Top Unusual Ways to Unwind at Home

77% of people regularly experience physical symptoms from stress. Here are five enjoyable ways you can de-stress from home.

Many of us experience a high degree of daily stress because, let’s face it, sometimes the act of merely existing and surviving each day can seem like a Herculean task. That feels more true than ever with everything happening in the world. Unfortunately, stress can have many negative side effects, including lack of concentration, weakened immune system, bad habits, poor judgment, insomnia (which can increase stress), and mysterious aches and pains. Prolonged stress can even cause more serious health concerns, such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

When it comes to relieving stress, there are the obvious choices you’re likely fully aware of: eating healthy, exercising regularly, meditating, and getting enough sleep. But maybe you’re looking for an easier, more enjoyable, more effective way to release and ease your anxiety. We’ve got you covered!

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1. Watch a Horror Movie

Of course, this would be our #1 recommendation! This is not an unconventional choice for fans of this site who love and respect the genre. But the average person may find it counter-intuitive to watch an anxiety-inducing horror film when you want to relax or de-stress. We’ve actually talked a lot about the science behind watching horror as a form of therapy, explaining why it’s such a great way to simultaneously escape from and safely confront/work through real-life fears and anxieties.

For horror fans, there is nothing more comforting than watching absolute atrocities play out on our screen. Why is that? There are quite a few answers to that question. But one reason is that it helps give us perspective and reminds us that, typically, whatever we are going through in real life pales compared to what the characters in our favorite horror movies are facing. It takes our minds off our own troubles and worries and often makes us realize nothing is quite as bad as it may seem.

It also helps us channel whatever pent-up anxiety we may be feeling in a more positive way. Instead of endlessly worrying about our own plight, we’re able to release much of that tension through an intense movie-watching experience. At the end of a horror film, after “surviving” the simulated stress and convincing our brains we’ve overcome a threatening situation, our brains, in turn, release some lovely “feel good” chemicals that are the equivalent of a drug-induced high. Thus, it’s especially good to watch a horror film when you feel like you’re anxious about things that are out of your control.

2. Play a Horror Video Game

If you follow my work on this site, you know I’m a huge video game junkie. As I’ve discussed before, video games carry the same benefits as scary movies, but the experience is greatly amplified due to the immersive and interactive nature of these games. Everything gets ramped up: fear, adrenaline, and endorphins. Additionally, because they require much more active participation than simply watching a movie, it’s easier to keep your brain engaged and distracted from anything else that might be bothering you.

As much as I love horror movies, when I’m really stressed, I can’t really quiet my mind enough to enjoy a good movie the way I’d like to. I tend to have trouble concentrating and will often default to picking up my phone and letting my mind wander to my worrying thoughts. Thus, I often lose some of the relaxing benefits of the film. However, I can get lost completely in a good video game. It requires my total concentration, and I can shut out all my other negative thoughts to focus on the task at hand.

This helps me unwind while stimulating my brain and keeping those endorphins flowing.

If you haven’t tried horror video games, I highly recommend them. You don’t need a fancy computer or high-end gaming system to enjoy them. There are plenty of immersive, exciting, and terrifying games you can play on your phone. And whether you are new to gaming or an avid player, I’m always covering great titles worth checking out — no matter where or how you like to play.

3. Try an Adult Coloring Book

Adult coloring books are a great way to unwind, de-stress and get creative. If you haven’t picked up one of these books yet, they’re basically blank pages with outlines of shapes and patterns on them. So, all you have to do is color in the lines or fill in the spaces. Because there aren’t any words or pictures, it’s easy to focus your mind on something simple. Plus, it’s a great way to spend time with your kids if they’re interested in art or graphic design.

These have become so popular that there is an incredible abundance of themes to choose from. That, of course, means there are even great options for us horror fans. Amazon has a ton of cool horror coloring books for adults, ranging from the macabrely beautiful to the downright disturbing. They even have an illustrated horror storybook that allows you to color each story’s accompanying artwork.

Some of my personal favorites are Horror Beauties, Freak of Beauty, Freak of Horror, and Beauty of Horror, But trust me when I say there is something for everyone, whether you are into 90s cartoons, kawaii, serial killers, monsters, paranormal creatures, creepy cute aesthetics, or specific properties like Stranger Things.

4. Laugh More

Recommending laughter as a form of stress relief may sound a bit odd. I know when I’m super stressed, the last thing I feel like doing is laughing. But when I can force myself to do it, I almost always feel better. That’s because laughter fires up and then cools down your stress response.

Watching an intense horror movie can be a great stress reliever. But if you want to supercharge those feel-good vibes, consider a horror comedy. When you laugh, it not only lightens your mental load but also causes positive physical changes in your body.

If you have a friend who always makes you laugh, and you can do so (sometimes, when we’re very stressed, we just need to be alone), consider calling them up for some much-needed laughter therapy.

You can even give laughing yoga a try. Yes, that’s a real thing!

Laughing yoga is a popular movement and breathing exercise that aims to cultivate joy, bring out your inner child, and help you let go of daily life stressors. The practice began with a small group in Mumbai, India, and has grown to over 5,000 clubs worldwide.

It involves a series of movement and breathing exercises to promote deliberate laughter. Most sessions begin with simple breathing techniques and may also include improv exercises, citing positive affirmations, gentle stretching, yoga breath work, and meditation. If you’re interested in learning more, there are online classes you can take from the comfort of your home.

5. Be Kind…Seriously

As horror fans, we may love to watch monsters. But despite what some “normies” may think, we are far from monsters ourselves. In fact, almost every horror fan I’ve encountered IRL or online is a pretty great human. That’s good news because researchers have found that helping others can be a big boost to our own sense of happiness and well-being. Even small acts of kindness, such as opening the door for someone or paying someone a compliment, can go a long way to reducing our stress.

Even if you’d rather not be out in the world, you can spread kindness from home. Call or text a friend. If you’re not feeling like connecting due to stress, even a simple “I’m thinking of you” or “I’m so glad we’re friends” message can be a huge joy-inducing moment for both you and your friend. I know there have been times I’ve been incredibly low, and someone has messaged me something that made me feel good about myself and turned my whole mood around. It only took a minute to send the message, but the boost I got lasted for hours.

You can also leave kind, encouraging comments on someone’s social media post — whether it’s a friend or a stranger whose content you appreciate.

There are many ways to give of yourself and support others. You certainly don’t need to spend a dime spreading kindness. However, if you’re able to give monetarily, that’s an act of goodwill that can be a health boost for you. According to the results of two small studies of seniors, people who spent extra money on others had lower blood pressure than those who spent extra money on themselves. These results persisted even when income, marital status, and exercise were accounted for.

Of course, it’s never a good idea to give more than you can afford — and that’s true for both time and money. Doing so can negatively affect your health and increase your stress level. For example, caregivers often face a higher risk of stroke and heart disease.

We should strive to give of ourselves selflessly without stretching ourselves too thin or neglecting the importance of self-care.