These days, it seems like everyone is stressed TF out. Our day-to-day lives have become more full, more overwhelming, and just plain more. Every day we need to navigate jobs, traffic, relationships, and more. We could all use some creative activities to help us out when we’re stressed.
So what exactly is stress? “Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree.” (World Health Organization)
Stress can take a toll on our physical and mental health. It can put us at an increased risk for anxiety, depression, headaches, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain, high blood pressure, and the list goes on and on.
That said, we need to do everything we can to reduce the stress in our lives. When we think about stress relief, we may think meditation, yoga, deep breathing. All of these things are great for stress relief, but I also know that for some people it’s really tough to even relax enough to sit and just breathe. Some of us need another form of release.
Exercise is a great way to get rid of stress. The most important thing to do is to pick an activity that you enjoy. If you don’t like it, you’re not going to do it. Some examples: walking jogging, dancing, cycling, gardening, weightlifting, swimming, and tai chi. And you don’t have to go to the gym to do it. There are plenty of free videos on YouTube to try, and a walk around the block is free too.
But if you’re looking to get in touch with your creative side and release stress while you’re at it, try these!
LEGO
LEGOs are not just the painful pieces of plastic you’ve definitely stepped on if you have a kid. They’re also a super fun and relaxing project to do. I won’t like, LEGO kits are not cheap, but I’m sure we all know someone who has a box of LEGO pieces that either they, or their kids stopped using. And you don’t need an intricate kit, you can also just freestyle your LEGO design. You may not get as detailed as the David Ortiz LEGO statue below, but you can try!
BOSTON, MA – AUGUST 29: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox poses beside a Lego statue of himself before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 29, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
