Everyone needs something to help them calm down after an extremely stressful day. Now, depending on the person, a stressful day is always something different. For a college student, a stressful day is when you don't get the breakfast you wanted or needed right before a major test or exam. For a parent, a stressful day is finding out anything bad that is related to your child. Everyone gets stressful days and there are multiple ways for a person to feel better and to relieve or forget about that stress at the end of the day. There gets to be a point in every day where it is too late in the day to do anything about it, and yet our bodies and minds still stress. This isn't horrible, but it is important to relieve some of that stress in the body before going to sleep. Everyone has a different way of calming down, but here are just a few that are great and don't cost a lot of money or energy.
1. Looking into someone else's story
Whether it is by reading a book, listening to a story, or watching a movie, it can be helpful to lose yourself in someone else's life, even just for a little while. While this isn't a long term coping system, a brief distraction for a little while is effective.
2. Taking a hot shower
Shower thoughts are a thing, so take advantage of breathing in the steam and letting your mind wander. Some of the best ideas come about while getting clean.
3. Music
Whether music is being listened to or being created doesn't matter. Music is proven to be one of the best ways to express your emotions about a certain situation.
4. Walking or Exercise
It could be a simple walk around the block at sunset, or sweating out all of your frustration while working out. Personally, if stressed or angry, the best thing to do is get on the elliptical with some headphones in and ignore the world for a little while.
5. Get creative
Make something out of your stress, express it to the world through your creative side. Some people are great with writing, while others are good at sculpting. Through history people have used art to express their ideas about life and society.
6. Food
Never underestimate the power of food. Especially comfort food, something that may not be good for us and that we cannot eat all of the time. Yet, when it is really needed, it is the only thing we will eat. Most girls love chocolate or something sweet as their comfort food, personally I'll take a bag of salty chips over ice cream any day.
7) Nap Time
Never underestimate the power of naps. As a college student, sometimes they are needed to just get through the day. Naps are great for when you might feel too anxious to do anything other than lie down. If it's that stressful, than a small break from it isn't a bad idea.
8. Dancing
Be alone in a room, most likely your own, and put on your favorite dance music and just dance away your problems for a little bit. If you need help, Meredith and Christina from Grey's Anatomy can teach you.
9. Treat Yourself
If this means giving yourself a manicure or restyling your hair, do it. If this means a spa day with massages and acupuncture included, do it.
10. Talk to Someone
You are not being a burden to anyone if you need 20-30 minutes to vent about an issue that you are having, especially if you're willing to listen to someone else vent with you.
11. Hang out with Someone
Whether it is your significant other or just a friend, spending time with someone can help you feel less stressed. It doesn't matter what the activity is.
12. Animals
It doesn't matter if the animal is a dog, cat, fish, or even bear. Spending time to play with an animal or just to sit their with the animal can calm a person down. Many universities will have a couple hours in which dogs are brought to the university during exam week or before.
13. Cleaning
You may not be able to clean up the emotional mess you are involved in, such as stress from friends, family, a significant other, and/ or from their studies, but you can clean your clothes, dishes, living space, or something else.
No matter what a person does to relieve stress, as long as they aren't hurting themselves or anyone else, why does it matter? Everyone needs to relieve stress differently, and it is why stress can be said to be one of the most unique emotions.
