As a former psychotherapist and a current professional writer, I am well aware of how stressed, burnt out, restless, bored and uninspired this world can make us, especially if we are sensitive or creative types. Things get to us. Not because we’re bad, wrong, stupid or crazy, but because we’re human.
As a result, we can get easily distracted from the things that really matter and, without needed rejuvenation, life loses some of its meaning and sacredness.
With that in mind, I decided to brainstorm a list of things to do when stressed or uninspired. In other words, when life gets hard.
Sometimes small suggestions can offer big results. You may even want to send this to anyone you know who is struggling right now.
As always, I’d love to hear what you think. I also invite you to add your own ideas in the comments section. Here goes:
77 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED OUT OR UNINSPIRED
- take a walk by a body of water: river, lake, sea, stream
- plant a small tree
- unplug from all electronics for 24 hours
- sit in a quiet room and close your eyes
- make a salad of fresh fruit and eat it slowly
- read a good book
- write a really bad poem
- walk barefooted in grass
- practice laughing
- sit on the floor cross-legged and hum
- sit in the sun for 15 minutes
- have a deep, meaningful conversation with a friend
- massage your hands and feet, or have someone do it for you
- drink a tall glass of water and think about what a gift it is to be able to swallow
- find a swing and swing in it
- listen to live music
- take a novelist to lunch (I’m available on weekends :-))
- go outside and listen to birdsong
- plant flowers and encourage them to grow
- yodel badly
- hug a tree
- let yourself cry
- write down every cuss word you know using colored pencils
- smile for 5 minutes without stopping (set a timer)
- do not shop or buy anything for 24 hours
- go to an art gallery
- pull a random book from the fiction section of the library and read the first chapter
- perform an anonymous and random act of kindness
- take a mental health day at work and begin your hero’s/heroine’s journey
- sing an Elvis song in the shower
- write a letter to someone by hand and snail mail it
- give someone flowers
- breathe deeply 4 times: slow inhale, slow exhale
- tell a friend 3 things you appreciate about them
- write all your resentments on a sheet of paper and then burn them
- go to your favorite coffee shop and speak to at least 2 people other than the barista
- take a slow drive on a country road you’ve never been on before
- make yourself your favorite meal
- look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself: you are good enough
- volunteer one afternoon in a soup kitchen
- contact an artist (writer, poet, short story writer, novelist, painter, etc.) and tell them something you love about their work
- count how many times you say “thank you” in one day and then double it
- find a porch to sit on
- donate money to an environmental or wildlife protection agency
- play with a small child (no television allowed)
- sit under a tree and read for 30 minutes
- go to a farmers market and buy homegrown, fresh vegetables
- keep a gratitude journal
- sing a song that you used to sing as a child
- feel blue, touch green
- watch clouds for 30 minutes and name their shapes
- read a fairy tale
- listen to an audio book (after doing number 3 above)
- make a phone call to an elderly person and tell them how much you appreciate them
- write down your dreams
- dance naked (your should probably do this one at home)
- walk in the rain
- be vulnerable with someone you can trust
- make your own list of things to do when you feel uninspired
- pray/meditate or walk your meditation
- feed the birds
- read a story to someone small or someone convalescing
- take 4 more deep breaths and thank your body for keeping you alive
- let your imagination run wild
- take your intuition out for a spin
- draw something very badly and without judgment
- put together a box of things to give to Goodwill or another agency
- take a nap
- go on a news fast (no bad news) for 24 hours
- search out stories and people that inspire you
- play a musical instrument
- write a song about yourself
- go on a pilgrimage
- attend a play
- have a delicious dessert for dinner one night
- while sitting quietly, ask your soul what it needs and then do it
- read this blog and comment when you feel moved
So there it is. It took me about an hour to brainstorm these 77 things. At first I thought I’d aim for 50, but I had more to say than I realized.
It’s incredibly easy to get stressed these days, but it’s important to take action as soon as we realize we are anxious, bored, discouraged or distracted.
Nobody will do these things for us. We have to do them for ourselves.
What’s one of your favorites from my list?
Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment section! I’ll respond to you personally.
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If you haven’t already, please consider checking out my latest novel: The Secret Sense of Wildflower. (southern, historical, coming-of-age) More novels here.
I like “keep a gratitude journal.” I think I might try that.
Great idea, Jenn. You can’t go wrong with gratitude! Thanks for commenting!!
Hi Susan–I particularly love no. 23. I laughed and laughed while reading it. Colored pencils—priceless. What a great list this is.
I will add a couple of my own: enjoy your alone time. Stay in the moment. Brew good coffee. Try skipping.
I could go on and on, but I won’t. This could become addictive, huh?
Have a great day. Mary
Thanks, Mary. I’m not sure why colored pencils came to mind, but it seemed playful. I love the skipping idea. I think I’ll try that right now! 🙂 Toodle-loo!
Susan, these are all great ideas. I plan to print out this list.
I especially like the outdoor ones such as: walk barefoot in the grass, find a swing and swing in it, sit in the sun for 15 minutes, plant flowers and watch them grow, sit under a tree and read, and reading a fairy tale is a great idea. When I was a kid I loved fairy tales. Go to a farmers market, have a deep conversation with a friend, then tell them how much you appreciate them. There are so many. I love listening to live music, going to an art museum.
Here’s one to add. On the summer solstice wash your face with the morning dew and do a few twirls around your backyard. I try to do this every year.
Thank you, Susan for this blog.
Thanks, Susan B. for your lovely comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the list.
I love your idea about the summer solstice. I can’t wait to twirl around my backyard a few times!
Dance naked–anywhere!
Listening to birds. Works every time, for me! 🙂
Wonderful ideas from everyone!
Susan, such a great idea. I do some of these things already and they work. But you gave me more ideas.
Your book sounds great. Can I get it at Barnes and Noble for my NOOK?
I’ll see.
Thanks for commenting on Netwest Writers.
Thanks for commenting, Glenda. I’m glad you enjoyed the list! It seems to speak to people, even though I will admit that I made it partly for myself! It is not easy being a writer these days, or perhaps any day. To be creative in a consumer-driven culture is tricky.
Yes, Wildflower can be purchased on Nook, as well as ibooks and Kindle. It is in paperback, as well, on my website or your favorite bookstore can order it. I like Netwest Writers. 🙂
Your list of things to do when discouraged or depressed is awe-inspiring. I’m not in either of those states currently, thank heaven, or whomever. I am into venturing into new territory by meditating in my own space and see what I find in my mind and what new connections I will make.
24 is tricky to do. I’ll try that. I’ve done 19 this fall. $100 on bulbs and what a reward (good investment) it’s lasted all spring and summer. The last iris bloomed a week ago.
17. Maybe we can try that together sometime. I’m very busy with company right now (seems everyone has decided to visit us) but mid or late summer might be possible if you’re available.
Hope you’re well and happy, Alexandra
Hi Alexandra,
I’m glad you found the list inspiring. That was my hope when I set out to write those 77 things. Number 24 isn’t easy, for sure! 🙂 I’ve gotten new ideas from readers, too, and appreciate your input, as always.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!
BOOKMARKED!!!
I was doing my usual “Fall is approaching, and soon my Winter BLAHs will be here….” random searching on the Internet and came across your list, probably from my “unmotivated” or “uninspired” search, and I really liked many of your ideas. And it made more ideas click in my head, which I love when that happens! (Jigsaw puzzle, gather acorns, press some Fall leaves, write a short story, draw an interesting tree or object in your yard or at the park, do a walking video with your iPod ( or some device ) of the nearby woods or lake or nice street to watch in the Winter when you are going stir crazy, or film the cat rolling around in the sunshine, etc etc)
Your list reminded me that I have been meaning to check out the newly renovated Art Museum in my area. I have been forgetting. Added to my ToDo list!
I have to be honest, I tried the “feed the birds” thing for awhile this Spring/Summer , my backyard is against some woods. It actually became too stressful! Yes you read that right! (smile). The squirrels or deer would come along and empty the feeder(s) in five minutes flat (I tried ALL kinds of different feeders), then I would see the birds flying up to the empty feeder and fly away depressed, so I would run out to fill the feeder AGAIN… it was just complete craziness. And then the raccoons started showing up at night and digging up everyone’s yards and flowerbeds. Especially mine!!
So I stopped with the bird feeding. The flock of 50 grackles swooping in wasn’t too relaxing either!
Now I have just a plain quiet birdbath which I keep fresh water in, and get the occasional visitor 🙂
Yep, only I can take a relaxing hobby and create a stressful environment out of it 🙂 It’s a gift.
But I did so love your list and you have inspired me, so thank you 🙂 I really needed that!!! I am off to jot down the ones I like from your list and add a bunch of my own.
Sorry about the novel, I can never write a short post.
I love to inspire people and I love novels, so this is a great comment. Thanks to the commenter for stopping by (who chose to remain anonymous). Meanwhile, I have Mary Poppins on a loop in my memory singing “Feed the Birds!”
A herculean effort – 77 tips for the uninspired! Many thanks.
One comment you made resonated within me:
To be creative in a consumer-driven culture is tricky.
Actually, I find that being creative in this culture overall is more like…futility. It’s difficult to accept that with all the technology and freedom available, so little originality is appreciated – even recognized. In the midst of the grandest human imaginative fertility, re-creation is frequently selected over creation.
I mean everything from art to business to politics to language.
Do we have too much focus on acceptance to be truly creative?
Are we so interested in feeling good about ourselves that we reject growth – because that would mean that we weren’t good enough at the time?
As a musician I can tell you…extended periods of hearing yourself playing into the wind definitely erodes confidence, creativity, inspiration.
One notion I value helps me to battle wastelands of creativity…
Every creation is always appreciated by the most faithful and rewarding audience: God.
Greetings, avallyee!
Thanks for leaving your thoughtful comment. It is easy to get discouraged as an artist in this world and I created this list to deal with some of my own frustration and discouragement. I write stories: longer fiction in the form of novels, as well as short stories. I have a strong feeling of purpose in my life and feel that writing is mine to do, even if only 12 people end up reading one of my books. Thankfully, more than 12 people do, but it’s about the process of creativity for me, not product.
Hang in there. I’m convinced the “world” needs us both, even if it doesn’t realize it.
All the best,
Susan
Hi Susan,
will I’m stressed right now.that’s the reason i click and read this..hmp I’d like to add a word at no.9 if its okay…hehe practice laughing with someone whom you’re comfortable of….talk about things you’ve done many years ago that makes both of you embarrasing or what…
hmmmp i miss my bestfriend
I hear you, Anne. Take good care. Thanks for stopping by.
With every good wish,
Susan Gabriel