Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out? Do you want some alternative ideas on how to relax?
Here are twelve unconventional ways that different people from different situations relax when they are stressed.
Interestingly, for some people it’s creating order from the chaos of their daily life, for others it’s in some way adding to their chaos through crowds, loud music or movies. Thanks to Marina Khidekel Editorial Director at the excellent Thrive Global for her original article.
Cooking to jazz
“My relaxation is turning on my jazz music and diving off into cutting, prepping, tasting and preparing an outstanding meal for my daughter and I. While she is at school, I try to spend my early morning gathering all of the ingredients I need for dinner and dessert.”
—LaMont King Jr., front office manager, Conrad, IN
Washing the dishes
“I wash the dishes while playing Latin music in the background. This chore distracts me and my entire focus is on making my dishes sparkling clean. The song that is on repeat while I relax is ‘La Cintura’ by Alvaro Soler.”
—Arminé Gambaryan, business management, New York, NY
Reorganizing shelves
“I pick the busiest day of my week and do a deep cleaning of my shelves and cupboards. Some might argue that I should be answering the emails in my inbox and stressing about work. But I am always 10 times more productive after doing that. My husband thinks it is mad, but after a deep cleaning session, I feel completely relaxed.”
—Rachida Benamar, entrepreneur, London, UK
Following the social politics of reality TV
“One of my favorite ways to relax is by watching reality TV and looking at the social interactions that players or participants have. I enjoy watching the participants try to become friends with each other, see what makes them angry with each other, then observe how the competitions brings out the best and worst in people. To me, it is very relaxing to watch one of these shows knowing that none of it really matters in the long run of life, and that likable players frequently get eliminated first, or very last.”
—Terri Parke, licensed mental health clinical counselor, Noblesville, IN
Cleaning the bathroom
“I like cleaning my bathroom to clear my head. It’s almost a luxury when I get the time to do it myself. I like to focus on the details — scrubbing, scraping, wiping, stocking and sorting. If I can get down on my hands and knees, it’s even better. This activity forces me to clear my head and quite literally focus on the task at hand.”
—Leigh Fowler, content amplifier, Toronto, CA
Purging extra stuff
“Every day, I get rid of one thing I don’t need or use anymore. This quickly reduces clutter and makes for a much more peaceful environment.”
—Todd Garrett, marketing, Nashville, TN
Watching loud movies
“I love to watch loud, epic movies, like “Mission: Impossible” and any Marvel movies. The bad guys always lose and the good guys always win. It’s a great release from my day-to-day.”
—Fiona Jeyachandran, trauma counselor, CA
Wandering through a chaotic place
“Sometimes it’s easiest for me to disconnect in the middle of complete chaos. Wandering aimlessly along the Vegas strip or through Times Square in New York are some of my most peaceful moments. I just let the sensory overload wash over me and it all turns into white noise. There’s something about going somewhere big and noisy and letting myself feel small and quiet that’s really calming.”
—Robby Macdonell, CEO, Nashville, TN
Staring at “The Scream”
“I look at a picture of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream.’ For some reason, seeing someone else’s chaos, expressed visually, calms me down. Whatever I’m dealing with doesn’t usually feel that bad in comparison!”
—Jayne Beilby, digital organizer, New York, NY
Baking some goodies
“I get so much joy and calmness from the process of moving through each guided step, cleaning as I go, having a process to be fully present in. And then, of course enjoying the end result. I always feel calmer afterwards.“
—Danielle, life coach and wellness advocate, London, UK
Doing jigsaw puzzles
“I love doing jigsaw puzzles on my iPad. I just lose track of time and feel great when the final piece clicks in.”
—Arielle Ford, author, La Jolla, CA
Blaring 90s pop
“I listen to 90s and 00s pop music, preferably on a loud volume, to destress. If I put on some Hanson, BSB, N’Sync or Britney, I find myself instantly smiling and singing along. The music has a way of taking me back and then flinging me back to the present, reminding me that whatever is going on right now will pass.”
—Jenny Dempsey, customer service, Carlsbad, CA
What’s your way of relaxing?
View Marina’s original article with 7 more examples