50 Stress Relievers That Take 5 Minutes Or Less

10.01.2010

50 Stress Relievers That Take 5 Minutes Or Less

Finding ways to relieve stress is absolutely crucial in today’s chaotic world. We need daily buffers to remind us that we are living, thinking, and feeling human beings, not just work-a-holic machines.

If we don’t attend to our stress, we can very quickly build up unhealthy levels, sometimes leading to serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, eating problems, insomnia, and substance abuse, as well as less severe ailments like headaches, muscle pains, and fatigue.

Because everyone experiences stress, and it is an unavoidable facet of life, we all need to find our own methods to cope with it.

Stress can be alleviated in a variety of ways, but what works for some may not work for others. A lot of it depends on our personality, what habits we find enjoyable, and how creative we are with our limited free time. I took it upon myself to try and come up with 50 potential stress relievers. You may find some useful and some not so useful. That’s OK.

Some might also spark new ideas that I may have forgotten. Leave a comment if you discover something that I missed!

50 Stress-Relievers That Take 5 Minutes Or Less

1. Take ten deep breaths.

2. Do push-ups, crunches, or pull-ups

3. Play with a pet

4. Take a short walk

5. Read an article in the newspaper

6. Call a friend

7. Listen to a song

8. Watch a video on YouTube

9. Play an instrument

10. Meditate

11. Eat a healthy snack

12. Spark a conversation

13. Make yourself a cup of coffee

14. Sit in the sun and get some fresh air

15. Doodle

16. Sing a favorite song

17. Dance

18. Drum on your desk

19. Count your blessings

20. Make plans to go out to dinner

21. Go outside and feed the birds

22. Do a small favor for someone

23. Write a note to a loved one

24. Water the plants

25. Look through a photo album

26. Take a shot of liquor or take a hit of cannabis – unwind a bit

27. Do a search on Google for “funny jokes”

28. Gaze at the stars

29. Get a back massage

30. Stretch or do yoga

31. Take a quick shower

32. Write a poem

33. Check your email or Facebook

34. Make a list of old things around the house to donate

35. Clean your desk

36. Try a word puzzle or Sudoku

37. Spend a moment with your children

38. Do jumping jacks

39. Scream at the top of your lungs (or into a pillow if you don’t want to disturb anyone)

40. Go to the bathroom

41. Play a game of billiards or ping pong

42. Check the local weather report

43. Sit somewhere with good scenery

44. Make a list of things to do on the weekend

45. Recite a prayer

46. Daydream

47. Wash your face with cold water

48. Take a power nap (make sure to set an alarm!)

49. Read your affirmations

50. Drive around town briefly