13 Unusual (But Effective) Stress-Busting Techniques

Stressful moments are an inevitable aspect of today’s fast-paced lifestyle. While traditional stress-busting techniques, like breathing exercises can provide relief, the overwhelming nature of modern life often calls for more unconventional approaches to release negative energy.

There will be times where those commonplace ideals of reducing stress just don’t provide the needed relief for every situation. So let’s get creative in our stress-busting techniques and explore these unusual but effective ways of combating stress and easing tension.

Relieve Your Stress in a Different Way

While stress may be natural, it doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your life. Try these stress-busting techniques to help calm your mind and ease your tension. You’ll be amazed at the sense of relaxation and happiness they can bring.

1. Laughing It Out As A Stress-Busting Technique

Laughing is deemed a universal language for a reason. Whether you’re telling jokes or laughing at a sitcom on TV, laughter can be an excellent way to destress.

Endorphins rush into your system, reducing cortisol levels and boosting relaxation. Aside from the stress-busting advantages, it can also provide short-term health benefits, including:

• Better health: Laughing allows oxygen-rich air to enter your body, stimulating your heart, muscles, lungs and brain, increasing endorphin production.

• Tension relief: It aids blood circulation and muscle relaxation, helping reduce physical symptoms of stress, such as difficulty breathing and chest pains.

• Activated stress response: A good laugh helps decrease your blood pressure and heart rate, promoting relaxation.

Fortunately, laughter is a free, natural medicine. Finding ways to make you laugh is easy — scroll on YouTube to watch funny dog videos, share silly stories with your loved ones or read a humorous story. Just remember not to laugh at the expense of others, as it might cause you more stress instead.

2. Hugging a Loved One

Have you ever received a hug and felt instantly better? This is because a warm hug is more than just a way to comfort someone — it’s a stress-relieving action you can give and receive for free. Hugs symbolize support, comfort and security, helping ease the body’s tension, anxiety and sadness.

Like a good laugh, a comforting hug slows the heart rate and reduces cortisol levels. In turn, it makes you feel relaxed and reactive to stress.

When hugging someone, your body releases oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. This helps you bond with your loved ones and boost your connection with someone, helping reduce feelings of loneliness.

Getting regular hugs can also reduce your chances of illness. A great support system translates into an excellent immune system. The next time you or a loved one feels stressed, don’t be shy to give the gift of hugging.

3. Spending Time in Nature

Nature can slow your busy mind, providing a sense of calm when you’re caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Dealing with early mornings, busy schedules, and responsibilities can drain your energy and motivation.

Being stuck in a routine can eventually drain you and lead to burnout. If you’ve felt this way, you’re not alone. About 48% of people under 30 report feeling burned out at work.

Basking in nature’s beauty provides physical and mental benefits, from boosting happy hormones to improving your immune system. Studies have shown that a 120-minute weekly walk in nature can improve health and well-being.

So, the next time you feel blue, go outside and stroll in the woods. If you have a backyard, do some gardening and plant your favorite herbs and vegetables. Or instead, if you’d like company, go camping with friends.

4. Aromatherapy – Stress-Busting Technique Through Olfactory

Have you ever entered a spa and noticed your mind immediately relaxing? There’s nothing quite like the calmness and relaxation that comes with aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy refers to the therapeutic technique that harnesses the calming powers of scent. Eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint and ylang-ylang are familiar scents that can soothe your mind.

Scent molecules enter your olfactory senses and trigger positive responses in your brain. This is because it raises your endorphin and serotonin levels, lulling you into a calm state. If you benefit from aromatherapy, install diffusers or scented candles inside your home. 

5. Singing

Not everyone is gifted with a singing talent, but people love doing it. Whether you have a golden voice or not, singing your heart out can positively affect your physical and mental health. It’s an aerobic activity that exercises the upper body’s major muscle groups. 

It helps lower cortisol levels, relieving stress and tension. Your brain releases oxytocin and endorphins while you belt out your favorite song.  This enhances feelings of trust and bonding, helping you boost your confidence.

Singing also provides an expressive outlet, enabling you to release pent-up emotions. The next time your favorite song plays on the radio, don’t be shy to sing your heart out and release that stress energy. It’s a natural and creative way to calm your nerves after a stressful day.

6. Dancing As A Stress-Busting Technique

You don’t have to be a stellar dancer to enjoy the stress-busting benefits of this dancing. It’s an excellent way to replace stress hormones with serotonin and endorphins, relieving tension and calming your mind.

As you listen and groove to an upbeat song, you distance yourself from stressful events, allowing your brain to face the day with renewed vigor. And therefore, through this movement, you are shaking off the bad and opening up to the good.

Dancing alone at home — even for five minutes — can boost your emotional well-being. Research also shows that sharing this enjoyable activity with others is beneficial.

Moving with others helps you experience neural synchrony, which strengthens social connections. It’s a physical exercise that lets you boost connections and remove stress — what’s not there to like?

The next time you spend the evening with loved ones, play songs that make everyone dance. Express yourself, blow off steam and enjoy the moment.

7. Redecorating Your Space

Did you know that your home significantly impacts your stress levels? Your body obtains sensory information without you being consciously aware of it. If being at home makes you feel stuck in a rut, redecorating may be just what you need. 

Your emotional well-being starts and ends in your home. Start your redecoration process with an unbiased look at your space — does it feel too dark or cluttered?

Regardless of your primary concern, a redecoration project starts with decluttering. Donate, organize or dispose of the things that don’t spark joy anymore. Less stuff gives you a sense of calm when entering a room.

If your home is too dark, install proper lighting, such as ambient lights, lamps and bright bulbs. Remove dark curtains and harness the power of natural lighting. Letting the sun in provides health benefits, such as increased productivity and creativity.

More importantly, align your personality with your interior design. Add splashes of calming color, flaunt your toy collection and hang your favorite photos. Do anything to make your home a place of peace, not stress.

8. Playing 

Playtime is usually associated with kids. However, with job and life responsibilities, it’s easy to feel stressed and anxious. Channeling your inner child and playing outside can help you navigate these emotions. In this way, playing is one of the BEST stress-busting techniques we can implement.

As people age, they develop a style in which they are most comfortable being playful. Dr. Stuart Brown, the founder of the National Institute for Play, introduced eight play personalities to help you find suitable recreational activities.

For instance, if you enjoy new places and perspectives, you might be the explorer type. This could mean you might benefit from activities that urge exploration, such as hiking and traveling. 

One survey found that 36% of respondents feel lonely, so engaging with new and existing friends through play is essential. It helps lower barriers, enabling you to connect on a more emotional level.

Fortunately, you can play in many ways — an adult playground, an outdoor sport, a board game night, a dance party or karaoke. Allow yourself to commit to a weekly activity so you can feel the happiness it can bring.

9. Playing With Pets

Pet owners know the benefits of having a furry creature by their sides. However, many people are still unaware of the mental benefits their company can bring. Studies have shown that pet owners are less likely to have depression and high blood pressure than those without animal companions. 

One reason is that a pet helps fulfill your basic human need for touch. Hugging, stroking and cuddling with your pet quickly provides calming and soothing effects, especially when feeling anxious. These seemingly mundane tasks help stabilize your system and lower your stress levels.

Dogs make great emotional support animals, too. Additionally, even a physician can prescribe them to help you manage mental health issues. A cuddle, kiss or their presence alone can help erase your worries. 

If you don’t have a pet and plan on getting one, remember it’s a significant commitment. This is simply due to the reason that they cost money and require time that you must be willing to provide.

10. Cooking – A Stress-Busting Technique That Lets Off Steam

Making home-cooked food is a great way to nourish your body and mind. Stepping into the kitchen and creating a favorite meal can soothe your mind.

Cooking also provides an excellent opportunity to get your creative juices flowing — tweak recipes, try new methods and play with different ingredients. It’s an act that lets you be yourself.

Cooking lets you focus on a single task and reflect. It encourages you to pause and be present — a perfect distraction from unwanted thoughts. While eating a nutritious meal is important, not everything you cook has to be healthy. Consider how comforting a batch of chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven is.

You don’t have to worry if you’re not a great cook. Plenty of beginner-friendly recipes on the internet will make you feel accomplished. What’s important is that you step out of your comfort zone and therefore allow yourself to grow.

11. Drinking Orange Juice

Orange juice is a favorite drink. It’s delicious and can also help calm your mind. One study shows that foods and beverages rich in vitamin C can help improve mood status and lower stress levels.

Cool your body and mind with freshly squeezed orange juice whenever you feel down or stressed at work. You can also replace your junk food afternoon snacks with vitamin C-rich fruits, such as strawberries, kiwi, lemon, lychee and papaya.

12. Hiking

Hiking is a fantastic way to burn calories and ease stress. It helps you lose weight and let go of worries. In general, it’s an excellent exercise for the body and mind. Committing to regular walking workouts can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and mental health issues.

Moreover, hiking allows for disconnection from the hustle and bustle of daily life, offering respite from distractions like phone notifications and errands. Venturing into the wilderness lets you reflect on your thoughts and become more present, effectively reducing anxiety and stress.

Regular hiking can also foster self-confidence and resilience. You may become exhausted, develop blisters or get lost while traversing a trail.

It might be challenging initially, but you’ll find a way to overcome these challenges. These trials will only help build confidence and instill a sense of accomplishment, helping you ease your anxieties and worries.

13. Washing Dishes

While washing dishes is often perceived as a tiresome chore, it can be surprisingly therapeutic for some people. Scrubbing plates and silverware can be a fantastic way to escape life’s pressures and engage in mindful reflection.

The soothing sound of water and the sight of bubbles foster a sense of calmness, transforming a mundane task into a therapeutic escape. Moreover, turning dirty dishes clean adds to the satisfaction derived from this simple yet meaningful chore. The next time you feel overwhelmed and stressed, skip the dishwasher for a day and wash the dishes yourself.

Final Thoughts On Unconventional Stress-Busting Techniques

Sometimes it’s good to change up our stress-busting techniques to better match our needs in different situations. Whether it’s discovering your play personality or lighting a favorite candle, we hope you found these unusual ideas helpful in relieving overwhelm and stress.

Perhaps you’ve tried some of these or other unique stress-relieving practices? We would love to hear in the comments what has helped you or what you’re excited to try!

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