Inflate a balloon…then hit it

This is just a tricky way to get you to breathe more deeply, essentially, but the really fun part comes next. Bouncing a balloon around just brings out your inner child, doesn’t it? (And if there are other grumpy people around you, this is bound to lighten the mood! If you have a choice of color, choose blue or green, as many studies have shown a calming effect from these colors, especially lighter shades. 

Walk barefoot in the grass

The practice of walking barefoot in the grass is called “grounding” or “earthing,” referring to being in direct contact with the ground and the Earth’s natural electric charge. Although this blog is specifically about lowering stress levels, grounding is also credited with a number of other health benefits.

“Research has shown barefoot contact with the earth can produce nearly instant changes in a variety of physiological measures, helping improve sleep, reduce pain, decrease muscle tension and lower stress.” Carrie Dennett, Washington Post

Look through a photo album

Make an album on your phone of pictures that make you happy or make you laugh. Some apps allow you to include videos, which can really lighten your mood and remind you of the good times you’ve had. If you’re more of a hands-on type person, you can absolutely make a physical album. You could even have different albums to help you with whatever you’re stressing about. For example: if you’re stressing about work, have an album with pictures of your work friends, Christmas parties, awards you’ve won, or whatever good memories you have associated with your job. If you’re overwhelmed with family life, make an album with pictures of vacation, or birthday parties, or pictures of your kids sleeping. (That’s very calming, for some reason )

Watch fish

I have heard that getting a fish aquarium so you can watch fish swim around can reduce your stress levels, but the idea of taking care of an aquarium sounds exhausting to me. So instead, go to a pet store and watch the fish. Then you don’t have to think about feeding them, cleaning the tank, or anything like that. An added bonus is hearing the sound of the water through the pump, which is also shown to reduce stress. 

Grab a snack

Are you the type of person that reaches for food when you’re stressed? If you are, choose a snack that can naturally and healthfully boost your mood. The list below includes foods that increase your dopamine production, helping you feel calmer and happier. 

• all animal products
• almonds
• apples
• avocados
• bananas
• beets
• chocolate
• coffee
• fava beans
• green leafy vegetables
• green tea
• lima beans
• oatmeal
• olive oil
• oregano
• peanuts
• rosemary
• sesame and pumpkin seeds
• soy products
• turmeric
• watermelon
• wheat germ
• foods high in natural probiotics such as yogurt, kefir, and raw sauerkraut 

Take a walk with a mission

Any kind of moderate exercise will bring down your stress level, but I like to add a mission in the mix to occupy my mind. It can be as simple as, “Find a bird and identify it” or as complicated as a scavenger hunt if you have the time. 

Watch a funny video

Is laughter really the best medicine? According to research from Mayo Clinic, it is! Sometimes just taking a few minutes to laugh can make a big difference in your mood, thanks to lots of short-term and long-term health benefits. You can watch funny videos you’ve taken of your family, or you can look up blooper reels from your favorite TV show, or episodes of America’s Funniest Home Videos. 

Do something nice for someone

When you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, take a minute away from your normal routine and do something nice for someone. It can be the smallest thing, but seeing gratitude or delight in someone else will lift you up, too. Choose an act of kindness that won’t take a lot of planning, time, or money, as that might add to your stress. Maybe buy someone their favorite snack from a vending machine, or take your neighbor some flowers from your garden, or give the mailman a bottle of cold water. 

We want to hear from you! What do you think about these unusual stress relief ideas? Have any you want to add? 

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