My Weird Destressors
Cause we are all a little weird…
I suck at meditating. My mind races too fast for that. And while going out for a walk or having another camomile tea helps, I find that sometimes I have to rely on my other coping mechanisms to de-stress. Everyone has their own wacky ways, trust me. Here are mine:
Play video games that I’ve already played
There is something rather soothing about sitting down and playing a game that you love and already know. I love games with great storylines, from the likes of Halo and Sims, and they help control my thoughts and focus on the playing. And the great thing about already knowing them is there will be limited stress over what to do. Even simulator or sandbox-type games are great, including Sid Meier’s Railroads and Planet Coaster.
I have to admit that I’m a little old school, with a PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, but I do love finding new games via my Steam account.
Perform my drag queen numbers in the lounge room
If I need a little pick-me-up with a nice mind reshuffle, I find some of my favourite tunes and practice them to my heart’s content. I’ve got a few numbers that I like, each with their own eccentricity, with my current favourite being purple people eater, a dramatic rendition by Judy Garland. Who’s have thought!
Watch it below:
Watch the news
When life feels like shit, I watch the news. The stories keep my mind occupied while the awful ones make me realise that maybe my life ain’t as bad as I make it out to be. It can also be quite soothing as background noise while I try doing something else. Even playing games.
Book shopping
Nothing is as captivating to me than book shopping. It’s a great way to relieve the mind of stressors while finding a new book to sink my teeth into. Whether I’m looking for a new novel to read or if I’m interested in a particular subject, many bookstores provide all I need to forget about the world for a while.
Think about the worst case scenario, and accept it
Nobody likes to think about worst case scenarios, but I weirdly find it a great way to overcome things that I cannot control. Not sure what your test results will be? Think about the worst case scenario and then just say to yourself “if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.” Life isn’t a fairy tale like we make it out to be. Life can suck sometimes — just watch the news to see what I mean — but you shouldn’t drown yourself in all those worries, they lead to stress and then nothing will get done. Accept that life is shit and move on.
Listen to Shirley Bassey
I am an unabashed Shirley Bassey fan. It’s not a secret, but I don’t really tell anyone anyway because the topic never breaches conversation. I love the voice, I love the vocal control, I love her pizzazz. She can be both soothing and uplifting, depending on what you’re listening to. Some of my favourite calming songs are And I Love You So, Almost There, Never Never Never and
Memory (amazing rendition, if you ask me!). But if you need a pick-me-up from her, may I recommend Get The Party Started.
