3 De-Stressing Activities That Take Less Than 5 Minutes
1. Writing Things Down
A great way to handle stress is to write things down. You can take five minutes, a piece of scratch paper, and a pen to your problems. Some people will write about what is stressing them as a way to vent, and others will instead write down things they are grateful for and use it as a moment to express gratitude.
Either way, journaling is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety, especially if one focuses on the positive.
2. Lighting a Candle
Our environment can be what is exacerbating or helping to ease what is going on in our minds, sometimes in ways we are not even fully aware of. Smell is a vital sense that we often don’t give much thought to.
If you’re feeling stressed, light a candle. Here are some popular scents:
- Lavender
- Rose
- Frankincense
- Sandalwood
- Orange or orange blossom
- Geranium
3. Take a Breath
Deep Breathing can help you to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which controls your body’s relaxation responses. You can bring awareness to your breath and slow your heart rate, allowing you to feel more in the moment, in control, and peaceful.
One method is Diaphragmatic Breathing, also called Abdominal Breathing. It is breathing that is done by contracting the diaphragm. Air enters the lungs, the chest does not rise and the belly expands during this type of breathing. You can find a helpful beginner’s video on how to practice Diaphragmatic Breathing here.