By THE COUNSELING CENTER
The last week of April the Counseling Center will again celebrate Stress-Free Week, right before the end of the semester. But you don’t have to wait until the end of April to enjoy some stress relief. Stress relief is part of healthy self-care. And with classes moved to online and people social distancing, it is even more important to take time to relieve stress.
Some things you can do to destress include:
- Try meditating or deep breathing (headspace or calm are great apps to help)
- Pray or find a worship service online
- Find something to make you laugh – laughter releases positive endorphins into your brain
- Take a walk, run, or bike ride outside (just remember to continue to social distance)
- Listen to, sing along and/or dance to your favorite artist – with earbuds or headphones you can block out others
- Watch artists perform online – many artists are streaming performances online as they are social distancing and not on tour.
- Crochet, knit or choose another craft – YouTube has lots of How To videos on all kinds of crafts
- Draw or color – there are some great free adult coloring pages online
- Listen to your favorite podcast
- Watch your favorite show or movie
Want to destress with friends, try some of the following:
- Chat (phone or video chat) with a friend or family member you can’t see face to face
- Create, listen, and share your favorite playlist
- Have a virtual Netflix watch party
- Create or join an online book club
- Create or join a virtual dance party
- Make your own group Karaoke
Want to share your creativity to help others destress, try one of the following activities: (You can post any of these on the Counseling Instagram site @csrcounselingctr)
- Create a rainbow - many people are creating rainbows to display outside their home for others to see (for example 518 rainbow hunt)
- Create sidewalk chalk art for others to see as they walk by
- Share positive messages with others on social media
- Share funny Meme’s on social media
Remember that relieving stress helps make you more productive, happier, and healthier. So every day is a good day to take a bit of time to destress. Keep a lookout for more stress relievers and Stress-Free Week activities.
If you would like to discuss your stress, or if you want to come and talk about anything, reach out to the Counseling Center. Please call 518-454-5200 or email [email protected] with any questions. Follow us on Instagram @csrcounselingctr to learn about upcoming events. As always, hang in there!