There were a few coping mechanisms that came effortlessly to us as children. Adults, on the other hand, may have forgotten how to deal with stress and find themselves unable to cope. If you’re looking for fresh ways to de-stress, consider going back to the days when you actually knew how to unwind. Learn how to implement stress relief activities from your childhood into your daily life as an adult.

Daydream

In our youth, many of us spent a great deal of time imagining what we wanted in life. Playful fantasies about a good time or being the best at something are all things that most children can easily dream up in their minds. In order to keep your inner child’s creativity alive, you can use guided imagery and visualizations, both proven strategies that can simply be incorporated into anyone’s stress management toolbox.

Take Naps

As a child, you either liked or despised them, but odds are you took naps. It’s sad to say, yet many adults connect naps with being lazy or lacking motivation. The benefits of relaxing in a comfy chair or even putting your head on your desk for a little nap outweigh the drawbacks. It’s not for everyone, but if you can find a way to include a nap in your daily routine, you’ll reap the benefits. In fact, recent studies have shown that to boost creativity and strategic thinking, we need to be relaxed and happy. Your inner child will appreciate it.

A Hug

At some point in your life, a hug from a loved one was probably all you needed to make things better, or at the very least , help you feel more secure and at ease. As adults, it’s easy to lose sight of the healing effects of physical contact and emotional closeness. Hugging creates a feeling of calm and relaxation because of a release of Oxytocin – the cuddle hormone – and it just makes us feel good. If you ever find yourself in a tough spot, don’t forget to take the support of close friends for emotional support.

Playing with Pets

A child’s love and passion for an animal can be seen in their interactions with them. It doesn’t matter what kind of pet you had as a youngster, you probably remember it as a friend, no matter what kind of animal it was. However, as we grow older, it’s easy to lose touch with the animal companions we grew up with. When it comes to lowering blood pressure, increasing healthy lifestyle habits, or providing social support, pets can provide love, laughter and the support you need. Bring your inner child back to life with the help of your four-legged companions.

Sing

From The Itsy-Bitsy Spider to whatever was playing on the radio, we sang a wide range of songs as children with little self-consciousness. How often do you still sing, hum, or whistle as an adult? Make an effort to increase the amount of music in your life, and experiment with how loud or quiet you want to be when expressing yourself. Having a good time is more important than being perfectly in tune. You don’t have to be a professional singer to enjoy the benefits of singing.

Play

We were often playing games as children. We knew how to have a good time with games like Chutes & Ladders, Twister, Clue, and Go Fish. Adults may think they’re too busy to play games, but a brief game of Boggle or another amusing game can do wonders for reducing stress levels in the body and brain. Fortunately, these games may now be enjoyed by your inner child on your computer, even if you’re an adult.

Create

As a child, almost everyone enjoyed drawing pictures. Children and adults alike should have the opportunity to express themselves creatively through the use of drawing tools including crayons, colored pencils, and finger paints. Incorporating art into your daily routine may help you deal with your emotions, express yourself, reduce tension, and leave you with a piece of art that you can frame or put on the fridge.

Take Note

In our youth, many of us kept journals and wrote letters to our pals. Adults can still benefit from these methods of stress management. Journaling has been shown in studies to have health and stress management advantages. You can journal about your emotions and success, keep a dream journal, or keep a gratitude journal. Alternatively, you can use it as a success planner too.

Sports

As children, we all had a favorite sports team. There are a number of advantages to playing physical activities with friends, whether it’s tetherball or hide-and-seek or tee-ball, or soccer. Adults can reap the health and stress management benefits of exercise by playing physical games, and group involvement ensures that they’ll stick to their routines. Adult softball leagues, racquetball in the gym, and other activities are all readily available in your area. Let your imagination run wild!

Create a Vision for the Future

Are you able to recall your replies to the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” What are you doing with your time right now? If you’re dealing with a lot of stress, you may want to revisit the question. Are you actually accomplishing what you believe you were intended to do in this lifetime? Consider your ideal life, and then take efforts toward making it happen.

Adult life can be difficult to cope with but these tips can help you handle your stress and find an escape from your reality.