Activities for Stress Management

From LoveToKnow Stress

There are many activities for stress management that you can engage in to enjoy greater levels of relaxation.

Are Stress Reduction Activities Necessary?

Activities for stress management are necessary if you find that you are having a difficult time coping with the stressors in your life. This following symptoms of stress can help you decide if engaging in certain stress reducing activities will be beneficial:

You can't sleep.

You often feel irritable and "snap" at others

You feel unmotivated and listless.

You find yourself worrying uncontrollably.

You are eating too much/too little.

The above is not a complete checklist, but it does contain some of the key factors those who suffer from stress, often experience.

A List of Activities for Stress Management

Here is a list from, easy to "hard", of helpful activities for stress management:

Use Laughter

Don't think you can laugh away your cares? Well, you really can! Tune into your favorite comedy or go to a comedy club. You can also just act silly with your loved ones; the key is to laugh and have fun.

Listen to Music

If you love music, then listen to it more often. You can listen to it on the way to work, or after you come home from work, or both. The key to this (and all subsequent activities) is that it's easy to do and that it is something you enjoy doing. There two factors together will help to reduce your stress levels because the easier the activity the likelier you'll be to engage in it.

Have Sex

If you have a partner, consider having sex since this is a wonderful way to release tension and frustration and similar to exercise, simultaneously release "feel good" chemicals.

The difference, however, between sex and exercise is that with sex, women tend to release higher levels of oxytocin (the chemical that promotes feelings of love and closeness, along with dopamine, norepinephrine andphenylethylamine) than men do. That said, both men and women show positive chemical effects during the "afterglow" of sex.

Time Management

Time management is key to keeping stress level low. Take some time during the day to jot down a quick schedule. Keep in mind that this schedule is not set in stone, so if you find something unexpected creeps into your day don't panic.

Instead, only write down the things that you must do- not the things you'd like to do This way, you're guaranteed not to end up with a lengthily list (there usually aren't that many things that need to be done right away).

You should do this on the weekend as well, even if your weekend consists of a fun activity, like going to the zoo. In this way, you'll start to see the list can also be a pleasurable experience not just work/chore related.

Use Imagery

When is the last time you found yourself daydreaming? Now, when is the last time you gave yourself permission to day dream? There is a difference.

Daydreaming comes very naturally to most, especially when young. Once grown, however, many tend to reprimand themselves when they begin to daydream, and thus a conflict begins; you want to daydream, but there's work to be done. Solve this dilemma by actually penciling in time to daydream. You can sit or lie down, use guided imagery, or just let your mind roam free; no matter what method you choose, the result is a relaxed state.

Do Yoga

Yoga can seem complicated and downright difficult when you see long time followers exercising, but it doesn't have to be. Yoga is about your breathing and stretching. Take a beginners class, or buy a beginners DVD and follow along. Remember to go slow, follow the instructor's advice to the letter, and immediately stop if you feel any pain. This will allow you to enjoy the benefits of yoga without any unnecessary pain.

Explore a Green Thumb

Gardening and planting can be incredibly relaxing, and the really great news is that you don't need to have acres of land, nor a hefty wallet to enjoy this activity. To save money, consider buying seeds, this usually only costs a few cents.

If space is an issue, purchase a window box and plant at the sunniest window sill in your house. Even if you need a little practice to perfect your technique, this activity is fun and will help you manage your stress.