Navigating Stress: Techniques for Finding Calm in Chaos
- fotaquest
- Mar 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 25
Navigating Stress: Techniques for Finding Calm in Chaos
By Lars Guo
Published: March 20, 2025
Opening Message
Hi Folks! I hope you’re all doing well! This blog topic was suggested by one of my readers, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on managing stress. Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experiences and opinions. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. I’ll specify anything that isn’t from my personal experience. I also mention a few places and things as examples, but this isn’t meant as a promotion—just references based on what I know. I hope you find this helpful!
1. Listen to Music
Music is one of the best ways to relieve stress. The rhythm and melody of a song can influence your mood significantly. I recommend listening to uplifting or calming soundtracks. Personally, I enjoy “Before” by Jeremy Zuckerman from The Legend of Korra—a peaceful, relaxing piece with a hint of mystery. “Gwyn, Lord of Cinder” from Dark Souls is another calming piano composition. If you need something more cheerful, “Sylvando’s Theme” from Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is incredibly upbeat and hard to resist smiling to. I recommend avoiding music with dark, gloomy themes or anything that triggers negative emotions.
Taken by me
2. Exercise
A relative of mine always advocates for exercise as a stress reliever. They make it a goal to walk at least 10,000 steps daily and engage in weight training, which they say improves their mood. I also enjoy weight training, though whether it helps depends on my mood. Playing sports can also be uplifting—especially when you win or make a great comeback. I don’t enjoy running because of how it was used as a punishment in sports training, but I discovered that exercising in fun environments, like trampoline parks, makes it more enjoyable. One of my favorite exercise experiences was on March 8th, during Pokémon Go’s Fuecoco Day—I walked over 3.1 miles without even noticing because I was having so much fun!
3. Take a Bath
A warm bath with candles can be a great way to unwind. While I prefer foot baths (since I don’t like full-body baths cooling off too quickly), many find soaking in a tub incredibly relaxing. If you enjoy baths, adding essential oils or bubble bath products can enhance the experience. My first foot bath experience was in Japan in 2019, and I found it deeply soothing.
4. Spend Time in Nature
A relative of mine swears by walking in nature as a stress relief technique. Personally, I don’t enjoy nature walks because I dislike bugs and find it easy to get lost in my thoughts. However, for those who love the outdoors, the beauty of trees, landscapes, and wildlife can be therapeutic.
5. Social Connection
Engaging in conversations can be a great stress reliever. Whether through phone calls, video chats, or in-person meetups, social interactions can help take your mind off your worries. To keep conversations light, I recommend avoiding stressful topics like bad news, politics, or finances. Instead, talk about hobbies or activities. For example, my friend enjoys playing Magic: The Gathering, and while I’ve only played a couple of times, I love hearing about his strategies and the unique cards he collects. I once attended a Magic: The Gathering game night, and even though I was clueless, I had a fantastic time just being around friendly people!
6. Read a Book
Many find reading to be a great escape. If you can stay focused on the story and not get lost in your own thoughts, this is an excellent stress relief method. I personally read books to learn Japanese, but not for relaxation. However, if you enjoy immersing yourself in a fictional world, this can be a fantastic way to unwind.
7. Spend Time with Animals
Interacting with pets or visiting an animal shelter can be incredibly soothing. My dog, Taz, was always a source of comfort for me. His affectionate nature and playful energy lifted my spirits whenever I felt down. Even after his passing, I still cherish those memories. I also visited a shelter and met a pup named Tango, whose excitement and joy were contagious, brightening my mood instantly.
8. Watch a Favorite TV Show
Watching familiar and enjoyable TV shows can be a great way to relax. My go-to comfort shows include Legend of Korra, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Teen Titans, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon, and Kuroko’s Basketball. Sometimes, seeing relatable characters go through challenges helps remind me that I’m not alone, even if it’s just fiction.
9. Try Meditation
My relatives both swear that meditation is an excellent way to de-stress, as it allows them to let go of their troubles. However, it must be practiced properly to be effective. I have been told that meditation can help you feel calmer, more relaxed, and more focused. Since I have not personally tried meditation, I will share testimonials from those with experience.
One of my relatives said, “My experience utilizing meditation, beginning more than a decade ago, is overall life transformative in many beneficial ways. By deciding to sit in stillness with an intention of inner connection, focusing on breath and allowing whatever comes up to flow freely, you provide an opportunity for ever greater self-awareness. Healing is common, mental and physical, as are feelings of peace, unity, clarity, and confidence. Helpful insights for all areas of life are frequently experienced as well. The most transformative, however, are shifts in perspective from which finer perceptions are available. The way to do it is the way that works for you." Since he is an experienced in meditation, their perspective offers more insight into the benefits of meditation than I can personally provide. Another relative shared their experience, stating that “They are not 100 percent consistent but can be an observer of your thoughts and feelings, not under the control of thoughts and feelings, and get in a detachment state.” They, having practiced for a long time, they have found meditation to be effective and continue to benefit from it.
10. Get Creative
Engaging in creative activities like drawing, crafting, or making dioramas can be an excellent way to unwind. I love drawing manga and working on comics. I recently found the perfect comic book template, which has made the process even more fun! Expressing yourself through art can be a great outlet for stress relief.
11. Get a Massage
A good massage can work wonders for stress relief. If possible, visiting a professional massage therapist is ideal, but alternatives like massage chairs, handheld massage tools, or asking a trusted friend for a massage can also help. Every time I get a massage, I feel significantly more relaxed than before.
Closing Message
I hope you found these suggestions helpful! If any of these techniques resonate with you, or if you plan on trying them, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to reach out and share your experiences. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more insights with you in my next blog post. Have a wonderful day!
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