20 Instant Stress Relievers

Stress ReliefBeing a parent isn’t easy, especially when it’s only one of many roles we play in a day. When you start feeling frustrated, angry, uptight or stressed, try one of these stress relievers:

  1. Exercise or take a brisk walk.
  2. Call a friend – especially one who will make you laugh.
  3. Rock a baby or play with your pet.
  4. Write down what’s on your mind.
  5. Go for a drive.
  6. Listen to soft music to relax, or dance to something upbeat to work off tension.
  7. Go outside and enjoy the beauty around you.
  8. Take a coffee break
  9. Dig in the dirt – if you don’t have a garden, plant a flower pot.
  10. Talk out loud to yourself about the problem.
  11. Meet a friend for lunch.
  12. Starting with your feet, contract then relax each muscle group, moving up to your head.
  13. Clean something. (If you don’t have anything to clean, come to my house!)
  14. Smile, even if you don’t mean it.
  15. Write down 10 positive things in your life.
  16. Stand and reach as high as you can, then bend down and touch your toes. Shake your arms and repeat.
  17. Go window shopping.
  18. Close your eyes and picture peaceful scenes.
  19. Take slow, deep breaths in and out, in and out, in and out…
  20. Stuff your face into a pillow and scream it all out.

How do YOU deal with stress?
Amy Sue
Photo Credit: Scream by Melissa O’Donahue on Flickr.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.