Unexpected ways to reduce stress

1. Finger painting

Expressing yourself through any type of art can be liberating. Finger painting is easy, and it allows you to be more expressive like you were as a child, which can be very relaxing.

2. Massage your ears

You might be giggling to yourself right now, but massaging your ears can be a good stress reliever. It releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel better. Try rubbing your earlobes with your index finger and thumb while squeezing the outer edges of your ears all the way to the top, then massage the part behind your ears.

3. Call your family

If you are close with a member of your family, you can call them to help relieve your stress. Just hearing that person’s voice can increase your feel-good hormone, oxytocin.

4. Sniff an apple

Even though this sounds weird, sniffing an apple or any other citrus fruit can relieve stress and help with headaches. Some studies have suggested that a green apple aroma can help migraine sufferers, so give it a try.

5. Give yourself a reward

You might not think you’ve done anything that’s worth a reward, but you definitely have. Reward yourself every step of the way to stay on track. No matter how big or small your accomplishment is, remember it’s still an accomplishment!

6. Blow up a balloon

When stressed we tend to take shorter, sharper breaths. If you do need to relax, try blowing up a balloon. This can help you to return to your normal pace of breathing, taking slower and deeper breaths. This can also reduce your heart rate and relax your muscles.