From the back alley repositories of society’s degenerates to the million dollar penthouses, stress is an inescapable part of life regardless of class, caste or social status. Modern living puts a great deal of tension on the poorest and richest among us, all the same. While the sources may be different – though they often share a common denominator of money – there is a method that we all can take to release a great deal of tension. And it’s not as dirty as what you may be thinking right now, but that can help, too.
Plan ahead, and designate a day to set aside a couple of hours for yourself. If you’re unemployed, this will be a lot easier, unless you have children. Assuming you are employed though, pick a day you’re typically scheduled to have off. Hire a baby sitter or pet sitter if need be. It’s best if you hire someone who has done such for you before or that you at least know you can trust with your little ones. No point in adding more stress by hiring some teenager who smells a little too strongly of incense and mouthwash.
Get your hands on a tourist pamphlet for your area, including nearby counties and cities. Flip through them until you find a hiking trail cut out away from your usual stress factors. That is, nothing you can see on your commute to work for instance. Plan your route to spend as little time as possible on interstates and congested highways. Not an easy task, but it’s doable.
Now, put on some comfortable walking shoes, along with whatever other clothing you need in order to avoid indecent exposure charges, and pack some travel friendly snacks such as raisins, trail mix and granola bars. Hop in the car, directions on the dashboard, and start driving. For as long as you’re still dealing with traffic, keep the windows rolled up. Once you’ve reached the back roads, let the windows down if the weather permits.
While the windows are up, run the air conditioner or heater, depending on the time of year, on low, creating a light breeze. Play some music if you’d like, or simply enjoy the silence. If you choose to play music, it’s best to stay away from anything too heavy. It may seem like a good release, but really it will only serve to get you worked up, especially if something stressful is on your mind.
Park near the start of the trail and start out on your hike. Rather than simply walking the trail, take stock of your surroundings. Don’t wear headphones. Instead, enjoy the ambient sounds of nature. Let yourself get enraptured in its splendor, drawing your mind away from the stress of daily modern living.
When you feel that you’re about halfway to the end of the trail, pause to enjoy a snack. Find a comfortable place to sit, preferably one with a view. Admire the scenery, take your time and savor your snack. Nobody else is over your shoulder demanding that you get back to the trail in ten minutes.
Once you’ve reached the end of the trail, pause to glance back at the path you took to reach this point. Bask in your sense of accomplishment. You’ve just done what no one else in your car has done that day. Look ahead once again, admiring the view from atop the mountain or waterfall, as the case may be. Enjoy the ambiance of it all for a moment or two.
Now close your eyes.
Take a deep breath.
And scream.
