Not about the namaste? 4 unexpected ways to de-stress

Got the workweek blues? You’re not alone. But instead of hibernating under the sheets, this #MotivationMonday try easing into the week with some meditative activities. Taking your focus off of erratic thoughts and feelings of stress can help prepare you for a more productive day. But you don’t have to sit cross-legged in the corner for meditation to work, nor do you have to hum your oms. Try these unexpectedly calming activities:

Tidying
Everyone is talking about Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and for good reason. In her book, Kondo discusses the many ways we make our lives more difficult via our overabundance of things—often clothing or housewares we don’t even want. The most calming part of her strategies, IMO, is learning how to fold your clothes properly. Apparently, we’ve been doing it all wrong! Kondo’s way means stacking tees on their edges, so they stand upright on their own, and the resulting colour-coordinated rows are awe-inspiring, if nothing else

Colouring
While etching in the lines of Ariel’s fins are a thing of the past, the newest Insta-friendly trend is adult friendly colouring books. The focus and ability to express ourselves through colour and form is one of the reasons why art therapy is effective. Whether you’re colouring in Ryan Gosling’s many looks, shading in the streets of Paris or designing your next wardrobe, you’ll get lost in a fantasy world that resembles anything but work.

Gaming
You might hate your BF’s PlayStation obsession, but he might be onto something. According to Jane McGonigal, the researcher/game developer who wrote SuperBetter, playing a game can reduce your anxiety levels. For McGonigal, this could mean Candy Crush Saga, but for others it could be Sudoku or Tetris. Or you could develop your own game on superbetter.com, where you choose your allies, enemies and goals—from fitness to overcoming illness to buying a home.

Running
You’ve heard the science, right? Exercising outdoors is an instant picker-upper. While lacing up your runners might feel like the last thing you want to do, even a 15-minute run, jog or walk can make you feel accomplished and free (if only for the hour) of nagging worries.

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