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During these unprecedented times, find some time and space to laugh.
There are times when you feel low… times when you feel totally unproductive and of no use to anyone. There are several things that can make you feel this way, but what you should know is that problems aren’t the end of the world. You have to come out of them, and sometimes through them, and get back to living. If you feel that it is very difficult to pull yourself together when you are feeling low, here are the best 11 stress-busters that can help reduce stress and help alleviate some of the feelings of depression you may be going through.
Listening to music works therapeutically for most people. Whatever your particular taste in music is, listen to that. Get your iPod or tune in to your favorite Apple Music playlist or go to Pandora station. Listen to your favorite song; maybe check out the music video of your fav song on VEVO or even YouTube if you can. This is sure to cheer you up!
When you accomplish a task, even a small one, reward yourself. Surf the Internet, take a walk and visit your local bookstore, or go to a movie. Those who do this experience a boost in the disease-fighting quality of their immune systems for several days.
Slow down. Don’t rush. Take a walk without any particular destination–walk around the block on your lunch break and practice deep breathing while you do. Getting “away” will relax you and allow you to think more logically when you return.
Have a daily written list of what you expect to accomplish that day. Prioritize the items on that list. It will help you think more realistically about your schedule and time. Once you cross off an item from your “To-Do” list, it relieves stress by seeing progress of the completion of tasks and removes that task from your mind.
For some, having a “To-Do” list can be a stressor–seeing a list of tasks that have yet to be “done.” If this is you, reverse it! Whenever you complete a task or item, create a “Done List.” At the end of the day, seeing your “Done List” will give you a great sense of accomplishment, without the stress of seeing other items that are remaining to be done.
If you like computer games, this could be a great way to manage your stress. It is not just a first-person shooter (FPS) game that can set those hormones running within you; even simple strategy games can do it for you if you like them. The point is to make your mind happy, not excited. So, choose the game you like and play on. It’s Always Autumn compiled a list of 11 games for kids and adults that might help you reduce anxiety and stress.
Most times, if you just share your sorrows with someone, you can do well at managing your feelings. Call the one person you trust more than anyone else and tell them what happened. They will listen to you. Do not fear reprimand or ridicule. That won’t happen. If they are your true friend, they will hear you out and even offer suggestions as to what you should do
If you are stressed, sitting inside and brooding is only going to make matters worse. What you need to do is to go out and let it all out. Take a whiff of the air outside and you will find your problems slowly dwindling away. Most importantly, you can give whatever is on your mind some thought and put things in a better perspective. This helps as well.
If you are inclined to blame yourself for problems (even when they’re not your fault), you may be guilty of negative self-talk, which is a great stress maker. Accept mishaps as routine and normal occurrences in life and you’ll have a higher self-esteem and a much lower stress level. Use positive self-talk.
When you are trying to work out your stress, the one thing you should try to do is to divert your mind. You have to busy yourself with something that you can put your heart and soul to. This could be your work, or do something creative that you keep putting off. This can divert your mind in a very profound manner and you will find that you are slowly but steadily coming out of your stress.
Don’t take things so seriously. When we laugh or smile, blood flow to the brain is increased and endorphins are released. In turn, the level of stress hormones drops. Studies show that laughter not only relieves tension, but also actually improves immune function. Don’t feel like laughing? Fire up your Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon FireStick and find a sitcom or standup comedy show. I guarantee this will get you smiling and feeling better.
Religious or spiritual beliefs give us a context larger than ourselves, which can put things into perspective when you are stressed.
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