Every so often we get stuck in our day-to-day routine. It seems like you have no time for yourself and you no longer have control. Majority of the times, I am a stress-free person but I do get stressed every once in awhile to where I tell my wife, “I’m in a funk…”
When you get in to your own ‘funk’ it is important to break away from your day-to-day routine and find different ways to relieve stress and release tension building up within you. My family finds me to be a bit weird during the moments I try to relieve stress, but it works every time.
Here are 6 unusual ways to relieve stress that may not be normal but are super effective.
1. Take a Cold Shower: I came across this idea when I saw a TEDx video by Joel Runyon of Impossible HQ. There’s something about cold showers that strips all the negative emotions away. Imagine you are in the shower then you make the decision to turn down the heat and kick up the cold. Usually when I do that – it always ends up in me dancing in the shower, my heart rate increases, and I can’t help but do a manly scream. Once I calm myself down, stop the wiggling, and focus on my breathing it feels like all the tension in my body runs off.
2. Sing in Your Car: You know you love singing in the car. Who doesn’t? Put one of your jams in the car and just go for it. Throw in a few shoulder rolls, head bobs, hand drumming, but please keep your eyes on the road. I still remember getting caught at a red light with my window down singing out loud Whitney Houston’s “I wanna dance with somebody” doing the hand motions and all. Although it was pretty embarrassing at the time, now when I think about it, I’m sure that older woman still talks about that night.
3. Push Yourself in the Gym: I usually listen to hip hop or some sort of house music while I workout. But when it’s needed, I play my rock mix and get into a whole different mindset. I pretty much look mad the whole time and I don’t want to deal with anyone who’s around me. I basically go into tunnel vision mode. You need that sometimes. You need to release the stress through some sort of aggression. If you don’t feel like lifting weight, find a trail outside and go for a run. Tell yourself, “I going to sweat all this crap out.” At the end of the workout, I can guarantee that you will feel awesome.
4. De-Clutter: How does your room look? Your desk? Living room? etc.? Let’s start off with the place you spend the most time relaxing and winding down from your day. Take a moment to look around and get rid of everything you don’t need or use. If an item serves no purpose, get rid of it. After I’ve embraced the art of minimalism, I can truly say it has helped me tremendously by making me more mindful of my surrounding. When you find yourself in an open and clean space, your mind feels the same.
5. Dance in the Rain: I love it when it rains. Most people LET the rain make them feel depressed and lazy. Not me, I feel invigorated and recharged. I’m sure growing up you thought being out in the rain was cool. You would look for the biggest puddle and jump right inside of it. That’s what I want you to do, today. Become a kid again. When it rains, go outside, play in the puddles, dance a little, act out Gene Kelly’s ”I’m singing in the rain”, just get out there.
6. Mini-Vacation: You don’t have to travel far or to a different country. You can stay right in the comfort of your own home but you must make some rules. Disconnect from the internet, make a plan to do something new that is most likely outdoors, use your creativity, and visit some place you haven’t gone before. You could even pitch up a tent in your back yard or living room just for the hell of it. I’m sure you used to make forts when you were a kid.
The next time you are feeling the need to relieve some stress, give one of these unusual ways a try. When we get caught up in our busy schedules, we really need to take a moment to step back and breathe. Being stressed happens, it’s part of life. But having stress run your life is no way to live.
Put these ways ways to the test. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
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Mahalo. Aloha. A hui hou.