{"id":56233,"date":"2022-05-16T09:41:54","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creativecircle.com\/?p=56233"},"modified":"2022-05-16T09:41:54","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:41:54","slug":"10-creative-ways-to-relieve-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativecircle.com\/blog\/10-creative-ways-to-relieve-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Creative Ways to Relieve Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201c83% of workers suffer from work-related stress.\u201d<\/strong> That\u2019s the high-level finding from Zippia. Its recent post on \u201c40+ Worrisome Workplace Stress Statistics\u201d went on to say that \u201cstress at work comes in all shapes and sizes, across all types of industries and careers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are you feeling a bit edgy or fatigued on the job, afterwards or beforehand? Are you having trouble sleeping? Experiencing skin breakouts, muscle soreness, irritability, mood swings, decreased productivity, or headaches?<\/p>\n

There could be many reasons for these symptoms. But the American Institute of Stress pinpoints one that may cause any or all of them. \u201cNumerous studies confirm that occupational pressures and fears are far and away the leading source of stress for American adults.\u201d Take heed. Stress may be the root problem. And it\u2019s been and continues to be on the rise.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s take action to blunt the effects of occupational stress. May is the perfect time to put a plan in motion in observance of Mental Health Month. To get started, try this list of strategies. Several can be done at your desk. Others are appropriate for lunchtime, during break, before or after work or any time. Some may surprise you, but all are surprisingly effective.<\/p>\n

Approach things differently<\/strong><\/p>\n

Want to reset your brain, temporarily disrupt your routine, and relieve stress in the process? Go against the grain, as in do the contrary. The following ideas are among \u201c25 Weird Breaks for Stress Relief\u201d and, according to the author of this post, they \u201cclear my head.\u201d One category is to \u201ctry to do anything from the opposite side.\u201d That includes writing your name with your non-dominant hand because \u201cyou have to focus very hard\u201d and it \u201ctakes you out of your stressed out state.\u201d The same goes for \u201cputt[ing] a golf ball from the opposite side.\u201d More? Count backwards and walk backwards (be careful with this one!). Another is to rearrange your desk; move things from one side to the other. Switch it up for one day.<\/p>\n

Engage in sound healing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sound healing is a hot trend now, rooted in sacred science of bygone eras in China, Egypt, Greece, India, and Tibet. The process \u201cuses instruments to create a vibration that releases energy, passing a state of ease and harmony to you.\u201d This ancient method reduces stress and tension \u201cby assisting the brain waves to come back to a state of mindfulness.\u201d If you relax by listening to music, you are, in essence, practicing sound healing. To experience it formally, seek out sessions in your area led to specialty practitioners. And you can also consider being your own sound healer. \u201cThree Ways to Use Music and Sound for Self-Healing\u201d offers tips. Select and use Tibetan bowls and engage in vocal healing via chanting, humming, or singing or create a self-healing playlist,<\/p>\n

Get hooked on knitting<\/strong><\/p>\n

What does Olympic gold medal winning diver Tom Daley do to combat stress at competitions? He knits. Actor Russell Crowe of Gladiator fame does so too. This first post reports: \u201cSurveys of knitters and crocheters have found that significant numbers of them do their craft as a way to deal with daily stress.\u201d There must be something to that. According to \u201cThe Health Benefits of Knitting,\u201d the Craft Yarn Council created a campaign to \u201cStitch Away Stress.\u201d Plus, Dr. Herbert Benson, author of The Relaxation Response, says that \u201cthe repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation and yoga.\u201d It reduces heart rate and blood pressure as well as the stress hormone cortisol.<\/p>\n

Massage your ear<\/strong><\/p>\n

Use this traditional Chinese medicine technique at any time anywhere. Find the Shen Men or \u201cThe Gate of Heaven\u201d on your outer ear and gently rub it. \u201cMassaging the Shen Men \u2014 pressure point situated in the upper third of your ear \u2014 reportedly strengthens your overall health, decreases stress, and boosts energy.\u201d While massaging this spot, breathe deeply. \u201cWhen you inhale, look to the left, and look to the right when exhaling.\u201d If you have difficulty locating the Shen Men, massage the lobe and then move your fingers up around the outer part of the ear in that same motion. Alternatively, you may prefer to stick to an earlobe massage. \u201cEarlobe massage is an excellent way to release tension in the body. Individuals can do this by gently forming small circles with the thumb and index fingers on the earlobe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take a gratitude inventory<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inspired by advice given to him by his doctor, Irving Berlin wrote: \u201cWhen I\u2019m worried and I can\u2019t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, And I fall asleep counting my blessings. When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all, And I fall asleep counting my blessings.\u201d That is the opening to the classic song \u201cCount Your Blessings.\u201d And it represents a method to relieve stress \u2014 stock up on gratitude. \u201cThe Benefits of Cultivating Gratitude for Stress Relief\u201d points out: \u201cCultivating gratitude is one of the simpler routes to a greater sense of emotional well-being, higher overall life satisfaction, and a greater sense of happiness in life.\u201d It suggests making gratitude lists and keeping a gratitude journal. Hungry for gratitude? Watch a YouTube video on how to \u201cCreate a Gratitude Sandwich.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do QiGong<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is QiGong? That\u2019s what I wondered when I first heard the term. First I researched; then I tried it. Now I am hardly alone in recommending it for many reasons, including stress reduction. “The Stress-Relieving Benefits of QiGong\u201d explains: \u201cQiGong (pronounced: ch\u0113-gung) is an ancient Chinese practice designed to promote healing in the body, balance in the mind and calming in the spirit. This technique involves simple meditation, controlled breathing and low-intensity movement exercises.\u201d In \u201cReduce Your Stress with QiGong,\u201d a leading practitioner shows how to release the restorative powers of this practice. He states that you don\u2019t need any equipment or special clothing to do the required stretching and shaking. Ready to start? Follow the short YouTube video \u201c3 Simple QiGong Exercises for Fast and Natural Stress Relief.\u201d<\/p>\n

Color<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember how much you enjoyed coloring when you were a youngster? Relive those times now. Per the renowned Cleveland Clinic, coloring is \u201cnot just for children anymore.\u201d Its post on \u201c3 Reasons Adult Coloring Can Actually Relax Your Brain\u201d lays it all out. A physician notes that coloring focuses your attention on the task at hand and \u201caway from yourself (and those things that are stressing you out!).\u201d WebMD adds to this. \u201cColoring can also improve your brain\u2019s ability to function. When you\u2019re coloring, different parts of your brain\u2019s cerebral hemisphere are activated. When you choose what colors to use, your creativity is activated. As you color forms and shapes, your logic is also activated.\u201d So get in on the adult coloring book craze; it\u2019s for your health and enjoyment.<\/p>\n

Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)<\/strong><\/p>\n

PMR has been helping people for about 100 years. This strategy isolates muscles in your body on a rolling basis. First you slowly tighten a set of muscles; then you release the pressure. This process acquaints you with how tension feels; it enables you not only recognize the physical manifestations of stress, but also to relieve it and know the difference between the two states. The Mayo Clinic outlines the process. One way to start is \u201cby tensing and relaxing the muscles in your toes and progressively working you way up to your neck and head.\u201d You also can reverse the order from top to bottom. Either way: \u201cTense your muscles for about five seconds and then relax for 30 seconds, and repeat.\u201d Interested? Spend about six minutes with a YouTube video led by a psychologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. It\u2019s instructive and soothing.<\/p>\n

Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sciencefocus.com reports: \u201cGardening just twice a week improves wellbeing and relieves stress.\u201d WebMD concurs with this concept. \u201cGardening can make you feel more peaceful and content.\u201d It adds that the \u201cimmediate tasks and details of gardening can reduce negative thoughts and feelings and can make you feel better in the moment. Just spending time around plants eases stress for many people.\u201d Forbes weighs in too in \u201cHow Gardening Can Fight Stress and Improve Your Life.\u201d It points out: \u201cThere\u2019s so much to see and do in a garden. Rather than dwelling on the challenges you\u2019re facing or the lengthy to-do list waiting for you, give yourself permission to live in the moment. Notice the birds chirping, the gentle breeze and aromatic scent of soil and vegetation.\u201d Don\u2019t have a garden? Set one up on your window sill or seek out a community space.<\/p>\n

Tap dance<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cStep-ball change, step-ball change!\u201d This is how Dr. Gilda Carle, Corporate Relationship Strategist and author of My Rants & Ramblings Journal begins to describe tap dancing for stress relief. \u201cWhen I arrive at the dance studio, my mind is laden with experiences of my day. But as soon as I\u2019m in class, tap dancing blocks everything out.\u201d Dance is therapeutic in many ways but tap dancing adds other dimensions. \u201cThe stomps and stamps, blasting music, rhythmic clicking and intricate choreography magically make the world\u2019s indignities vanish and I become stress free!\u201d What if you don\u2019t have tap shoes or don\u2019t want to invest in a class? Equip and explore on your own. Convert your sneakers or regular shoes to tap shoes or find discount starter shoes on Amazon or somewhere similar. Then head over to YouTube to experiment with one video, another and many others.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the main takeaway from this listicle? There are many avenues to explore to push away the irritations of life. Understand that it\u2019s not a one-and-done situation. Do them regularly and, above all, enjoy the process and the benefits you derive.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About the author.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span><\/strong>You name it, she covers it. That\u2019s the can-do attitude Sherry M. Adler brings to the craft of writing. A polished marketing and communications professional, she has a passion for learning and the world at large. She uses it plus the power of words to inform and energize stakeholders of all kinds. And to show how all of this can make a difference, she calls her business <\/span>WriteResults<\/span> NY, LLC<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201c83% of workers suffer from work-related stress.\u201d That\u2019s the high-level finding from Zippia. Its recent post on \u201c40+ Worrisome Workplace Stress Statistics\u201d went on to say that \u201cstress at work comes in all shapes and sizes, across all types of industries and careers.\u201d Are you feeling a bit edgy or fatigued on the job, afterwards […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":56240,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Creative Ways to Relieve Stress | Creative Circle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"May is the perfect time to put a plan in motion in observance of Mental Health Month. 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