Feeling stressed? Here are 5 activities to help you unplug!

A woman colouring a colouring book for adults, photographed in Briesen, Germany, 18 march 2016. The books with gardens, forests and animals for colouring are entering the best-selling lists. According to publishers, they are a welcomed compensation for adults for the high mental requirements in the information age. Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa | usage worldwide (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Colouring book for adults A woman colouring a colouring book for adults, photographed in Briesen, Germany, 18 march 2016. The books with gardens, forests and animals for colouring are entering the best-selling lists. According to publishers, they are a welcomed compensation for adults for the high mental requirements in the information age. Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa | usage worldwide (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images) (picture alliance/picture alliance via Getty Image)

By Tory

Let’s face it, who ISN’T stressed out!? Tax season, tariffs, bills...adulting can bring on a lot of stress. In honor of April being stress awareness month, here are my top 5 activities that may help calm you!

Reading

Feeling stressed out to the point you can’t sleep? Reading may be the solution! Reading is proven to help improve sleep. Reading strengthens the brain, lower your stress, and improve knowledge.

Personally I’ve adopted reading before bed over scrolling through my phone. It helps my brain get into a good routine and escape in a different world. This year alone, I’ve read 10 books! Yes, I also brought a novel to read in between periods at a New York Islanders game. This team can stress me out sometimes!

Tory reading A Court of Mist and Fury

Crafting

When it doubt, craft it out! Crafting is such a fun activity to calm your mind. Whether you love adult coloring books or knitting, crafting has positive benefits to your health!

My go to craft is crocheting! It helps silence my mind and almost feels like a meditation! I love to make little critters and be out in nature!

Tory's Crochet

Walks

Whether you want to take a walk in nature or a treadmill, the act of walking actually reduces stress, increases cardiovascular fitness, and increase energy levels. Learn more about the benefits of walking here.

Personally, I’m a big fan of going for walks after eating dinner. It helps my digestive system and makes me feel great! I get a sense of exercise and activity after being at work all day.

Meditation

Inhale...exhale! A simple guided meditation can help you remain present. Breathing exercises can help ground you, make you more self aware, and reduce stress. Learn more about the benefits of meditation here.

Meditations help me calm myself, especially in times when my anxiety takes over. Taking a deep breath and reminding yourself that you are not your thoughts helps!

Listening to music

The right song can instantly boost your mood! Listening to music can help lower anxiety, improve memory, and connects us! So grab a pair of headphones and put on song that’ll immediately boost your mood, or you can listen to 106.1 BLI anywhere on the 106.1 BLI app!

What activities are you looking to adopt into your life? Let us know in the comments.