Mind Wandering

Below is a comment from Silagh White, a follower of this blog who offers her own suggestions to stress relief.

"I used to be a runner. Since my knees have deteriorated, I swim when I can (dang, limited Lehigh pool schedule) and do a lot of baking. Many of my experiments don't work. But it's the handy work that helps me relax. Just taught my daughter how to make basic bread by hand yesterday. That turned out a lot better than muffins earlier in the week.

"I think it's the repetitive motion that focuses thoughts. I have also found great opportunity for mind wandering while gardening, knitting, sewing or crafting. Some of my friends enjoy making art as stress relief. Classes at Banana Factory are great for that. And also drumming circles are very effective."


I strongly agree, and have previously mentioned, the idea that repetitive motion or thinking can serve as a successful means to distraction, thought organization or a general pick-me-up if the repetition involves something you can actively enjoy. One article mentions four my previous suggestions: journaling, meditation, exercise and music. Logic games like sudoku also offer the opportunity to focus your thoughts on something that's not stressing you out.

Baking is a good idea because, in addition to preoccupying yourself, you can end up with a tasty reward. Baking or cooking also lets you create and go through trial and error, which can be an emotional release for some people. I actually tasted one of Silagh's baked concoctions, and it was a delicious muffin! This stress relieving tactic can improve another person's day, as well!

Heed some of Silagh's suggestions and find the "mind wandering" experience that best suits you!

Journaling

Yesterday's post about avoiding distractions and clearing your mind enough to get a good night of sleep is motivation for this post. I inspired myself to finish up the rest of my day efficiently and to think about tomorrow when tomorrow arrived. It was great to fall asleep right away and not wonder if I should get up early in case I forgot to get something done. It was a much-needed mental and physical rest that I probably wouldn't have achieved without writing my previous post. For this reason, I encourage you to journal.

Writing down your thoughts may open you to a new kind of organization that completely internalizing might prevent. Being able to view your emotions on paper could give you a new perspective on what's stressing you out or how to deal with it. Or, like my post, use journaling to encourage yourself. I didn't realize I was doing it, but writing my post  yesterday provided the motivation I apparently needed to de-stress enough to sleep well.

I consider this to be a pretty personal experience, so try a few different methods of writing down your thoughts or feelings until you find one that suits you  and your schedule.

Need. Sleep.

Tonight I'm going to write about the need for sleep because that is exactly what my mind and body is feeling right now. I have been a little stressed about the amount of stuff I have to get done, but I haven't been committing to any all-nighters or being overly active or anything. So I don't exactly know why I'm exhausted, but I am. Unfortunately, I have to admit that it might have to do with some petty distractions that I have just succumbed to every time lately. My work will be complete for the day, then I'll stay up until odd hours doing useless things or talking to whomever I run into in my house. From past experience, I know this will catch up with me when I do have a long day of work and I don't have the energy to do it to full potential. Then, that will stress me out.

There is probably a number of solutions depending on the distraction, but heed some advice if you ever feel like you have found yourself in this habit of delaying going to bed. Women, take Harvard's advice as motivation to just end your day. In addition to the obvious feeling of lethargy, lack of sleep can slow your metabolism and weaken your immune system. And, like I've said before, letting yourself fall into poor physical condition probably isn't going to improve your mental or emotional state. This would just be another thing to worry about. College students, I know we've all pulled all-nighters and it feels inevitable at times, but you don't feel too pleasant the next day, right? Avoid it when possible. Try following some of these tips, and remember, "College students who pull “all-nighters” are more likely to have a lower GPA."

In general, here's what I should try harder to stop doing: constantly snacking at night, watching too much TV, joining whatever conversation comes my way for far too long and just thinking too much to actually let my brain rest. Most of my distractions are things I should just avoid, and others can be attributed to lack of organization and an increasing lack of energy for obvious reason.

So just remember how important sleep is, even when you have a million thing on you mind or encounter a Real Housewives marathon. STress is definitely more likely when you're not well-rested!

Let Go

Get mad, cry, yell or do something that you think might allow you to just let go of your emotions. Sometimes I think this stress-relieving tactic is the hardest is the hardest to accomplish.

I know I feel like things are easier for me when I don't get too wrapped up or too emotionally attached to things. I prefer not to dwell on difficult situations or misfortunes and address them in the quickest or simplest way possible. People take note of grand displays of emotion, and I’d rather not consume that much spotlight. However, I bet my tendencies foster stress to build up at times, even after I feel the issue has been addressed. The result of this stress build-up is usually a bad-mood-for-no-real-reason kind of attitude. Then, that provokes a good shower cry that lets you come out feeling a fresh and relaxed.

I highly suggest you let yourself have a good shower cry next time you feel stressed enough to do so. Just do it when your alone and nothing will distract your from really letting go. If you’re not in a crying mood, maybe try yelling as loud as you can. Also, I’ve read several times that swearing serves as a stress reliever. Don’t offend anyone, though. Just say out loud (or shout) what you’re feeling.

You know when you’re frustrated that you walk around all day feeling like you want to clench your fists and yell. So just do it!

Take Time to Recharge

I'm going to suggest what might seem entirely unimaginable to a lot of people: go sans technology for a day. Turn your phone off, shut down your computer and unplug any other gadgets you use.

This idea came to me when I was without cell phone for some time after its unfortunate submersion in liquid. Of course, I panicked at first (NO TEXTING??). Then, I got used to it but still found myself complaining. Eventually, I realized how liberating it was to not have my phone in hand at all times. It's a bigger distraction than most probably realize, and I in a way I feel like it creates more responsibility for me. Phones, especially smart phones, pretty much cause their users to multitask at all times. This could be unknowingly stressful.

Don't ignore all technology in your life at the expense of a job or schoolwork. Pick a day when doing so just means not thinking about the petty, but constant, responsibilities that come with it. Relax with 24 hours to yourself. There's no need to be reachable 24/7 and actually communicating with other people for much of that time, and see if you can ignore the unnecessary distractions that come with the capabilities of technology. How often do you sit to watch TV or check your e-mail only out of habit then get consumed for a good chunk of time? Let yourself think without interruption.

Talk to people just for fun about things other than work or whatever is on your mind that’s causing stress. Take this time to do something you and friends always want to but are too exhausted or distracted to get done. Or do something on your own. Even if it’s just going for a walk, I guarantee this is an opportunity to clear you mind. So unplug everything and embrace it!

Back from Break!

I'm finally back from spring break and ready to continue thinking up some ways I wish I was relaxing. I'm going to expand upon my previous post about treating yourself to something special with reasons why you should pamper yourself, too. I'm also going to dwell on massages and manicures and such because I these are things I'm starting to wish I indulged in over break.

I've gotten a few massages before, all of which I went into hesitantly. It just seems weird and unnecessary as I'm waiting to get called into a small back room with dim lights and soothing music. But if you were to ask about my uncertainty afterward, I probably wouldn't even be able to recall why I ever felt uncomfortable in the first place. The feeling you're left with is one of unmatched physical relaxation in what feels like every muscle in your body.

In addition to this feeling of bliss, massages offer physical and therapeutic benefits. According to one website, soft-tissue manipulation techniques applied during a massage improves circulation and is intended to reduce stress and fatigue. Benefits like these still occur whether you partake for therapy or leisure reasons. Many types of massages exist and address different issues. For example, deep-tissue massages can improve muscle damage through more forceful strokes. Other techniques are intended to prevent injury or energize you, and others are geared toward athletes, pregnant women or specific ages. In any case, the receiver of the massage is likely to feel less stiff and more physically and mentally relaxed.

A Newsweek article mentions some specific benefits of massage therapy and its credibility found in Chinese history. The article notes that immunity may be improved and blood pressure regulated through this method of relaxation. That’s quite a plus for those in need of such medical needs.

After you treat yourself to the overwhelming relaxation of a massage, think about further spoiling yourself at a salon or spa type of place. Some guys may lose interest here. Consider letting yourself get your nails done, a high end hair cut or just spending little more on taking care of your appearance, so you can really enjoy it instead of feeling like you’re taking care of chores. This isn’t some I do regularly at all, but when I do have to really get myself together for something formal, it always feels good. I imagine getting pampered for no reason every now and then would be even more of a pick-me-up. Choose a day one weekend when you can go get all this kind of stuff done, and do it! Or be really bold and take a day off if you can… I think the resulting relaxation would be worth it if you’re really feeling stressed.

Yoga

Just like my previous aromatherapy post, I've decided to write about something else I hear about and know people rely on but have never committed myself to: yoga.

I've heard about the wonders of yoga from teenagers, college kids, parents, men and women. My friend goes to classes at a public park district and raves about it, so don't assume it's only for people who are willing to pay for expensive sessions. She's also not very athletic or meditative, like I assumed yoga practicers are. The music is usually a little "zen-ish" as she called it, but that might help relax you if you don't find it too irritating.

I've actually gone to a class with my friend, where I discreetly positioned myself in the back of the room, of course. Hiding wasn't even necessary though because it was a beginner class, which I highly recommend starting in. I've seen people doing higher level things and it looks more stressful and strenuous than anything if you're not accustomed. Some of the beginner's moves were even a little uncomfortable, but I could tell those who had been to more than one class were definitely enjoying themselves. One other minor issue that distracted me we the names of the positions and and how they kind of described the strange body movements only through color or animal or adjectives not usually applied to humans. Maybe I was just easily distracted that day. You make up your mind about this. Anyway, by the end of my first and only class, I was a little confused but feeling good.

While yoga looks like just stretching, it's definitely a good workout physically, in addition to mentally. (Note a couple mental and emotional benefits of staying physically healthy in my previous post!) Feeling fit and relaxed after a good workout is probably why most people left that yoga class with a smile on their faces. It offers so many good things. If you're not the type breathe methodically and center yourself, just try it as a workout option that leaves you feeling limber and toned. If you are the type to go for a source of meditation, great! You get the bonus of a workout. Either way, based on my single experience and the more extensive experience of others, yoga is definitely a good way to relieve stress and relax mentally, emotionally and physically.

Check out another post oddly appropriately titled A Workout for Unwinding. (My blog is called Time to Unwind. Get the coincidence?)