bellflower beauty

I think that pretty much everyone is well-informed about what’s going on in the world right now. While I wouldn’t discourage anyone from keeping up with current events, I am also a proponent of the idea that everyone deserves the right to “unplug” every once in a while. Here are five powerful ways that I’ve found help me decompress and keep my mind off things when reality can be particularly distressing.

Taking a bath.

The most powerful activity that I’ve found to instantly change my mood has been to take a bath, particularly with epsom salt. I think that soaking yourself in a tub with any of your favorite additions like a bath bomb or bubbles or bath salts would work. There’s something about it that immediately releases any physical and mental tension, and I find that when I am particularly stressed out, nothing works like bathing for a long time in warm water. A close second to this, if you don’t have access to a tub, would be taking a long, hot shower.

Reading or watching something engaging and/or challenging.

There’s nothing like getting wrapped up in an enthralling novel, a collection of poems, or a compelling documentary that really makes you think and feel. Peruse the bestseller list for a highly recommended book, re-watch one of your good old comfort TV shows from the 2000s, or get into one of those Netflix documentaries that can keep you occupied for hours at a time. As a bonus, you can dig into your favorite comfort snacks while you engage in a zone out session. And, of course, watch or read something where you know the content will be stress-relieving rather than stress-inducing, but make sure it’s something that you know will engage you to your core.

Playing games.

I could get lost in a game for countless hours. Whether it’s a mindless game where you’re matching up exploding bubbles, or it’s a more engaging word game or jigsaw puzzle where you’re really stimulating your cranium, do something that you can do for almost a limitless amount of time. Watching people play games on social media likely comes at a close second to playing games yourself. For example, I love to watch people play old Nancy Drew strategy games or old car racing games or The Sims on social media. If you can find a good board game or crossword puzzle or book of word search puzzles, I would recommend doing that until you feel recharged, energized, and less stressed.

Doing something creative.

It can be incredibly rewarding to spend a significant amount of time painting a beautiful piece of art, working on a collection of poetry, practicing on an instrument, or molding a set of pottery. I have done all of such things to take my mind off of particularly stressful moments in my life, and I have always appreciated not only the distraction, but also the feeling of productivity that results from them. There’s nothing like creating something to make you feel like you have a purpose and that adds meaning to life. I always appreciate the sunnier side of things more when I release anxiety, tension, and energy in general (positive or negative) into the act of creation. Make something and see how free you feel once you’ve finished your creation.

Engaging in physical activity.

Playing a sport or doing stretching exercises or going for a long walk around a body of water are all excellent ways to relieve physical and mental tension. There’s something about moving your body with intention that really helps keep your mind off of the worst things in life and helps you appreciate what is great. Whether it’s the positive endorphins being released or simply the fact that you’re being distracted for a set period of time or both, being physically active is one of the best ways to forget about your worries and concentrate on other things like your form when you’re doing a yoga pose or the way the leaves swoosh together in the afternoon wind as you walk around your local river.

During challenging times like these, it’s always best to have a game plan and specific time set aside to do things that allow us to refocus and redirect our energy toward things that can be beneficial to our wellbeing. I hope that this short list helped give you ideas of how to distract yourself during tough times. Are there any other activities that you would add to the list? If so, please share them in the comments.