Are you stressed out? Of course, you are! Unfortunately, all of us know a little bit too much about stress. That’s why it is important to find some leisure activities for inner peace and serenity.
There’s too much to tackle and not enough time to take care of everything. It makes life frantic; it complicates every day. Serenity, on the other hand, is this old-fashioned idea that doesn’t seem to have any relevance today.
Serenity, inner peace, it’s not that far away. They can counter stress! Inner peace is necessary for your wellbeing and it’s an effective way to counteract the damage stress can wreak on your mind, soul, and body.
How can you seize inner peace and find serenity? Stress management!
Overcoming Stress
There are numerous ways that you can overcome stress. The most obvious one is meditation so, we’re not going to focus too much on that one. However, let us say this: meditation can help you settle your overactive mind to establish inner peace.
When practicing meditation, you should allocate a specific time to practice it each day. It’s up to you to determine how long your meditation will last, as you settle into a routine you may find yourself naturally extending your sessions.
Taking time for leisure activities is one of the best ways to find inner peace and tranquility.
How to Unplug
Yes, the simple act of unplugging completely from all your devices and electronics is a key to leisure activities that will help clean your mind and brings inner peace and serenity.
Just sit. Just breathe.
Sit outside and run your feet through the grass.
Breath fresh air without the distraction and constant digital alerts we deal with all day long.
Take A Hike
There is nothing quite like a brisk hike in nature to help relieve stress. Not only do you get to walk through the beauty Mother Nature wrought, but it also gets you away from the rat race.
You might reach for your phone to snap a picture or two, but you certainly won’t get caught up in phone calls, emails, and social media.
According to a study from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, spending just 20 minutes in nature is enough to reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
So, you don’t necessarily have to take a literal hike. Find an outdoor activity that suits you.
Strength Training
This activity provides you with two big benefits. The first, of course, is the physical exercise it provides you and the contribution to a healthy body.
The second is the stress relief and benefit to your mental health.
There are all different activities that fall under the umbrella of strength training, it doesn’t mean you need to run to the gym to lift weights.
Though, that’s an option! Circuit training is also considered strength training and there are minimal weights involved.
Powerlifting combines deadlifts, squats, and bench presses. There are also push-ups, pull-ups, and rowing machines.
Get Artistic
There is nothing more relaxing than indulging in an art form you love.
It might be painting, it could be sketching, writing, or playing music. Creative activities have a great way of calming you down as you express yourself.
It’s something completely within your control and you can do it exactly as you like.
According to Forbes, getting creative improves your mental health, encourages happiness, reduces the risk of dementia, makes you smarter, and even provides your immune system with a healthy boost.
Take A Break
Guess what? A leisure activity doesn’t have to be a physical action or a hobby. A simple break counts!
Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean putting your feet up and sitting back with a glass of champagne.
A break could be a weekend getaway, a two-week vacation, or simply a coffee break. It’s all about ensuring your body is rested.
Make sure you dedicate chunks of your day to just taking a break!
If you have paid vacation time, make sure you use all of it. You earned it; you deserve to take it.
Get Up and Dance
What better way to relieve stress than by dancing your socks off.
Turn your favorite music up loud, throw caution to the wind, and just let your body move however you like for as long as you can.
Video Gaming
Video games may seem like a young person’s activity, they might have gotten a bad reputation over the years, but they can relieve stress.
You can choose a video game that stimulates your mind, one you enjoy playing, and genuinely de-stresses you.
This, of course, includes phone apps. Just make sure you don’t get caught up in the games that stress you out more!
Music and Movies
There’s nothing complicated about leisure activities, that’s why they’re leisurely.
Music is an excellent way to de-stress. Make time daily to listen to your favorite playlist.
Since we’re on the subject of media content, let’s talk about movies.
A movie is an escape, it provides you with relief from the stresses of daily life.
Here’s the thing, don’t just do as you normally do and plop down on the couch, phone in hand, as you watch something on Netflix.
Select a movie you enjoy (or expect to enjoy) and give it your full focus.
Even a sad movie can provide you with a boost in endorphin levels.
Read a Book
The perfect leisure activity is reading because you can do it absolutely anywhere. Reading distracts your mind from your day to grind and troubles.
Reading is very relaxing and places your mind into a whole new world, far away from the one that is causing you stress.
Whether you are carrying a physical book or a tablet with an endless supply of books, you can set it up anywhere.
If you don’t drive to work, your commute is an excellent place to whip out a book.
You can read on your coffee break, after dinner, before bed, in the park, the bathtub, or anywhere else!
Practice Yoga
Like mediation, yoga is an ancient practice known to reduce stress.
Yoga is an opportunity to center yourself, it allows you to focus on the task at hand, your breath.
It helps you focus on the postures you’re moving into, and it engages your body and mind at the same time.
There’s also a lot of deep breathing in yoga, which is a stress reliever of its own.
Pet Time
There is nothing quite like spending time with a pet. If you’re lucky enough to have one of your own, then make sure you spend plenty of time with them.
If you own a dog, then the daily walk is great for your stress levels. Not only does it give you more time with your pet, but it also gets you out and about in nature.
Pets provide love and comfort which naturally breeds internal peace and serenity. Just the act of petting an animal provides stress relief.
It benefits your pet as well so, make sure to dedicate part of your day to love on your pet.
If you don’t have a pet, there’s no need to panic. You can visit a friend with a pet, volunteer at a shelter, go to the petting zoo or even download an app that connects you with pet owners.
There are plenty of them available that invite you to link up with owners in need of dog walkers.
You won’t get paid, but you will get the benefit of hanging out with an adorable dog who is going to force you into taking a fun walk!
Clean Up
This is another stress-relieving activity that is two-pronged. Yes, it will provide you with relief from your stress, but it will also give you a boost to your mental health.
There’s just something about helping others that helps yourself.
Take a look at your local community boards and see if there is a beach clean-up, community cleaning, or another type of group activity you can get in on.
You will have to dedicate a few hours of your time, but it will get you out of the house, away from your troubles, and into the groove of helping others.
Socialize
While some of the suggestions above may also require socialization, you should go out of your way to socialize with work colleagues, friends, and family members.
Humans are social creatures and we crave that time with others.
While an introvert may need plenty of time to recharge their batteries after socializing, they still seek that out. It’s just that they do it on their own terms.
We all need social ties, and the relationships that we build with others are key to our ability to relieve stress and find inner peace.
When you have a problem, there’s nothing better than talking it out and talking it through.
That’s what friends are for! Watching a movie and laughing at stupid things with friends is beneficial for your well-being.
Choose your friends wisely and make sure you go out of your way to spend time with them regularly.
Get started by creating mate dates with a close friend at least once every two weeks. It’s a start!
Why Leaders Should Take Their Leisure Seriously Video:
Final Thoughts
Whatever leisure activities you want to indulge in, make sure that you schedule a time for it daily. It might be best to choose a handful from the list above to get started.
Stagger them so you don’t get bored of certain ones.
When it comes to socializing and nature, make more time for those leisure activities.
You should find a way to socialize daily and get into nature as often as you possibly can (ideally daily).
You deserve to live a happy life and find inner peace, and the best way to do that is to manage your stress.
One of the best ways you can do that is by practicing leisure activities as often as possible.
