“Believe it or not, it’s stopping what I’m doing, laying down on the floor and spreading my arms and legs out. Really makes you feel at peace with everything.” – renacotor

Get it out of your mind

“I get a piece of paper and write down what is bothering or stressing me out, and maybe organise it or write what I’m going to do about it – then forget about it. When the thought comes back I think, “Hey, what I’m worried about is on that piece of paper and that is where it lives now, not in my head”. So I can relax and start thinking about something else. I keep that paper and use it or add to it until I can use it to get the job done. I even sleep better at night.” – BareFootWilliams

Feel the ‘rain’ on your skin, no one else can feel it for you

“I take a shower. Water does help me a lotttttttttt whenever I feel like I am just a useless human.” – nhien2711

Binge-watching their favourite TV shows

“Watching TV… like a TV show that I️ love. I’ve been anxious lately, so I️ started rewatching Game of Thrones and Vikings, which are my two favourite shows. It really helps clear my head and calm me down.” – NotUrAvrageFish

Eliminate stress by stressing themselves out?

 “When I’m stressed at work, I️ look for a new job. Within five minutes I️ remember how much interviewing and starting all over sucks. It helps me realise that I don’t really hate my job, I’m just having a bad day.” – _Sweater_Puppies_

 

Do you even lift bro?

“Going to the gym. The physical activity makes me feel better and makes me better physically. Plus, when the world is overwhelming, weights are the only thing that make sense.” – Lord_of_the_Dance

Colour me relaxed 

“I go through phases where I colour adult colouring books, every day, for at least an hour or two, sometimes longer. It zones me out for small chunks of time where that’s the only thing I’m thinking about, so the temporary relief from those pesky automatic thoughts is kinda nice.” – terrasaurusrex

The one who loves long walks

“Exercise, particularly in nice outdoor settings. I hate gyms, but I do love going out to the mountains and riding my bike or hiking. Even just going for a walk around the neighbourhood. You focus on your environment and your activity, rather than what is bothering you. The exercise itself gives you some nice endorphins as well, and it helps get/keep you in shape which is always a good thing.” – mtb39 

“People panic for no reason a lot” 

“Consciously deciding not to care. Being mindful that most stressful situations have happened before and the world didn’t end, that at the end of the day I went home and watched Netflix and life went on. People panic for no reason a lot, I don’t fall for it anymore” – afreelunch

Sleuthing one out

“I like to put some soothing nature or space documentary or just some old MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000) on my laptop and then read about unsolved mysteries on my phone. r/UnresolvedMysteries is great for that.” 

Book-worming their way to relaxation

“Reading an enthralling story. I can read narrative or classic books on a normal day; but if I’m stressed about something I don’t need to get done at that moment, I’ve found a sci-fi, action, or just a short story to help.” 

Done, done and done

“Crossing things off of lists. When stressed, I subdivide each task into mini-tasks to get that little buzz of relief more often. I only make lists when overwhelmed.”– honorarybelgian

Get neat, get stress free

“Cleaning works the best for me. Every time I am stressed, I get a lot of cleaning done. You get to rip paper, throw old junk out, and watch your room transform from a filthy bachelor pad to a relaxing abode. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.” – GreenBasil

Not all heroes wear capes

“This is a little weird, but it always helps me. I pick a product that I use and love, I call the customer service number, and I tell them what I love about it. Talking to a person is a great stress-reliver for me. The customer service reps rarely get positive phone calls, so they’re usually very excited and engaging. Recounting all the things I like about something has a positive effect on my mood. The only frustrating part is waiting on hold to talk to someone.” – Jeffreymark

Put yo’ game face on… real slow. 

“I love to do my makeup when I get stressed. For some reason, dragging out a 10 minute routine for an hour or so just relaxes me and prepares me for whatever it is that I’m stressed about. I think it’s the feeling of the soft brushes, the gentleness of blending concealer with a ring finger and the final dusting of highlight that makes it calming.” – Louise_Sophie

Get ripped

“If you’re having a panic-attack induced by stress, ripping up paper can be a good way to release pent up stress.” – Libbeast

Nothing boulders him anymore

“Rock climbing/bouldering. If I’ve had a bad day at work I’ll pop into my local gym for a quick session on the way home. Something about being totally focused on what my body is doing really clears my head.” – llamaesunquadrupedo

The maestro in-the-making

“I write music. It takes too much emotion and energy for me to focus on anything else, including stress. Also, something beautiful is the end result, so it’s both worthwhile and calming.” – Slyfoxfitness

“There’s a no-kill dog shelter not far from my college (maybe a 15 minute drive) that I volunteer at. I go over and walk some dogs, throw a ball for them in the play room, or simply pet them. There are a few older ones that don’t want walks and just want attention, so I’ll sit in their little kennel and let them curl up in my lap (or against me if they’re bigger), and pet/scratch them for a solid 20 minute block. It’s my haven away from campus and I manage to help lonely dogs in the process.” – Superherosam

Little drummer boy

“Drumming. Anytime I am stressed or frustrated, I smash on my drum kit. I find it to be the most therapeutic activity I can do. It combines the therapy of music (especially angry punk) and the therapy of a strenuous activity. If I play my ass off for an hour or so, I will become super sweaty and too tired to care about anything anymore. The physical activity releases endorpines in you brain, thus relieving the stress.” – kickass_and_chew_gum

Indulge in distractions, just for a little while

“I give myself a day, or a couple hours, or whatever time frame is realistic, to do what I want to do – sleep, watch TV, maybe go out for an evening, play video games, whatever. In that time, I don’t allow myself to think about what is stressing me out, but just focus on enjoying what I’m doing. It may not be the most healthy, but it works for me. Once the allotted time ends, it’s back to reality for me, and in a new mindset to deal with problems/stresses.” – misscalculates

Explore to create

“Photography – models, people, urban exploration (when I need to get out of the house) – and the occasional riot here and there. It has saved my brain on more than one occasion as it is something to focus on for four to five hours taking the pictures, then the processing comes in, I can’t help it, I have to look at every picture and colour balance, modify it someway. Totally love it, keeps me occupied, and keeps me sane.” – danmorrill11

He lets Pikachu come through

“Pokémon any time I get incredibly stressed out over school or family problems I sit down get one of my various Pokémon games spend a little time on my Pokédex and the stress kind of just pauses.” – Legodude293 “A specific thing I do is longboard around the campus. I don’t know tricks, and I honestly don’t care. It’s just me, my board, and my music. I ride until all the energy is out of me. I feel more relaxed when I hit the shower, which makes me more relaxed when I hit the bed.” – blacknumbers “I was so bummed yesterday I just made myself a human burrito out of blankets and binged Parks and Recreation. That show makes me ridiculously happy and I have no idea why, I usually hate sitcoms.” – how1

Me, myself and I

“My only secret is that I try to offer myself some me-time ever so often, taking a walk back from the office instead of the bus, going to a park and sitting on the grass alone for an hour looking at people. But it’s very important for me to be off the grid during that time. Being a programmer I spend enough time on the internet, hooked to a large quantity of information, much more that the human brain is used to, so when I take these breaks I try to cut off any connection to the internet.

Also no music, or podcasts. It’s nice to hear my steps on the pavement and the city living around me. It calms me to know that my problems, no matter how big they seem to me, are insignificant when compared to the size of city, planet, universe, whatever sound nicer to you.” – Potecuta

Featured image: Andre Benz on Unsplash

What are some of the things you do to relax? Share your tips with us!

More related stories: Quick Tricks To Stop Yourself From Feeling Anxious, 8 Effective Ways To Deal With Frenemies, 8 Tips To Love Yourself Better