Stress relief can have different meanings depending on who you’re talking to. For some people, their idea of stress reduction is having brunch on Sunday with their phone on mute. For others, it’s taking a two-week vacation outside the country with their best friends. But whatever the case may be, one thing remains the same: everyone has their own definition of stress relief.
So, if you’re the type of person who simply cannot get enough break from stress with yoga sessions or iced lattes, you may need something that causes a bigger impact on your life. For example, you can try one or more of these “drastic” measures to relieve the years’ worth of stress from your shoulders:
-
Go to a wellness center
There doesn’t need to be anything physically wrong with you for you to have a reason to go to an accommodating wellness center. In fact, a lot of people go to wellness centers simply to recharge after a long week of work. You can do the same. A lot of wellness centers offer all sorts of health services, such as spas, regenerative medicine, integrative medicine, and more—you would be hard-pressed to not find a service worth trying, so consider heading to one for a full weekend of rejuvenation.
-
Move somewhere else
Just upping and moving somewhere else is not a viable option for many. But if you have the means to leave your current home, find a new one, root yourself in a new environment, and take care of all the expenses in between—why not?
In many ways, your current environment may be the main cause of your stress. For instance, you may be living with people that aren’t good for your mental health. Or perhaps the city itself is too fast-paced for your liking. If this is the case for you, relocating may be the answer to helping you escape from perpetual stress. And if you work remotely, all the more reason to move to a place that is better for both your physical and mental health.
-
Find another job
For many of us, our jobs are the main cause of our stress. If you find yourself dragging your feet to work, dreading Mondays, and feeling like your soul is being sucked out during every meeting—you are not alone! And, no, it’s not normal to feel constantly stressed because of work. Stress is a normal part of life, but anything excessive does nothing good for your health.
We’re not telling you to quit your job right away (unless you are confident you can sustain your expenses until you can land a new job). Instead, have a backup plan. Secure a new position before handing in your resignation to your current employer. If you are working remotely, you could also try doing both jobs simultaneously until you can quit your old job so that you don’t disrupt your income stream.
Another option that you can consider is to take up freelancing. Freelancing may offer little to no job security compared to a regular full-time job, but it can give you the freedom to work when you want and, more importantly, choose who you want to work with. When freelancing, you also get to set your own rates, which can help you earn just as much—or even more—than what you’re currently earning at your job.
-
Become a digital nomad
Traveling the world while still earning an income seems like an unattainable dream for many. But in reality, it’s not so hard to achieve. With a remote job, a laptop, a passport, and a good amount in your savings account, you can start traveling the world as a digital nomad—working wherever you please and enjoying freedom while still earning money.
If you’re just starting your digital nomad journey, pick somewhere cheap. This way, you can better control your finances while getting the hang of traveling while working.
-
Take two weeks off to do nothing
You might be saving your vacation days for that hypothetical grand trip at the end of the year, but if you’re too stressed and in desperate need of a break, it may be time to put in your vacation request. You don’t even have to have anything planned; just spending a few weeks relaxing, catching up on your hobbies, and spending time with yourself can be enough to get your mind and body back on track.
Sometimes, we need to do something other than taking a bath or getting a massage to relieve our stress. And that something can be a two-week trip, an entire weekend at the spa, or even a major life change—whatever it takes to take you out of the cycle of perpetual stress.
