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Look to children for stress relief ideas
By Anne Davis
Stress relief comes naturally to children, so if you want some tips, look to your children!
Sleeping – Naps are good for you. A 15 minute catnap will refresh and revive you. If sleeping during the day isn’t possible, taking 10-20 minutes of quiet time to close your eyes and rest will relax you.
Dreaming – Pretending and daydreaming stimulates your creativity as well as your ability to imagine your life the way you’d like it to be. It takes your mind away from anything that might be troubling you and gives you an excuse to let go, even if only for a few minutes.
Cloud Watching – Another excuse for taking your mind off things is to look for shapes in the clouds. Make a game of it and rope in your kids or significant other and take some time off to play.
Hugs – When you were small, a big hug made everything seem alright. It still works.
Pets – Playing with your pets is a real stress-buster. Even just petting your dog or cat is relaxing. Studies show that having a pet reduces blood pressure better than medication and provides social support to those who may be alone or lonely.
Singing – Sing, hum, whistle, let ‘er rip! Find a song you love and sing away at the top of your lungs (preferably a song that makes you feel happy…).
Card, Board or Computer Games – Kids love to play games. As adults, most of us don’t take the time to play games but the stress-relief provided by a fun game is immeasurable.
Embracing Creativity – Draw, paint, photograph, doodle away! Expressing your feelings in this way helps you to process your emotions as well as relieve stress.
Journaling – Writing down your feelings, dreams and wishes is another excellent way to let go of anything that is bothering you. Sometimes just re-reading what you have written leads you to solutions you wouldn’t have thought of in your stressed and worried state of mind.
Never underestimate the power of distracting yourself from your worries and feelings of disempowerment. Make time for yourself to relax and enjoy life, particularly when you feel you are short of time! Simple solutions are right under your nose, but you will never find them when you are stressed out. Embrace your inner child – that’s where all your answers will be found.
Anne Davis is a writer, blogger, artist and photography buff. Born in Quebec, she now lives in Kimberley, where she is editor of and contributor to the City of Kimberley’s Active Community Guide and webmaster for the City’s websites.
