11 Practical and Fun Ways to Reduce Stress

Stress isn’t as bad as you think it is.

It can actually bring out the best in you – if you can look on the brighter side of things.

You only need to ask yourself how a stressful problem can make you a better person.

Having a positive perspective on things works wonders when managing stress.

This might sound a little bit counter-intuitive.

So, let me give you an example.

Let’s say you are a sales person and has only a month to prove yourself worthy of the position.

Not hitting targets will make you lose your job.

It’s only normal to be worried about it; however, you shouldn’t dwell too much on the thought of losing your job.

Instead, think of ways to achieve your monthly target.

If you succeed, stress has motivated you to work hard.

Besides the positive thinking, keep in mind that everyone deals with stress.

You’re not alone in this dilemma.

All people deal with it from time to time.

Some people are good at eliminating stress, while others have a hard time.

The good news is that stress can be managed.

You just need to develop your own methods that work for you.

That’s why we collected eleven proven and tested methods that we think can help you deal better with stress.

We intended to only mention the practical and fun ways and ignore all the theoretical non-sense that is all over the web.

Listen to Good Music

Music is food for the soul.

Music will help you escape your reality which is good for your mental health.

Relaxing tunes will help you think better.

It will clear your mind of unwanted thoughts as well. Find time for yourself and listen to feel-good songs.

You can even put on music at bed time.

You’ll surely feel a whole lot better in the morning. Oh, make sure you are well rested too.

How are you able to think clearly if you’re not getting enough sleep?

Adequate rest is crucial in battling stress.

Invite Friends or Family over Dinner

We’re social animals. No matter how we try to deny it.

We all need to have social interactions with others in our community from time to another.

We can’t help it but social interactions help us feel like we belong.

They give us the sense that we’re not alone in this huge scary universe.

That’s just our human nature.

Talking to people you trust helps you feel better about yourself.

If you’re dealing with a certain problem, try discussing it with them.

Perhaps they can contribute something to resolve it. And it’s fun having your friends around.

You can watch a favorite movie and just enjoy each other’s company.

Talk about funny experiences or future plans.

That way you’d realize that there’s more to life than worry about stress.

Travel to a Place You’ve Never Been

Traveling is the greatest escape of them all.

It’s an escape that we all need to take from time to time to rediscover ourselves.

Traveling enables us to meet new people, see new places and experience a different perspective.

In your journey to become a better person, it’s crucial to learn more about yourself by experiencing new environments and going through scary adventures.

It’s part of self-discovery process that will help you manage your stress more easily.

If money is stressing you out, consider an affordable destination.

Take a couple days off from work, pack your bags, and see the world.

You can also take advantage of amazing sights that you can visit for free.

The new scenery will clear your mind off things.

Declutter Your Home and Sell Old Stuff

A clean and tidy home can lighten your load and helps relieve stress.

You can even make money selling your old things to friends and family.

Gather stuff you no longer need and set up a garage sale.

Call up all your friends or family members, and invite them over.

To make it a fun experience, have them do bidding on your favorite things.

Selling can be fun and it can help your financial situation if that’s stressing you out.

Never tried this before? Cool. It’s another reason to do this.

Trying new things is the best way to eliminate stress.

Take a Walk in the Park

Reconnect with nature by taking a solitary walk in the park.

Breathe in the fresh air and just enjoy the surroundings. You can hug a big tree if you want.

It’s been believed that hugging a tree relieves stress.

If you ask me, this is a mandatory habit that you need to adopt as soon as possible.

I can even go further and say that taking a solitary walk in the park every evening is life-changing.

You think I exaggerate? Go try it yourself for a week and prove me wrong.

Spend More Time with Your Kids

Children are a gift.

You don’t think about them like that all the time since they are noisy and needy 24/7.

But, they can be so much fun if you know how to spend time with them.

Don’t underestimate the power of a child’s laughter or smile. Try it.

Take them to an amusement park for example and they will really be delighted.

You will be happier knowing you’ve made someone happy.

And who doesn’t like visiting amusement parks? Reconnect with the child in you once in a while.

Another great method to have fun with your kids is indoor games.

Kids love them and so do adults. Who would say no to a quick table tennis match?

Bottom line, time spent with kids isn’t wasted.

You get to bond with them while eliminating your work stress.

Read a Book

Reading is food for the brain.

It helps us grow and become more aware of ourselves and others.

Time spent on reading is a time well spent. No doubt about that.

Avoid reading fiction with too much drama on it.

Go for something with humor, something that will make you appreciate life more.

Who knows, you might consider writing your own book in the future.

Reading isn’t only fun, it also exercises your brain cells. So, you’re like hitting two birds with one stone.

It relieves your stress, and you’re having so much fun.

Eat Your Comfort Food

It’s okay to have some cheat days once in a while.

The best time to consider eating your comfort food is when you’re too stressed out.

Call up a friend and visit your favorite restaurant.

You don’t need to splurge, just eat something that will make you feel better.

Perhaps you would like a slice of pizza or a plate of pasta?

Would you rather eat a cake or an ice cream? Whatever it is, just remember to always eat in moderation.

You do need to still watch your diet as food intake can greatly affect in dealing with stress.

Just don’t overdo this method. I usually leave it as my last go-to solution.

But, be careful!

Get Moving

Physical activity releases chemicals that can make you happy.

You don’t really need to go to a boring gym all by yourself.

It’s fun when you have friends around. Invite them over for a tennis game, or a baseball.

Anything that involves physical activity is never a bad idea.

You can engage in any physical activity, what’s important is you are actually enjoying and having fun.

Don’t have anyone to run with? No problem.

Nowadays, there’s an app for everything. This app called Nike+ Run Club is just amazing and free.

It can help you track your running stats and connect you to running enthusiasts.

Head to the Beach

Ah, the sound of the waves will never fail and disappoint you.

The beach has always been one of the things that will make you feel better about the world and yourself.

An overnight at the beach is good for your soul and can eliminate stress.

Have your dinner by the beach while listening to the sound of the waves.

Trust me, it’s going to work. Or you can go for a hike.

You’ll get to enjoy the landscape and the silence of the trees that will let you forget all of your concerns.

Write It Down

Writing is therapeutic. Poets have used it as a coping mechanism for centuries.

There’s surely some kind of relief when you write your issues down.

That’s why many psychologists recommend it.

If you really can’t take it any longer, write about what’s stressing you out.

Write it all down.

Try writing your stress triggers and how you can effectively avoid them.

Write with as many details as possible and take all time that you need.

You can even try jotting down solutions to your problems, an alternative course of actions that you can take.

Writing is a fun exercise and it surely helps relieve your stress.

Conclusion

Worry is a major factor that contributes to stress. It’s like you’re inventing stress.

You think about something that isn’t happening yet.

If we can eliminate this first, there will be fewer things that will stress us out.

Having a positive attitude greatly helps too.

It will make you look at stress as a motivating factor, not as a threat.

Always remember that we all struggle with stress. It’s totally normal.

Even if you feel that you’re bad at dealing with stress, don’t worry because you’ll get better with time.

The strategies above are effective. Don’t just stay still.

Try them. See what fits you. Keep testing until you find the methods that work best for you.

You’ll get there. It’s just a matter of time and testing.