10 x Tricks that can act as Stress pacifiers (Part -1)
This is a step towards construction of a stress-free humane world.
# Stresses entangle our routine lives.
# We often gripe about our stressful routines.
# Stresses drive us insane.
❣ I am on a mission to make the world humane.
❣ Fighting or diminishing stresses can bring us closer to humaneness.
❣ Humanity needs less stresses to be more humane.
I am not a psychologist but stress is a thing for all. It swings moods. It weaves anger. It nurtures neglect of tiny yet vital emotional engagements with friends or family. In short it injects rudeness in personality. Above all, it creeps inside you without any alarm.
But do not worry because I am on a watch to beat the creepy spiny routine stresses. I believe stress relief is possible and this relief will glue humans to humane feelings.
So, aim the grapple around the following corners (hitting only first two in this writing):
· Run to Retailers
· Paint the walls (Décor)
· Feed the foodie instincts
· Try fragrance (Aroma)
· Particles of change and transposition
· Loiter (travel)
· Creative indulgence (life, love, passion, hobby)
· Walk, run, exercise, gym, play
· Special care from someone, relate, talk, share
· A silent prayer
Note:
A few of these points or tricks to pacify stress may seem interlinked or related in terms of categories and sub-categories. However, let us keep it simple and hit the heads as and wherever these pop up in a random sequence.
Run to Retailers
Causes of stress can be many and the target could be any. Once you feel your routine is taking a toll on you. Or there is something intermittently causing your head to ache then stop trying to figure out the real reason. Just think of something you thought of buying a few days back. It is not mandatory that you consider past few days but purchasing any long term love of yours is likely to be heavy on your budget (that is why you dragged its acquisition till now, right!). However, if it is not so then just go for it.
A couple of days ago I had a similar mental rush. And while figuring out some way to pull myself off the stuffy head I just told myself to get some new t-shirts and semi-formal trousers. The idea clicked and I felt a sudden dissipation of the negative charges (feelings) and inflow of positive energy. A new Samsung Galaxy Tab also beeped around some corner of my mind or heart (could not really figure out the exact location) but the positive charges in my head pinned it down for time being as it instantly sent a warning to the budget pressure cabin as well. Anyways, I planned and went to a nearby store that I liked and bagged a few fresh casual shirts and pants. I was now happy and a bit charged to take on some more chores to come. The Samsung Tab; I did not burn the idea rather took some time to plan the finances for killing it too. Surprisingly, these few minutes booted out some more negativity from my body. I could not fully grasp how, why or what all was this shopping activity. In fact I simply gave my little wishes a green signal that I had put on pause for a short interval.
Later as I was preparing to reword and ink this experience; I came to know that ‘retail therapy’ is a real thing. Definitely the technicality and complexity of psychological jargon will take some time to sink in my head. Still, it was a treat to experience and relate to what researchers have well established.
For instance;
• “Retail therapy” means gifting oneself with a self-treat for cheering up or realizing a happy mood. [1]
• “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.” [2]
Purchasing few things for yourself or for anyone you care is not just a discrete act. It starts with a short rather soothing smooth brain activity called a shopping plan. This is followed by preparation.3 Prep includes consultations with some relatives or acquaintances who may be familiar with markets or shops or outlets giving away a magical product that can rejuvenate your wearied nerves. You calculate and collect money, move to the destination, buy the thing and that is it.
I could also find a few anonymous funny tones for the therapeutic effect of shopping. For example;
❣ The one who said laughter is the best medicine never tried ‘shopping’.
❣ Retail therapy should be part of the health insurance plan.
Although it is confirmed that shopping has a good effect on your sad hormonal mess but of course excess of anything is bad. So, only spend that you can easily afford that later should not haunt you.
I shall recommend; shopping items for your immediate use and interest. Things that you or anyone you care about, should be able to use directly. For example, clothes, coffee mugs, a pen, a book, a notebook, a trendy fluid container or water bottle of your choice, colour and design or even a toothbrush of your favourite colour etc.
Sometimes treating yourself with a gift that connects to your hobby (like book reading, painting, collecting anything etc.) or buying something linked to your favourite routine activity (walking, jogging, watching movies etc.) can easily help you gather yourself and slide you out of the negative world that might be pressing your nerves.
Paint the walls (Décor or re- décor)
“I am going to make everything around me beautiful that will be my life”
(Elsie de Wolfe)
Sometimes a few positive changes in your surroundings can stir your stress or sadness and drain those out of your mind. Here I am not talking about a big time professional re-décor of your house although that option also stays if you feel like it. You can start with repositioning and adjustment of the furniture, tapestries, carpets, decoration pieces and flower vase layouts etc. Or you can just get all these things to a corner of your room and paint the walls. Choose a new colour. Colour of your choice. If it was dark try a lighter shade or may be make it more dark and absorbing. If it was light, brush it with a darker tone. The colours do matter but as far as it is of your own choice and you feel the new look makes your room alive then nothing is better than that.
Again the world is open for you. Go get an interior designer and revive the faces of all walls of the room or your house. Rebuild the entire interior of your palace (big or small is not the question). Or just readjust the designated places of items within the room where you dwell the most. Do choose a corner or a spot where you sit the most. Give that spot due attention. For some people it may be a study chair and table. For some it may be just a reading chair or a rocking chair. For some, a sofa seat. Remember the view from that seat may or may not be altered but some addition (or subtraction in rear cases) should make it more lovable to you. It happened to me that one day I just rushed to a furniture shop picked a study cum office looking desk and a chair with a tiny lamp. I chose a corner in my room where I put these. Now I love siting there to read my favourite books and swing on the chair whenever I wish to have a look at the television. It seemed as a personal therapy or a personal care deed exclusively for me myself so it worked well.
Part Conclusion
I will say, spending a bit on yourself or the surroundings around you can generate feelings that diminish your stresses. It combines the positive effects of achievement (small or big does not matter), accomplishment, approval of oneself, self-care and diversion.
In the rest of the parts I will try to set on fire a few more stress killing routines that can render some relief to our heart, brain and body muscles.
Good luck and happy reading.
References
[1],[2] Atalay, A. S., & Meloy, M. G. (2011). Retail therapy: A strategic effort to improve mood. Psychology & Marketing, 28(6), 638–659. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.20404
