Stress Relaxation Exercise

When stress is affecting you, sometimes all you need is a simple stress relaxation exercise. Here is an easy one that you can use anywhere. It is based on the emotion that is causing the stress, but you can easily adjust it to fit another emotion.

When you feel like throwing your fist at someone (or something), use a small (non-breakable) object that is lying around (e.g., an eraser, a small rock, a stress ball, a paperclip, etc.).

Squeeze the object in your hand as hard as you can. Let your anger "crush" that small object for as long as you need to express your anger. When the intensity of the feeling starts to decrease, release your fingers and gently return the object where it belongs.

Go to a room where you can be alone for a few minutes. Perhaps you can go to your bedroom, your office or simply use a bathroom stall.

Close your eyes and imagine a large group of co-workers or your extended family, which ever one you think brings you the most worries. Imagine that you are in a small space with all your co-workers (or family). The space is really crowded.

There are certain similarities between our worries and people that surround us. Perhaps you can associate work with your boss, your love life with a co-worker of the opposite sex, your bills with someone from the accounting department, etc. Assign each one of your worries to someone in the room. Imagine that they are verbally complaining about the exact thing that worries you.

One by one, start to let these people go, starting with the smaller, not so important worries. They will leave with that specific worry that has been bothering you. In the end, you should be left with the biggest worries. Acknowledge their presence, and let them go.

Breathe in and breathe out for a few seconds.

If jealousy, sadness or other feelings are causing stress in your life, a great way to help reduce stress is to go for a walk.

You will have to mentally force yourself to think about other things, but there are so many beautiful living creatures in your neighbourhood that it will get easier with each step.

Here are a few things you can try to spot while you walk:

-flowers
-birds
-waterways such as creeks, rivers, lakes
-children playing
-beautiful scenery
-white snow
-wind moving the leaves
-beautifully shaped clouds
-ants working together

It's important that you keep looking out for these little things instead of just reliving a past event or reinforcing the feeling that is causing you stress. Discover another stress relaxation exercise and learn more about stress.

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