There are numerous ways to reduce stress, doing yoga, deep breathing, meditation, physical exercise, walk in nature and while some of them take just moments, others may require much more time.
Some destressing methods are complicated but others are very easy, unusual, fun or we can say even weird and yet they still give good results and many of them are actually grounded in research.
But the truth is whatever you choose to relive stress it will benefit your overall health.
Those are considered the weirdest ways often used to cope with stress:
- Do daily chores mindfully
- Wash dishes mindfully
- Clean your living space mindfully
- Get rid of all the clutter mindfully
Researchers at Florida State University wondered if certain ordinary activities of daily life, like dish-washing, could reduce stress.
According to those researchers which were using a group of more than fifty students: “…mindful dishwashers—those who focused on the smell of the soap, the warmth of the water, the feel of the dishes—reported a decrease in nervousness by 27 percent and an increase in mental inspiration by 25 percent. The control group, on the other hand, didn’t experience any benefits.”
- Do charitable give, when you can
According to results of two small studies, which were conducted with senior citizens.
People who spent extra money on others had lower blood pressure than those who spent extra money on themselves. So it was concluded that participating in charity activities regardless of how big or small they are can help in reducing stress levels.
- Hold hands, hug, kiss, have sex
Hugging, cuddling, kissing, having sex or even holding hands, according to some studies can increase the level of happy chemicals in your body, so called endorphins and at the same time decrease the levels of stress hormone cortisol.
Additionally, the sense of connection and belonging can provide stress relief itself. In other words when you put a little love in your life, all the stressors suddenly seem smaller and less important, guaranteed!