness, visualization and other forms of meditation anywhere at any time. Meditation can be practiced standing up, sitting down, on walks or even in your room. Just remember to center yourself and practice deep breathing.
7) Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard)
Sometimes it helps to express your thoughts in writing. Don’t think about what to write —let your words flow freely on paper or the computer screen. Write anything that comes to mind. You don’t have to share it with anyone, so don’t focus too much on perfect grammar.
8) Drift away to your favorite tunes
Listening to music can be a great way to alleviate stress, providing a mental distraction that helps to lessen tension. Turn up the volume and let your mind be absorbed by the music.
Did you know that exercise relieves stress too? Try some of our favorite workouts to reduce your stress!
