How to blow off some steam at the end of the day
Stressful workdays can sometimes get you down. But stress is also a catalyst – it gets you moving, drives urgency, and spurs you to action.
When chemical receptors in our brains and bodies sense heightened anxiety through adrenaline, cortisone or dopamine rushes, these biochemical stressors affect the body positively. Unfortunately, unrelenting stress brings different problems, like a pressure cooker with no steam escape valve.
When stressful situations strain the mind and the body, productivity suffers. The body rapidly declines, and health problems start cropping up. The ill effects of constant stress do more harm than good. Over time, this results in myriad physical and psychological challenges – none of which are good for you. That’s why it’s so important to have outlets to relieve the stress of work, relationships, or situations.
Most of us already know what works best for our situations – time with friends, time alone, going to the gym, playing a game, taking a walk, having a cup of coffee, playing with your dogs, reading a book, watching TV, or going to a movie premiere. The list goes on ad nauseam. Whatever works best for you is the tincture to factor into your daily or weekly stress relief regimen. Below is a list of five absolutely amazing de-stressing options available.
Play a social game online
Most of us can only dream of taking off for Las Vegas every time we feel a little stressed. But did you know that you can log into a social gaming site and play Vegas-style games anytime you want, for free? It’s 100% true. And it’s catching on like wildfire. Millions of people across the United States have discovered social gaming as the perfect tincture for de-stressing. There are so many fantastic games available, and all of them are free to play.
That means you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank, or risking hard-earned cash. Take a game like Coin UP: Hot Fire as an example – it’s 24-karat golden entertainment, with a Mini, Minor, Major and Grand jackpot. With a minimum spin value of GC 75 and a maximum of GC 750,000, casual players, and high rollers can live large and in charge just like a Vegas whale. Simply register, login, play and enjoy. There’s no commitment, no charge, and no stress. It’s just pure fun.
Grab a quick cup of coffee
You don’t need to tell anyone this tip twice – pretty much everyone does it all the time of their own accord. As far as coffee shops in the United States go, Starbucks is a top brand, but any of the local coffee shops will do. There’s nothing like pulling out your smartphone, customizing your favorite cup of coffee on the app, and going to pick it up. It’s a ritual that millions of people follow every single day.
Sure, you can brew coffee at home or in the office, but the act of getting out there, mingling with strangers at the coffee shop, and drinking a cup of freshly brewed espresso, latte, macchiato, or cappuccino is priceless. Sure, the caffeine is a stimulant, but it’s also in mind-sharpening ingredient. It gets your body moving and the coffee always seems to taste so deliciously good.
Zone out in a de-stress zone
Believe it or not, De-Stress zones are everywhere. They exist at home, in the workplace, or out in public. It doesn’t matter where your preferred De-Stress Zone is – find it and anoint it accordingly. There are plenty of people taking advantage of this option, whether it’s physical or mental space. Just give yourself a little time out every now and then to put things into perspective. Nothing stops stress dead in its tracks more than a refocused mind.
Whenever work, study, relationships, friendships, or life starts to weigh you down – allow your imagination to run wild. Whether it’s a field of green with leprechauns, unicorns and rainbows with pots of gold, or a vision of a happy moment from the past, or the future – drop anchor in that zone and de-stress. It is a wonderful soul tonic; it gets you out of the rut and allows your mind to wander to a pleasant place.
Grab Fifi or Fido and go for a walk
Psychotherapists are big proponents of physical and mental wellness. Indeed, the two go hand-in-hand. A sedentary body tends to have thoughts that fester. A moving body tends to have thoughts that wander. Be the latter. Grab Fifi or Fido and go for a walk. Whether it’s your pet Border Collies, Chihuahuas, Rottweilers, or German Shepherds doesn’t matter – grab the dogs and go for a walk. They will appreciate it so much, and you will love that bonding time with your pets. It’s amazing how a pleasant distraction cleanses the mind and body of unhealthy stress.
Music is the opiate of the masses
There truly is something extraordinary about music. It is transformative, transcendent, and terrific. That’s why so many people at home or in the office have their AirPods in their ears, their noise canceling headphones on, or they’re listening to music on their smartphone. Surprisingly, many people who listen to music are fully capable of simultaneously studying or working productively.
It’s an astounding feature of the human mind. Music therapy is absolutely and positively beneficial. Of course, the type of music you listen to will determine your state of mind. Heavy metal, industrial, and punk rock may not be conducive to a stress-free state of mind, but it’ll definitely get you out of a funk. Many people prefer to work or study with classical music or instrumental music. Whatever is in your wheelhouse – that’s the soul food you need.
