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Stress & anxiety happens to all of us (well, I sure hope it does or else many of us have been gipped!). Sure, some of us experience more exposure to cortisol (and other stress hormones) than others, but luckily there are things we can do to relieve it and ultimately decrease the negative effects it can have on our mind and body. Do you find yourself sitting there, accompanied by a thousand different thoughts of worry, visualizing all the worst case scenarios that may or may not happen? If yes, then you’re not alone, my friend! (I am a worry machine & stress havin’ queen – ha!). Today we will go over a list of fun ways to relieve stress and anxiety that are fast and effective at calming you down with a healthy distraction!
First, let’s remind ourselves what stress & anxiety are, why they can occur and what effects they can have. Understanding what we’re dealing with can help us realize how important it is to learn effective coping mechanisms and actually using them even when it is seems impossible. Now be aware, that this isn’t your typical “Just take deep breaths, go outside and read a book” recommendation article. Calming down and escaping high levels of stress/anxiety isn’t as easy as it sounds (trust me, I know 😖), but it is possible with fun ways to relieve stress on the list later in this post!
What are Stress & Anxiety?
Although stress and anxiety can feel the same to us, here are the key differences:
Stress is a response to an external cause, such as a tight deadline at work or having an argument with a friend, and subsides once the situation has been resolved.
Anxiety is a person’s specific reaction to stress; its origin is internal. Unlike stress, anxiety persists even after a concern has passed.
Mental Health First Aid
Good Stress vs Bad Stress
With that being said, stress is not always a bad thing (even though it can definitely feel like it!).
According to Banner Health, generally speaking, good stress is when the task we are needing to do feels doable and when we know that the stress is temporary. For example, when you have a deadline for a project at work that is due soon that you will also need to present to your boss, causing you to feel stressed. Although you will need to sacrifice extra time and effort to meet that deadline, you know it will get done and then the stress will be over. This stress is considered good stress because the stress motivates you to complete the task, which will also bring you a positive end result of success.
On the other hand, bad stress is when we don’t have as much control in the situation, causing us to become hopeless about it, as if there isn’t a solution. This can cause us to continuously worry, engage in negative ways of coping, and expose us to harmful mental and physical effects.
Why Stress Management is Important
The fact that you’re reading this article is a good sign that you’re working to avoid the negative effects that too much stress and anxiety can have on you. If you’re like me, then you are already experiencing many of the negative consequences due to how many times you’ve allowed stress and anxiety to take over your life. Luckily, it isn’t too late to improve how we deal with stress by finding effective ways to deal with it, which will ultimately promote the following positive effects that we can benefit from when we consistently put them into action:
- less headaches
- less joint pain
- better sleep
- lower blood pressure
- stronger immune system
- lower blood sugar
- improved digestion
- improved executive functioning
Fun Ways to Relieve Stress & Anxiety
Here are some of the best fun ways to relieve stress. Depending on what works best for you will determine which of these will be the most effective!
1. Axe Throwing 🪓
Yes, exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress but it can be difficult to work up the motivation at times. Axe throwing is one of the fun ways to relieve stress without it feeling like a repetitive exercise but will still get your blood pumping and muscles engaged. Plus, it will help you blow off some steam without harming yourself or others and can improve hand-eye coordination, so get out there and throw some hatchets at some wooden targets already…
Chances are that a company like “bad axe throwing” location is near you, so check it out.
2. Scented Self-Care Session 🕯️
Relaxing should be fun and it can be when you tweak it with bonus features that bring you happiness & comfort like soothing scents, temperatures, textures, sounds and tastes (in other words, all your senses lmao).
Here’s an example using my own preferences for my own “relaxation station” when catering to my 5 senses:
- Scent: Lavender, Eucalyptus or “Midsummer’s Night” candle.
- Touch: Warm, textured, soft, sturdy
- Sight: Sleep Mask (decreases visual stressors from home becoming triggers or distractions)
- Taste: Ice cold water or red wine
- Sound: Nature Sounds (ocean waves, light rain/thunder, soft piano)
Your preferences may be completely different or perhaps you aren’t sure what combinations would relieve your stress the most. Either way, there are some great kits to get you started, such as this one that includes a microwavable wheat bag for warming, scented ache-relief and aromatherapy balm sticks infused with relaxing scents like chamomile, mandarin, lavender, palmarosa, neroli, and ylang ylang.
3. Dog Snout Stress Ball 🐶
When you don’t have the pleasure of being near a dog during times of high-stress, you can have this dog snout stress ball to save the day instead! I know, I know, this isn’t as comforting as a real dog nose (which is probably the only thing in the world that is cold & wet, AND comforting), but you can get a more realistic effect by running it under some cold water before use. 😆
Get on Etsy: Dog Snout Stress Ball
4. Relieve Stress by Screaming into this Pillow
Stress relief comes in many different shapes and sizes! If you’re someone who finds relief from “letting it all out” via good scream, then yours just might be in the shape of a soft, plushy square – like a pillow!
Also, believe it or not, Scream Therapy” is actually a thing:
“bottling feelings up can have a negative effect. It can lead to them building up with nowhere to go, so to speak. Letting them out by crying, talking to someone, or even screaming, can feel cathartic. It can be freeing, feeling as though a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.”
Primal scream therapy is a type of psychotherapy that encourages people to address past trauma and negative memories, so they can release those emotions and move forward. It’s also known as just ‘primal therapy’.
Mellowed, What is Primal Scream Therapy?
5. Rage Page for Stressful Days📝
Put all your frustrations, worries and things you want to say out-loud (but shouldn’t) onto an entry from this “Rage Page” journal for all the bad days. This journal gives you a space to vent but provides some fun prompts as well, such as:
- “Rage-o-meter“ that you can fill in to record your level of stress, frustration or rage at that moment
- Blank spaces to vent about anything & everything
- Fill-in-the-blank speech bubbles next to adorable, screaming penguins that you can use to write in what you wish you could yell out loud.
- Positive Entry Endings: After you’re done venting, this journal gives you a more positive prompt that ends your entry on a positive note. For example, one page ends with having you fill in a list of things you’re grateful for and a blank space to write your “happy thought of the day”
This journal is pretty much perfect because you get to express your rage, get a little dose of humor, and end your entry with a positive, calming prompt. I LOVE IT! 🐧
More Fun Ways to Relieve Stress…
So those are my current top 5 picks for the best fun ways to relieve stress and anxiety but there are other options you can also try.
- Fitness Marshall Dance Videos – As a mega-fan of the “Fitness Marshall” crew & their fun & entertaining dance workout videos on YouTube, I can honestly say that it is pretty much impossible for you to complete one of these videos and NOT feel the significant decrease in your anxiety, stress, depression, frustration or anger. Check out my favorite one to do on their page here: Side to Side
- Dogs Against Anxiety – These anxiety-reducing cards are great for when you need them while on the go. This 50 pack set includes mood-boosting affirmations for stress, anxiety, and feature adorable photos of dogs (which is an automatic bonus). Get on Amazon: Dogs against Anxiety
Since we’re on the topic of dogs, you could also try watching this cute video I made of my dorky dog, Betty:
If you have some noteworthy suggestions or remarks you’d like to share, please comment at the bottom of this post! 😊
