Stress. Stress. Stress stress stress. It’s something that never seems to fully leave us, no matter how hard we try. Everywhere you look there are tips for reducing stress, and I’m sure by now we all know the common ones. However, these slightly off-beat ideas may put some new ideas in your “relaxation arsenal”!

• Assign everyone in your cell phone contacts a silly picture – If one of the sources of your stress is all the calls you get on your cell phone, take the time to pick silly and inane pictures to assign to each of your contacts. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be them…. Just something silly that will pop up when they make your phone ring, that’ll give you a chuckle and help you relax before answering your phone!
• Rubber Band it – Wear a rubber band around your wrist and every time you start feeling stressed, give yourself a snap. It sounds odd, but studies have shown this act does work for breaking habits you’d like to break. And hey, if it helps people swear less or stop smoking why can’t it help with this?
• OJ me – Believe it or not, drinking two glasses of orange juice per day can make you feel less anxious. Food and drink high in Vitamin C lowers your stress hormones, so two servings of anything loaded with vitamin C should do the trick!
• Chew gum like a boss – Not only can it freshen your breath and in some cases help you get whiter teeth, chewing gum can also reduce anxiety and depression. In a study conducted in 2008, people who regularly chewed gum demonstrated lower levels of anxiety, increased alertness, reduced stress and improvement with multi-tasking. Break out the Dentyne!
• Break out your inner artist – You don’t have to have any talent per say, but participating in art and music activities are proven methods of stress relief because it takes your mind off whatever is stressing you and promotes relaxation. And let’s face it, it’s a lot more productive than Candy Crush!
• Get jiggy with it – Yes, we’re talking about sex people. And yes it can make you feel less stressed. Sex releases endorphins and the social connection absolutely can result in stress relief. And hey, if anything, it takes your mind off whatever is stressing you out for a while!
• Blow up a balloon – Inflating a balloon forces you to deep breathe, which we all know can help you reduce those stressy feelings. Not only that, but the bright colours can help elevate your mood and what’s more fun than letting it go and fly around the room when you’re done?
• Oatmeal – Really? Oatmeal? Yes, surprisingly! The magnesium and potassium in oatmeal can lower your blood pressure which makes you feel more relaxed. Additionally, regularly eating oatmeal helps boost your serotonin levels which contribute to your overall happiness.
• Giggle! – Laughing reduces cortisol levels and releases endorphins which help improve your outlook on things. Incorporate this into your routine regularly! Break out some Comedy Central shows.
• Get a pet – Having a pet can increase your health in many ways. A study conducted on pet owners showed they were statistically less stressed than their non-furry friend counterparts. Must be something about that unconditional love that a pet provides!

With a little active planning, you could be well on your way to a less stressed lifestyle!   Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Source Url: http://gobelmont.ca/off-the-beaten-path-uncommon-ways-to-reduce-stress/