I was inspired to present my Top 5 Stress Relief Activities after reading an article saying one of the top regrets people express on their death bed is ‘I wish I’d allowed more happiness in my life.’
How sad, to realize only at the end of their journey that happiness is a choice – a choice they hadn’t allowed themselves. I don’t want that to be me, or you either!
These 5 stress relief activities will go a long way toward reducing the stress you feel and increase your overall level of happiness – you can’t feel stressed and happy at the same time!
1) Stop watching the news!
If you’re a news junkie, you may find this one difficult. Your little voice may well be protesting, ‘but I have to know what’s going on in the world’, but if you give this one even for a 2-week trial, you’ll feel a difference. Trust me, if there’s anything you need to know, you’ll hear about it. Substitute reading uplifting literature instead.
If you watch news before bed, you’re filling your mind with negative thoughts and images you carry into sleep. Your subconscious continues to focus on these final waking thoughts all night, guaranteeing you’ll start the day still feeling the negative effects. Conversely, if you read uplifting books before bed, you’ll benefit the next day from the positive feelings they bring.
2) Move Your Body
Being active is a fast, effective way to bring about an energy shift. If you’re feeling blah, depressed, angry or stressed, get out and go for a walk, or dance, cycle, or any activity! Do it to music for an added energy and mood boost.
Using the power of your intention, determine before you begin that doing this activity will make you feel good! Gage your mood on a scale from 1 – 10 before you begin, and check in with yourself again after to show yourself just how effective this is! Instead of eating to combat stress, give your body the activity it REALLY craves!
3) Begin a Daily Meditation Practice
Never underestimate the power of stopping what you’re doing and taking a few deep breaths. You don’t have to meditate for hours to enjoy the benefits – Abraham-Hicks says 15 minutes a day is plenty. Even that can be too long in the beginning – you may want to work up to that goal, starting with a daily 5 minute meditation.
All you really need is a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed (even the car or bathroom will work) then just count your breaths, breathing in for a count of 5 and out for 8. I offer many guided meditations on this blog, check out this instructional video to get started.
4) Start Daily Gratitude List
This simple tip will lift your spirits and reduce stress, guaranteed! Writing a gratitude list is simply counting your blessings and writing them down. These include anything you wouldn’t want to be without! Generating a feeling of gratitude for blessings already in your life attracts more, through the Law of Attraction. Feeling grateful is one of the highest vibrations, one that will quickly alleviate stress. Strive to make this a daily habit and you’ll soon realize how fortunate you really are!
5) Pay attention to your inner dialogue
Is that little voice in your head (the one that just asked, ‘what little voice?’) loving and nurturing you and supporting your goals and aspirations? Or is it your stanchest critic? Begin listening the constant comments going on in your head, and decide if they’re serving you. If not, challenge them!
Choose an affirmation that is the opposite of what your inner critic is saying – affirmations are thoughts you CHOOSE to think because you want the results they’ll give you – they’re a very effective way to re-program yourself for happiness and success. They’re fun, fast and easy - check out this post to learn more!
I hope you enjoyed this article on my top 5 stress relief activities – give them a try and let me know how they work for you!
Love & Light, Alexandria
AlexandriaBarker.com
Your #1 is the biggest one for me. I have to unglue myself from the computer/phone/TV and stop consuming media in any form. Once you start following your Twitter stream or the news ticker it spirals so fast that you can’t think straight. You get this sense that “omg, if I don’t follow this I am going to miss something totally important!” But really, the world will go on without your attention for five minutes and you can always catch up in the morning
You’re absolutely right Carol – the media can take you from a lovely mood to being stressed out in seconds! Of course it’s not all bad – we just have to be as choosy with what we feed our brain as we (hopefully!) are with our bodies!
Love & Light
Alexandria
Alexandria your 5 coping strategies are well done. I, myself have done them all and still do in daily practice and it does work. I resonate with meditation. Doing that once a day relieves so much stress, your body actually feels it. When meditating I’m mindful of any worries or negative thinking and put it in a pink bubble and let it float away. I also created my center (the safe beautiful place I go to) and can get there in a few seconds. Mind you, I have been doing this since the late 80′s and it did take time and practice.
For those reading this, don’t give up on the meditation, just keep practicing.
Your other points are also valuable, but the meditation part got me all excited.
Thanks for sharing such valuable information. I only hope your readers will ACT UPON IT!
Many Blessings,
Donna
Thanks Donna – I agree, if there’s one single thing people can do to improve their life on every level, it’s meditation! And there are so many forms, there’s truly a meditation for everyone. I always recommend guided meditations to get started, and even after years of practice, I still find it a treat to be led to that beautiful place of peace. I use the bubble technique too, it’s so effective! Thanks for bringing such value to this blog by sharing that!
Love & Light
Alexandria