I encourage you to consider these non-traditional suggestions of stress relief that can help to live a more peaceful life.

3 non-traditional ways of stress relief

1. Set boundaries

Attending the event you didn’t want to actually go to, leaving the house for a commitment when you would rather stay home, taking on more responsibilities at work even though you are already overloaded with work, agreeing to something that doesn’t feel aligned with you, spending time with people who drain your energy — basically, saying “yes” when you want to say “NO!” Any of these sound like you?

Humans are wired to want to belong and be a part of a community. Because of this instinct, we often say yes to and do things we don’t want to do for the fear that someone will be angry with us, will not like us, or will stop engaging with us and we will be ‘left out’. Hence, we often end up doing things that cause us to feel more stressed and overwhelmed.

By firmly deciding where you will spend your time and what you will say yes to, you are saving your mental space and your time for things that fill up your cup and bring you joy while also allowing for the down time your body needs. Remember, if stress relief is your goal, boundaries are your friends.

Of course, setting boundaries is not easy work; you will have to work on finding the confidence to say No. Initially you may find it challenging and feel compelled to justify yourself and give reasons for saying No. Those who have a problem with you setting up boundaries are generally those who benefited from you not having them in the first place.

2. Spread kindness

“We do ourselves the most good doing something for others”
— Horrace Mann

Have you ever purchased a gift for someone that you knew they really wanted and then felt such warmth when you watch the expression on their face as they open it? This is the power of doing something nice for others as a means of reducing your own stress.

Small acts of kindness toward people you know as well as complete strangers can go a long way in boosting your mood, which in turn decreases your stress response.

Smiling at someone, holding the door for a stranger, sharing your baked goodies with your team at work, paying it forward by purchasing the coffee for the person behind you, or letting someone go in front of you in queue at the supermarket— these are small acts have big impact on your emotional state. Try random acts of kindness whenever and wherever you find the opportunity and soon you will see that your stress becomes much more manageable.

3. Laugh more

Laughter truly is the best medicine. It is something we undervalue and something we don’t do often enough. When you laugh, there is lots at play on a physiological level—the nervous system loves laughter! Studies have found that laughing stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Also, when you laugh, you take in more oxygen and your blood get pumping, especially with those big belly laughs.

Can you think of a time you spent laughing over a funny movie, doing something foolish with a friend, or playing with children? After these events your mind feels clearer, and you feel lighter. The physiological and psychological benefits of laughing are plenty; the next time you’re feeling stressed, take 10-minutes to find a video that you know will make you laugh and feel the stress melt away! Or, if you’re having a rough day, just smile at yourself in the mirror, it’s OK even if it’s a fake smile.

The takeaway

“Calmness is the cradle of power,” said American novelist and poet Josiah Gilbert Holland. At the end of the day stress will always be with us, wherever we go, but by making a conscious effort to regularly do things that being stress relief and help you stay calm, you can rest assured that the wellness you strive for is well within your reach.

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Laughter is the antidote to the stress response

Research shows that people who laugh heartily on a regular basis have lower standing blood pressures than the average population. When we have a hearty laugh, our blood pressure initially increases and then decreases below normal levels. Our breathing becomes deeper, sending oxygen-enriched blood and nutrients throughout the body. With laughter, endorphins and other natural pain-relieving hormones are released, improving our ability to tolerate pain. Our ability to digest food also improves. So you are not only what you eat, but what you think and feel. Research indicates that the benefits of laughter occur as early as a smile.

How can we bring more smiles and laughter into our lives?

Make a joy list

Joel Goodman, Founder and Director of the Humor Project in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. suggests making a joy list: Put down five things you love to do, but have not done in a long time. This could be resuming former hobbies or contacting/meeting people whom you have not seen in a while. Choose two things on that list that you plan to do and write down a date and time when you will do the activities.

Create a humour library

Collect humorous memos, bumper stickers, books, movies and TV shows. The internet is packed with humorous focused websites and videos. Next time you are feeling a little down, read, listen and view.

Spend more time with folks who are fun to be with

Make a commitment to spending more time with those that are fun to be around. Think about someone whom you consider fun to be around. What makes that person attractive? Along with mental alertness and positive attitude, a large part of your answer will lie in them having a great send of humour and a sense of playfulness. Humour is an excellent tool to use on your path in life. Approaching life’s aggravations with humour has fewer harmful side effects, for humour can release feelings of hostility and at the same time provide an acceptable means of expressing and decompressing these feelings in an appropriate way.

Get to know what amuses you

Who are your favourite comedians? What types of humour do you like? For some it’s political humour… “When two politicians accuse each other of lying… they’re both telling the truth”, others like nonsense … “What does a 300 pound canary say?… CHURP!!!”, still others like philosophical humour … “I don’t believe in an afterlife, but I’m bringing a spare pair of underwear just in case.” Put on your humour filtered glasses and you are more likely to notice humorous occurrences that would have passed you by otherwise.

Become comfortable with appearing goofy

Overcome your “fear of foolishness.” C.W. Metcalf and Roma Felible authors of Lighten Up: Survival Skills for People Under Pressure, suggests that when an embarrassing moment happens to you, choose to see it as a humorous incident. This will prevent the negative physiological effects that will occur if you view the event as a life threat [“I was so embarrassed I wish I were dead”]. Take the risk of sharing the incident with others and nine out of ten times they will see the humour and thank you for sharing it.

Checkout the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. They actually have a Humour Academy. A three year course to become a Certified Humour Professional. Yes, I’m a C.H.P. and proud of it!

Humour is the healthiest coping mechanism you can use to deal with the absurdities of life. I used humour to literally get back on my feet after a diagnosis of severe arthritis. If you lose hope and are taken over by fear, you become helpless. If you use humour and focus on a positive outlook you can get through anything. You can learn to use humour like Judo, fending off attacks from a different angle. When the arthritis attacked, humour was my defense.

Remember, if something is thrown at you and you meet it straight on, you will fall backward. This is true for any ‘problem’ that attacks you. If you have a good sense of humour you can slide to the side and look at it from a different perspective. Humour is not a cure-all, but the positive emotions brought on by humour and a good laugh can have a positive effect on your overall wellness.

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The word, yoga, originates from the Sanskrit word “yug,” which means to yoke or bind. In yoga, balance is achieved through the union of mind and body, and by practicing yoga we are able to keep ourselves centered and have harmony and peace in our lives.

The concept of poise

Nature comprises of appositional forces, the interplay of which releases the energy that animates all living things. Through the practice of yoga, we bring under control the appositional forces within us so that we are serene, and relaxed.

Asana

Asanas are not mere exercises. They do not take our breath away or make us hyper-ventilate. Yoga has 84 classical asanas [poses] with a variety of combinations. All asanas are performed in a systematic manner where our breath is co-ordinated with slow and rhythmic movements. During the asanas, we use the body as a guide to tell us how deeply we can go into a posture, when we experience fatigue, and how to move from one pose to the next without tension.

Each asana provides different benefits. For example, the sarvangasana or Shoulder Stand invigorates and rejuvenates the whole body, making the spine supple and the legs free from varicose veins. Also, each asana has certain contra-indications. For example, the Shoulder Stand should not be done by those who have high blood pressure, or by pregnant women.

Pranayama

Yoga makes us conscious of our breath. One important difference which is taught in yogic breathing is not to suck our tummy in as we inhale. As we inhale, we fill our lungs and breathe deeply to push our abdomen out. As we exhale, we throw our breath out, emptying our lungs and pulling our tummy in.

Our need to focus on breathing relates itself to prana or life force. It is a barometer reflecting our state of mind. Upper chest or shallow breathing occurs when we are stressed, anxious or frightened. If we continue to breathe this way for long periods of time, we become lethargic and depressed. To counter this, yoga recommends deep diaphragmatic breathing. Long, deep breaths relieve stress and tension. Ujjayi, kapalabhati, sitali, nadi shodhana, and bhastrika, are all examples of breathing techniques in yoga. Since breath is the bridge that connects both mind and body, we can control our breathing to bring about balance.

Meditation

We close our eyes, sit calmly and focus on the point between our eyebrows. This is the ajna or intellectual centre or the 3rd eye space. Keeping our breathing normal, we allow all thoughts to come and go without disturbing us. We observe them without judging.

Meditation is the process through which we learn to concentrate on the present with what is termed as “mindfulness.” By concentrating on the ajna, breathing in and out, and sitting in a calm posture, we allow ourselves to relax. At the same time, our concentration increases, making our mind less fragmented. With practice, we can attain calm and mental clarity.

As Swami Satchidananda said, “You can’t control the waves, but you can learn to surf!” Research has shown that meditation increases the feel-good hormone, endorphins, and decreases the stress hormone, cortisol, leading to better health.

Chanting

The word Om, made up of three Sanskrit letters A, U, and M, combined together makes the sound Aum or Om. During yoga, we chant this word for it is the primal sound which helps us connect with the deepness within. As we continue with this chanting, we reach a state of self-realisation and bliss. If we close our eyes and continue to repeat this word while breathing consciously, we also reach an altered state where mundane things cease to exist and, therefore, lose their power to throw us off-balance.

Ritual

The yogic way of life requires a disciplined approach. Yoga is to be done preferably in the early morning hours, after waking up. It needs to be done on an empty stomach [no meal should have been taken for four hours before exercise]. Loose and comfortable clothing should be worn. A non-slip mat should be used for exercising. Certain exercises should not be done by people with specific ailments. Most important—you ought to solicit the guidance of a yoga teacher. Done everyday, with conscious awareness of all the good it brings to our body and mind, yoga becomes a way of life.

Take a moment

Breathe in, open your hands and as you breathe out, close your hands to form a loose fist. Do this for a minute, focusing on what you are experiencing. Feel the difference as this simple co-ordination of your breath and body movements help your mind and body come into balance.

Yoga’s weight bearing postures, for example, create strong bones, the spine becomes supple, metabolism is balanced and stress is reduced.

Yoga helps us learn to accept, and let go. In the din of everyday life, it leads us to hear the music of our self. Most of all, it helps us feel balanced, harnessing our energies with calmed focus.

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