Managing Stress

There are many fun and creative ways to manage stress, aside from the usual techniques like exercise, relaxation, meditation, and counseling. As a matter of fact, the following stress management ideas are not dissimilar from the more common methods in terms of what they accomplish: a sense of well-being, a venue for healthy expression, and a productive vehicle for coping. So if you'd like to explore some new ways to combat stress, try some of the tips below, or use them to develop techniques of your own.

• Write yourself a letter or a love poem, complementing yourself and highlighting your successes.
• Take pictures. Step outside yourself and take a look at the world around you though a lens. Snap photos of trees, flowers, animals, people, buildings - whatever it is about your world that you truly appreciate.
• Create a sacred space. Find a corner or small area in your house and fill it with items that have a relaxing effect on you - candles, incense, artwork, photos, spiritual figures, books, crystals, etc. Make it a comfortable and welcoming space where you go to relax and no stress is invited in!
• Paint or draw. Express yourself on canvas - or paper! However you choose to manifest your energy in the form of art, run with it! You may even choose to ceremoniously break some old glass plates or trinkets and then reassemble them into a mosaic! Do something conducive to taking negative, stress-causing energy and turning it into a beautiful creation that's symbolic of your calm, positive mentality.
• Take a class, play a sport, or cultivate a hobby. Anything outside of your normal routine that you have a little time to focus on is a great way to enhance your overall quality of life. After all, it is something you can look forward to - a healthy diversion from the everyday.
• Cook or bake something delicious for either yourself or someone else. For some people, immersing themselves in the preparation of delicious food is calming in itself. Cook with the intention of nourishing the bodies and souls of those you feed and it will make you feel good.
• Make a lifetime to-do list. Include things, aside from work-related goals, that you'd like to do in life. Climb a mountain, visit the Egyptian pyramids, skydive, build a house for a family in need, take your children on a cross country road trip, or whatever! Think of things that pertain to your adult life as well as things you always wanted to do as a child. Make a promise to accomplish at least one of these things per year.