7 things I do regularly to escape the stress of ‘Adulting’
If you’re like me, your life is as hectic, you’re bogged down with a 9-5 job, a part-time entrepreneur, you have a significant other or…
If you’re like me, your life is as hectic, you’re bogged down with a 9-5 job, a part-time entrepreneur, you have a significant other or you’re dating, parenting, community work, trying to squeeze in family time and a social life. There’s a slightly new term that’s been flowing around called “adulting” and it’s simply the difficult art of attempting to be an adult. Adulting can be extremely stressful and taxing, so I decided to come up with seven great outlets (no particular order) that could potentially change the trajectory of your day-to-day dealings. With most of these outlets that I’ll list, you’ll recognize that there’s a reoccurring theme of each being therapeutic in nature.
1: Writing (blogging, podcasting)
Plenty of times, writing has been the very thing that’s kept me sane whenever I’ve had a rough day, week, or month. It can cure almost any stressful situation; insomnia, discombobulated thoughts, headache, heartache, and the list goes on. When it comes to writing, there doesn’t have to be any special format when the objective is to alleviate stress; just scribe. I promise that you’ll feel better afterwards.
Also, I’d like to add that as the director and host of M-Talk: the Millennial Show (the world’s most amazing up and coming podcast), the podcast is an amazing outlet to just be able to be myself. Sometimes we get so caught up in all of our various jobs and responsibilities, that we forget to or aren’t able to be ourselves. The podcast allows and affords me to just be me. I can crack jokes, be inspirational, discuss different topics and not have to worry about being politically correct; I also get to highlight other outstanding individuals. Also, the beauty of M-Talk is that even though we record in Richmond, Virginia, we have the luxury of being able to have an international reach, so the words and thoughts of all our guests can literally impact the world. Imagine how good it can feel when you get feedback from a listener in London and they tell you that they agree with your views or that you’ve inspired them; it’s phenomenal.
So whether you are writing, blogging, or podcasting, the main thing is to find your voice somehow.
2: Lunch with a friend
Sometimes we just need to vent. Venting in itself can be a great outlet and stress reliever if conducted properly. You may ask yourself, ‘how does one vent properly?’ Well, if stress is a factor, it’s more about being wise enough to be able to choose the right venting partner. You want to seek out a person, preferably a friend, who has a great listening ear. Someone that will let you get it all out, without judgment, and then help you if needed. The fellowship that can take place over lunch is one of the most popular and effective avenues for relief that there is.
3: Exercise
I’m sure we’ve all either read or heard that exercise is great for many areas of our lives; more specifically because it releases endorphins. The website Webmd.com describes endorphins as such: “Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as “euphoric.” That feeling, known as a “runner’s high,” can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.” If you want to get that “euphoric” feeling back, go and exercise.
4: Meditation
With people being so against the word religion and more focused on being spiritual nowadays, I’ve noticed a surge in the application of meditation. While I won’t go deep into the art of meditation at all, I will say for some it can mean many different things: prayer, yoga, a spiritual experience, the reading of scripture and much more. However you choose to define meditation, I think all can agree that it is a remarkable outlet to help someone get their mind in the right space. Even in stress-filled times, if you’re able to get to a quiet space and reach deep into your inner self and focus, you may find that it can be one of the most beneficial outlets of them all. It’s all in what you make it.
5: Hobby
It’s probably safe to say that we’ve all had a hobby that we enjoy and like to participate in. Whatever happened to it? Did life get in the way? Think about how doing that hobby made you feel. Did it make you feel accomplished? Did it take your mind off of certain things? Well you may want to either try and pick it back up or find a new one, because devoting your time to productive hobbies is a great way to stay positive and have good outcomes.
6: Something child-like that’s reminiscent of your childhood.
Times were just simpler back then weren’t they? It didn’t take much to bring you joy, and when you felt that joy you held on to it for what seemed like a lifetime. For me it was watching the Looney Tunes cartoons. It was so funny! They always made me smile, laugh, & brought joy. Even to this day (as an adult), if I happen to catch it on television, I immediately start smiling and watch as if a child. So why not be intentional and watch it every now and then for the same effect now? If it continues to bring all those joyous feelings, why not watch it when life’s ills begin to get to me? Popular old children’s TV shows like; Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, the Tazmanian Devil…yeah I need that in my life right now!
7: Solitude
Depending upon the need for an outlet, you may just need to be alone. Sometimes, you have to seek the quiet in the midst of the noise. Being alone can be so therapeutic, that it is my opinion one must actually incorporate it into their daily routine in order to thoroughly benefit from it. When one can truly get and be alone, he or she can actually do #1-7. That’s blessed.
Hopefully the discovering and proper utilization of these outlets will help with adulting and finding better ways to maneuver through life when stressed.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments, opinions on this website are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of M-Lifestyle and their affiliates. M-Lifestyle does not claim ownership of any images used, unless otherwise specified.
Comments
This was a very helpful and well written article. I like that it gets to the point and provides sound advice. This article serves as a resource to remind people how to deal with stress.
Greetings Mr. White.
It certainly has been years since you and I have spoken. Ironically, I was updating my Instagram account and realized you were a follower. So, natually, I read over your current posts. Which, brings me to this blog. Love what you are doing. Really love the content. Look forward in reconnecting.
God Bless you and yours.
Minister L.J. Booker
Thank you so much for your comments. I’m extremely happy to read that you enjoyed my thoughts and the article. Hopefully, we all can do some of these things to help enhance our lives. Please done hesitate to reach out to me, and definitely keep following the brand.