RELAX

 

Stress can feel like it is lurking around every corner just waiting to jump out at you.  Other times it acts like a fog that rolls in and obscures everything else.  However, it may present itself; one thing stress is notorious for is making it harder for people to not just relax, but even focus long enough to consider how to relax to begin with.  

Sometimes, what is needed in order to relax is just to step out. Remove yourself from your immediate environment and take a walk, a nice LOOOOONNNGGGG walk... This was a decision made by Harold Fry in the book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce and Allan Karlsson in The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. These men were determined to carry out their walks, regardless of any chaos their sudden departures may have stirred, with rather rejuvenating effects.

 

Another way to relax is to get all those pesky thoughts swirling around your head down on some paper, (or computer if you prefer to type). Either way, write it out. Fawn Birchill in Confessions of a Curious Bookseller by Elizabeth Green is quite proficient at expressing herself in writing, whether it be journal entries, fact-bending letters to a pen-pal, notes to her staff, or combative online reviews and replies. Although, one should remember that the catharsis of passive-aggressive note-writing is fleeting and can lead to further stress.

Breathing is also another great way to relax. Luckily if you are feeling like you need to strengthen those skills, Breathe: the simple, revolutionary 14-day program to improve your mental and physical health by Belisa Vranich will, (according to the publisher), help you  "delve{s} into the ins and outs of breathing".    Once you master breathing, you can further your relaxation journey by trying some Yoga.  This is a topic for which we have an abundance of materials, such as. Unicorn Yoga by Gina Cascone, (because everything is better when it's taught by a unicorn).  

Art is a great option for relaxation and coloring is an easy enough way to go about it.   However, I must impress upon you, dear readers: 'Please, Please, DO NOT COLOR IN YOUR LIBRARY BOOKS!!!!'  If you are looking for something to color, crayola.com has plenty of free coloring pages to choose from.

  In order to further your relaxation, play some music.  Sometimes mood elevation can come from certain soundtracks, such as Trolls,  The Big Chill, and Guardians of the Galaxy

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez begins each chapter with the names of a song and artist thus giving the book a soundtrack of its very own.  

Sometimes you need some support to help you find a solution to everyday stress, The characters in

Murder your employer: the McMasters Guide to Homicide

by Rupert Holmes found support from faculty and (some) fellow students as they strove to permanently remove some of their stress.  The stress relief used in this book however, should not be a solution implemented in real life.   Seeking support from friends and family in order to gain legal and non-murdery solutions to your stress would be best.  Instead, the book in question can offer relaxation via one of the most enjoyable tasks there is: Reading!