There is something so peaceful and calming about lying at the beach, listening to the waves. Oh how I miss summer vacation and my life sans responsibilities!
Although we can all agree that a beach vacation would be the ideal place to stress less, you can bring that feeling of care-free(dom) to life wherever you are by engaging your senses. We take our senses for granted from day to day because we get wrapped up in multi-tasking and sensory overload, but your senses can be stress-busting saviors when you spend the time to individually focus on them.
There is a reason we love the spa. The sanctuary feeds all of our senses in one short visit effectively reducing our stress levels.
What type of sense is the best form of stress relief for you?
- Sights: Being a visual person, visual-based activities tend to be soothing and uplifting as they bring my mind to another place. Close your eyes and breath!
- Sounds: Are you an auditory person? Do you love music? If so, experiment with sounds to reduce stress and exercise your acoustic muscles.
- Smells: There is something about a burning lavender candle that instantly puts me in the calm zone. Surround yourself with energizing and soothing scents to comfort you when you are frazzled.
- Touch: If you are a hugger you know how beneficial the power of touch is. Experiment with tangible sensation and focus on those that relax and renew.
- Taste: Mindfully indulge your sense of taste. Slowly savoring a favorite treat can help focus your stress elsewhere. Just remember the key is to pamper your tongue in moderation so that your stress doesn’t impact your waistline.
Reduce stress with your senses! Experiment with some of these sense enhancing activities:
Don’t allow stressful moments to overwhelm you and take over! Put your senses to work to help reduce and melt away stress.
What stress-busting sensory experience do you want to try? Which sense are you most in tune to? Share your quick stress relief tricks!
Feature image via
Stress infographic via
LOVE the info-graphic and am pinning it to my “Cool Infographics” Pinterest board. In this busy world today these are some awesome tips of inspiration. They all seem to be exactly what I love to do. Sure makes it easy. Now if I could just find the time…
Thanks! I know what you mean about time…but if you make it happen you will feel SO MUCH BETTER.
Ooh, I love the 10 minute daydream one, sometimes even if I don’t really feel sleepy-tired I have to just sprawl out and close my eyes for a brief spell to recharge…hey, it works for Don Draper:)
I don’t know if one sensory thing works more than another for me, though I do love tasting…
Oh Mad Men fan! Pair up your senses for a match made in stress-free heaven
Love your comments, Ellen!
I just love the spa because it calms my senses. One of my favorite ways of relaxing is to visualize a great place that makes me very happy, which is my family’s mountain lake house. It is a place with a lot of good memories for me, but it is also a place that has a lot that appeals to my senses. It is cool and quiet and earthy. It always brings me a lot of peace!
I’m glad you have a stress-free space like that. I have been loving zoning out in the park. Thanks for sharing Kristen!
Well, I have good stuff to comment on;)
My stress-relief will be dragging my butt to NYC for a vacation! =) Oh and I guess it doesn’t hurt that I might get to see you too… haha! mwah!!
The city that never sleeps isn’t the best for stress relief, but since it means I get to see your face I am ALL FOR IT!
Talia, this is SUCH a great post! I think the sense of smell is so underrated sometimes, but there is something SO SOOTHING to me about the smell of coconut oil…beach time! Plus, since I already cook with it, I get a whiff of it every day so it’s now just a matter of making that conscious connection and allowing myself to fully inhale it!
That is such a beachy smell and screams relaxation to me too. Now some major visualization to help us get there everyday..yes!
Ah, I love this cute infographic! These steps are so easy and so effective…thanks
May I share your poster on my facebook page – Discovery Tales? I would appreciate it – Of course, I would site the source!
Tina Donovan
Hi Tina! We’d be thrilled for you to share our post on reducing stress with your senses. The infographic was not created by us and is sourced in the post. Just wanted to make that clear but we would love to have your readers use these techniques for stress relief. Thank you!