3 Smart And Creative Ways To Relieve Stress

Exploring creative avenues to deal with stress is a great way to relax during the weekend or after a long day at work. Most of us might not consider ourselves “creative,” but there’s more to it than just art, writing, or crafting. Even if you don’t have traditional notebooks, sketchpads, or art materials ready, you can always explore these alternatives through your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Here are some ways you can get smart about being creative and minimize stress in the process! 

Write it out

Keeping a blog is a great way to let your thoughts out and destress from the drudgery of your day-to-day. Starting one using WordPress is free, and this service is incredibly intuitive and lets you choose from pre-set themes. If you’d like to keep your thoughts private, you can download some note-taking apps, where your entries are saved on your phone locally, or uploaded through the cloud. 

If you have an iPad or tablet and your trusty stylus, digital journaling may just be for you! This method allows you to explore different styles and express yourself in ways that traditional pen and paper might not. 

Explore with color

From Google Play

Adult coloring books are popular because they quiet our minds, relax our brains, and even bring us to a meditative state. If you don’t have a physical coloring book or art materials nearby, grab your laptop or mobile device, and get coloring! Arkadium is an adult coloring page that lets you explore multiple coloring pages for free. You can also download the Coloring Book for Adults iOS and Android apps, so you can run wild with color while relaxing!

Try mindful gaming

Gaming can either be taxing or relaxing. Fortunately, there is such a thing as mindful gaming to help improve your mood, exercise mindfulness, and even build healthy relationships with fellow players. 

From Kind Words on Steam

Of course, you can always opt for cozy games or life simulation games. You can play them at your own pace and don’t require or include intense competition. If you’re allergic to pets, you can even take care of virtual furbabies to unleash your cute aggression. Some of our favorites include Kind Words, which lets you send and receive random notes of encouragement while vibing to lo-fi; Unpacking, where you move into a new home and fit all your possessions into your virtual living space; and Stardew Valley, where you start a new life outside of the city as a farmer! 

The best way to ensure that stress won’t overwhelm you is to be intentional about taking care of yourself. Hopefully, these smart and creative ways help you explore new things while allowing you to leverage your tech at the same time! 

Of course, it pays to exercise limits on your screen time, too. Don’t forget to take actual breaks so you can rest your eyes, stretch, and explore the world around you!

And if you’re looking for smart solutions to your home life, why not pay a visit to the Next Upgrade Shop? We offer a range of smart devices that’ll help you live your smart home dreams today–not just to make you more productive and efficient, but to keep your home a relaxing haven, too!