1. LAUGH OUT LOUD
Do you get the giggles in the morning? Good, keep them coming. It's one of the many great ways to relieve stress. With laughter being one of the best ways, no joke!
And if you find it hard to be in stitches at 7 in the morning when you haven’t had your early morning coffee yet and the kids refuse to get out of bed, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Create a YouTube playlist with funny moments ready to be played come morning time. Children and pets are guaranteed to make everyone in the family smile.
Do you have a favourite joke that always leaves you in tears, an embarrassing photo from your last family holiday that makes you burst out laughing or a funny greeting card that makes you chuckle? Have them on display around the house for a funny visual prompt. Take turns to change them every once in a while, without the rest of the family knowing. The surprise alone might make the whole household dissolve into laughter. You’ve been warned!
Another tip to help you relieve stress is to sign up for a ‘laughter yoga’ class. You read that right. These sessions always start somewhat awkwardly as you have to force yourself to laugh at first, but soon enough a fit of genuinely uncontrollable laughter will kick in and by the end of it you’ll be ready to take on whatever the morning throws at you. Smile on your face and all.
2. INFLATE A BALLOON
What does a balloon have to do with your boss’s new-found love for tight deadlines? If that’s stressing you out, then a lot. Taking a deep breath is not easy when you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. That’s where the balloon comes in. If you’re after a quick pick-me-up stress-relief activity, inflating a balloon will give you a fun excuse to take a breather, literally. The slow, deep breathing required to inflate a balloon is exactly the kind of breathing exercise you need to relieve stress so you can tackle those tight deadlines like nobody’s business. The world better get ready!
If you’re worried, you’ll soon end up under a pile of balloons, we’ve got a few exit strategies for the balloon fest in your living room. You can get the kids to decorate them for a fun balloon craft day or get the family involved in a game of ‘balloon keep up’. Non-stop giggles are guaranteed.
But did you know that popping a balloon is another fun way to relieve stress? Who knew there’s so much stress-busting power in one single balloon?
3. EAT SOMETHING CRUNCHY
Forget yoga. The key to de-stress is in your cupboard. Loud and crunchy foods such as nuts and seeds can help you get rid of the tension in your jaw and neck, two of the spots where stress will likely build up. Stress snacking does make sense after all.
So, the next time you’ve got to explain maths to your 11-year-old or deal with last-minute requests from a work colleague, let your anger out on a bowl of crunchy baby carrots and celery.
We think the delicious SHREDDIES ® squares will do the job just as well, but for extra crunchiness make sure you add no more than a dash of milk to your bowl of cereals. Morning stress will have no chance.
If you’re looking for a little more inspiration to jazz up your breakfast cereal, use our handy guide with our top delicious cereal toppings to add a boost of energy and the extra crunch.
4. PLAN A ‘WORRY’ SESSION
Don’t you wish you could have a bag to put all your worries in and forget about them for the rest of the day? We might have just the trick for you. It turns out you can leave your worries behind quite literally with this stress-relief activity.
Take a piece of paper and write down the things holding you back from getting stuff done. It might be that you want a new job but you’re scared to leave your old one. Or the fact that you haven’t figured out how to turn on the new washing machine yet. We won’t judge. Whatever it is, write it down.
Then set aside a limited time so you can worry about all those things in one fell swoop. Set your alarm if needed, but make sure you don’t go past your allotted time. Whenever you feel yourself getting back into worry mode throughout the day, put a stop to it then and there. Just make sure you add that thought to the list for your next ‘worry session’ later on.
5. PREPARE A STRESS-FIGHTING BREAKFAST
Is there a delicious way to relieve stress? We think so. Kick-start your morning with a breakfast that will get you ready for anything. The most important meal of the day gives you the fuel you need to deal with whatever the morning might throw at you. Unruly kids, busy traffic or that challenging job waiting for you at work are easier to tackle on a full stomach. So, give SHREDDIES® a go when things get tough.
There you have it. The next time you’re wondering how to get rid of stress so you can do your best whatever comes your way, try something new from our list for a bit of fun, de-stressing inspiration. You’ve got this!
How Shreddie For Anything can help relieve stress
Those early mornings can be stressful, and sometimes it can feel like you’re juggling lots all at the same time. With our handy tips on beating those stressful moments that life throws at you, we can be sure you’ll be Shreddie for anything!
Mornings are no joke, so we take them seriously. If you think you can get away without that first meal of the day, you might want to read our article about skipping breakfast next.
