By Cheryl Mattox Berry
To get through the last weeks of school, you’ll need a few stress busters – calming activities that take your mind off big projects and studying for exams. Nah, I’m not talking about spending time on Facebook, FaceTime, Twitter or anything related to social media.
Think about the mindless, fun things you used to do before social media came into your life. Remember when you used to watch DVDs? What were your favorites? If you still have them tucked away in a closet, fix a snack, pop one in, darken the room, sit back and enjoy. Watch a second movie if time permits.
When was the last time you went for a walk or a bike ride around the neighborhood? Grab your MP3 player with songs from your favorite recording artist and hit the pavement. Get some fresh air and burn a few calories.
Nature is on full display this month, so it’s a good time to take photos of critters, plants and flowers in bloom. They make good screen savers. If you live near a botanical garden or nature preserve, plan a field trip/photo shoot for the whole family. Those with iphones can post their best shots on an iphoneography website.
One of the things we like to do in my house is dance. Put on your favorite CD, grab your siblings and let loose. Ask mom, dad or grandma to show you some moves from back in the day. Everybody will get a big laugh after that performance.
Laughter is by far the best stress buster. Stand-up routines by comedian Kevin Hart, who stars in Think Like a Man, will leave you in tears. Check out his DVDs or shows On Demand. Here are a few other suggestions:
- Bake your favorite cookies or cake.
- Clean out your closet.
- Wash the car.
- Read all the latest fashion mags at the library.
- Take a Zumba class.
- Play old video games.
- Groom the dog.
- Clean the barbecue grill.
- Play Monopoly and other board games.
- Write or call an out-of-town relative.