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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “relaxation” ?
We are guessing it is activities like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
While such methods are undoubtedly effective in helping to relieve stress and enhance mental wellbeing, they might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Sometimes you just want to do an activity that will allow you to switch off, but still feel like your brain is engaged.
So here’s a list of activities that are fun, and can also help relieve stress when the traditional relaxation techniques just won’t do…
Colouring in
Yes, it’s perfectly fine for adults to colour in too !! Studies have proven that colouring in can help relieve stress.
While it may not be something you can do in between other tasks (unlike deep breathing), if you find yourself with a spare 20 minutes, rather than be tempted to finish off some business administration, keep a colouring book and some pencils at hand, and you might find the boost to your mood does wonders for your productivity for the rest of the day.
The widespread availability of adult colouring books isn’t just a fad. You can find many free colouring pages on internet.
Watching children’s cartoons
Bright colours, light-hearted storylines, and simple portrayal of the world – the combination of these factors makes cartoons an effective way to ease negative feelings. And when you add to this the endorphins released from laughing, it’s no wonder some psychologists use cartoons as a method of treating certain mental conditions. So next time you start to feel anxious or down, tune into your favourite cartoon, and you might be surprised at the improvement to your mood.
Doing a jigsaw puzzle
In addition to improving short term memory, problem solving, productivity and creativity, the classic jigsaw puzzle has also been proven to help with stress and anxiety. Jigsaws can be relaxing, challenging and absorbing.
Spending time alone with a puzzle is also a great way to unwind and reset from a busy day. Offering an immersive escape away from the interruptions and stresses of day-to-day life, there doesn’t seem to be any negative effects of jigsaw puzzles, with the industry projected to grow substantially over the next few years.
If you haven’t done a jigsaw puzzle since your school days, now might be the time to pick one up.
Get moving outdoors
You’ve already heard the benefits exercise can bring in reducing stress levels.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be a strenuous session at the gym – a 10 minute walk around the block can be enough to help provide some relief to a stressful day.
Better still, if you don’t even feel like leaving the house, gardening is considered a ‘low impact’ form of exercise and has been proven to help enhance mental wellbeing, so if you find yourself with a spare half hour, head over to your backyard and get your hands in the soil.
Baking
According to experts, baking triggers our sense of smell, touch and taste, and the tangible end result brings a sense of accomplishment. This brings significant benefits to mental wellbeing, and let’s not forget the added benefit of having something to snack on later.
More treats were baked during the COVID-19 lockdowns than any other era in time and as it turns out, this baking did more than simply provide a way for families to pass time at home.
Finding gaps in your day where you can do something specifically for your mental wellbeing will make a big difference in your overall health.
Whether the activities suggested above appeal to you or not, it’s important to remember that everyone’s different. It’s about finding something that helps you relieve your stress – whether you’re partial to the traditional activities like meditation, or even find certain day to day tasks strangely therapeutic (folding laundry, anyone?).