Creative Ways to Relieve Stress

Take some deep breaths, play soft music, imagine your favorite vacation spot – we’ve all heard of these tried-and-true methods of alleviating stress. And while they are popular because they do indeed help many people to relax, they certainly aren’t the only ways to feel better. The next time taking a walk around the block isn’t cutting it for you, consider one of these stress-busters:

“My husband and I take every Wednesday evening to dance: ballroom, Latin, and swing. When the music is playing my mind is at peace; I know only the rhythm, the beat, his lead, and our laughter. When all else fails, I have a collection of dishes I’ve bought at garage sales. Smashing them against a wall in the basement is a great stress-reliever and much healthier for my career than telling someone off.” – Beth Johnson, CEO of Johnson, Richards, & Associates

“I go to CVS and try to find that one item in the store that has a CRAZY clearance item sale. It's fun! Other times, I take a train ride with no destination in mind.” – Chanelle Henry, design consultant at CHD Collective

“I am a children's educator, so I have plenty of coloring books and art supplies around. I find that taking a coloring break offers a reprieve from the busyness that we sometimes get ourselves into. It’s an activity that is somewhat creative and yet does not tax my nerves or take too much more of my energy. There is a controlled outcome (a colored picture) that helps re-establish that sense of balance. (And my daughter will hang my ‘Stress Art’ up on the refrigerator when I am finished!) -- Barbara Gini, mind/body educator for BodyLogique

“You can always tell when I am stressed because someone is getting cookies. I will turn on the Ella Fitzgerald Pandora station, pour a glass of wine, and start baking.” – Brenda Della Casa, director of online content at Preston Bailey Designs and author of Cinderella Was a Liar

Image courtesy of Thinkstock/Liquidlibrary