8 ways to de-stress without leaving the house

Feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders is never much fun. And even more so when your usual route for stress relief is off the table. Welcome to 2020. 

But while you could wallow and make matters worse by thinking of all the things you can’t do, we’re all for flipping it around and seeing isolation as a unique opportunity to really relax. 

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So, get ready to change your mindset and discover new ways to achieve calm with these eight acts of self-care you can do at home.

1. Start a new series

A great TV show can be just as good of an escape as a holiday. No, really, we’re serious.

With so many iconic series available via streaming services (hello 16 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy on Stan) becoming a surgical student, British time traveller, or hanging out in Central Perk can provide just as much escapism as a girl’s trip to Italy.

2. Spring clean

They say a chaotic space leads to a chaotic mind. And if you’ve found yourself working from home lately, you’ll know the clutter is real.

And for a lot of us,  the COVID-19 experience has meant learning to live with only the essentials.

For a lot of us, the COVID-19 experience has allowed us to evaluate what’s truly important in our lives and as such, it presents the perfect opportunity to embrace a more minimalistic style of living. In other words: time for a spring clean.

If you need some motivation, do some Marie Kondo research before tackling what may be a huge job.

Image credit: @xoxotsumi

3. Guided meditations

Whether the internal chatter is getting too loud or the silence of lockdown is leaving you uncomfortable, meditation can offer an escape from both.

Try incorporating it into your morning or evening routine, beginning with a couple of minutes each day. From there, you can gradually build up to help improve focus, concentration and better self-awareness.

Meditation can even contribute to improved levels of self-control, aka ignoring any unwanted or stress-provoking thoughts and habits. Try apps Headspace or Keep It Cleaner.

Image credit: @keepitcleaner

4. Read

You know those books that have been piled up next to your bed collecting dust for months on end?

Now is the time to cosy up in a corner and work through them. Make it social and enlist friends, colleagues or family members to get involved and start a virtual book club.

Or better yet, join Reese Witherspoon’s (yep, she has her own online book club) where they pick a new book to read each month. Tell Reese we say hi.

Image credit: @pandorasykes

5. Gardening

There is something so satisfying about watching your plant babies flourish and grow – you don’t even need a substantial garden or green thumb to participate.

Simply sprout your own seedlings in tiny pots, invest in an indoor plant or even start a mini herb garden on your kitchen window sill.

You’ll be amazed at the benefits a bit of greenery can have on your mindset.

In fact, gardening boasts an extensive list of mental health benefits including lowering levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

Image credit: @olivecooke

6. Get artsy 

You don’t need a big canvas and water colours to embrace your artistic side; something as simple as winding down with a colouring book will do the trick.

Yep, no longer just for kids, colouring books have become popular meditative activities for adults who are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety.

They also provide a stimulating alternative to activities involving electronic devices, which in turn results in a better night sleep and an improvement in your ability to focus.

7. Learn a language 

In anticipation for your next holiday (we can dream right?), try teaching your brain a new language.

You don’t have to be fluent, but a few phrases may come in handy, and will definitely earn you some smug productivity points.

Apps such as Babel and Duolingo allow you to take short lessons each day slowly building on your vocabulary, no Spanish tutor required.

8. Have an afternoon of pampering

We mean it. Go all out.

We’re talking manis, pedis, face masks, hair masks, a full body exfoliation, and hey, even a tan if you’re feeling it.

Light a candle or pop on some essential oils and create your own day-spa haven.

bh recommends: Jurlique Purifying Mask, Essano Rosehip Gentle Facial Exfoliator, Mavala Switzerland Arabesque Color Collection

Image credit: @theblondesalad

Main image credit: @whistling_thorn

Have you been feeling stressed lately? What are your go-to’s to de-stress?