My life lately has been anything but Zen. We all face bumpy patches and times where it feels almost impossible to find a sense of peace. These just happen to be the times where we need practices of relaxation the most. What a conundrum. I plan on offering a few ways to blow off some steam, how to relax, and how I sort through my life when my brain feels rather crammed.
Walks (even better with a furry friend!)
Now I know I’ve kind of touched on my adoration for lengthy strolls, but it really is an amazing way to decompress and burn some calories (if you care about that kind of thing). Add a pet or two and it makes for a wonderful time. When I walk, I try to clear all my thoughts instead of ruminating on them. It’s easy to think of the past, but make yourself become present. Think of how the sun feels, or how the gravel sounds, or even just take a look around.
Keep a Journal
To be honest, English has never been my best subject. Not even top three. But I’ve recently grown rather fond of writing. I like when my writing starts to flow and it takes off a good amount of weight from my chest. I would encourage you to journal any time you feel a rather large emotion, not just the bad ones. My favorite way to journal is writing until you literally can’t write about anything else. And then, keep writing even if it’s absolute nothing. Eventually the thoughts start to flow again and this is where the really juicy stuff comes out. The University of Rochester’s Health Department makes a ton of good claims about the benefits of journaling along with a few good starter tips, so make sure to check them out.
Exercise
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I can sometimes be a little bit of a health nut. Sure the health benefits of consistent exercise are good, but I love the sense of control it provides me over my life. The Mayo Clinic encourages movement of any kind in order to get your endorphins pumping. It may seem like a chore at first, but eventually it will turn into a routine and something you may even look forward to. Swimming is one of my favorite exercises and one that you can do even in old age. Exercising in nature not only allows you to feel the rush but also provides you with great scenery while doing so.
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Stress is no easy thing to tackle but that doesn’t mean you can’t try your best to manage it. You can add little things into your every day routine in order to cope with these anxieties instead of waiting for them to pile up and seemingly take over. And if my methods didn’t do it for you, I recommend checking out 12 Mindful Ways to Manage Your Stress at IES Abroad. Happy destressing my friends.
This was a cool post. For the last couple weeks I have also been a bit stressed out, and I have started taking walks in the evening, which I agree are very relaxing. Unfortunately I cannot do it with a furry friend like you, but going with a human friend works very well, too. I like your part about journaling as well.
Aside from walking to class everyday, I like to take strolls too (kind of hard in this weather) but it’s a great way to destress. Exercise is also really beneficial but I’m definitely not a gym person, so walking is the right amount exercise while also being relaxing.
I think this blog is very useful. A lot of people deal with stress, especially in college and everyone needs an outlet.
As someone who struggles with stress almost constantly, this post is really helpful. I’ve tried some of these methods, and a personal favorite of mine is kind of an extension of your suggestion to take a walk. I enjoy walking out the door with my phone and some music, and wandering around until I find something cool to take a picture of. The pictures don’t have to be good, and sometimes I just like finding a crazy campus squirrel. Whatever you like to do, it’s important to find someway to destress sometimes!