Stamp out stress by engaging one or more of your senses to rapidly calm and energize yourself.
If you are having a stressful day, the speediest way to stamp out stress is by engaging one or more of your senses – your sense of sight, smell, sound, touch, or taste – to rapidly calm and energize yourself. With that in mind, here are some ideas for letting your natural senses help you reduce your stress.
Sense of Sight:
- Read a good book
- Watch your favorite movie
- Allow yourself to be bored and daydream
- Use visualization techniques
- Find something nostalgic that reminds you of a fun time when you were younger
Sense of Smell:
- Use aromatherapy
- Light a scented candle
- Bake your favorite bread, muffins, cake, or pie
- Savor the smell of a fresh cup of tea or coffee
- Appreciate the aromas of the season, such as pumpkin spice around the holidays
Sense of Sound:
- Sit outside and count how many different sounds you can hear
- Listen to your favorite music
- Listen to a guided meditation with your eyes closed
- Listen to a podcast or audiobook
- Hang a wind chime near an open window
Sense of Touch:
- Play with a stress toy
- Pet a furry friend
- Wear comfortable, soft clothing
- Touch and/or hug someone special to you
- Play a musical instrument
- Ground yourself with the earth
- Paint, draw or doodle
Sense of Taste:
- Chew your favorite flavor of gum
- Eat a piece of dark chocolate
- Sip a hot cup of coffee or tea (this one engages all of your senses at once)
- Treat yourself to your favorite dessert (within moderation)
So enjoy a little sensory stimulation and the stress relief that comes with it.
