One of my favourite stress relief techniques evolved out of being a good citizen. About once a month I take all the glass bottles to the recycling centre. Throwing bottles into the recycling bins is a great way to dump tension and stress.
This conversation preceded a trip to the bottle bank recycling centre last week:
Him: You’re in a grumpy mood do you want to go do bottles?
Me: Gosh, I love doing that!
Him: It always does you a power of good.
I don’t know exactly what it is that I like about throwing the bottles in the bins. I do love hearing the smash. It’s quite liberating. At the recycling centre it is socially acceptable to smash a bottle and you don’t have to worry about cleaning up the pieces. It is somehow satisfying and stress relieving all at the same time.
I’ve noticed that some of the lighter weight jars and bottles give a ripply, tinkling sound when they shatter. Some of the heaver bottles just do a thud and don’t break at all, but often smash other bits. The bigger the shattering sound, the lighter & brighter I feel. My grumpy mood evaporates as the bottles break.
I find myself trying different movements when I put the bottle in the recycling bin; a wrist twist for spin, a flick for added momentum, or the slide & drop. I’m always in search of a good smash. So, I suppose part of the stress relief comes from the games I’m playing.
Of course, you could smash bottles at home to relieve stress. It might be satisfying in the moment, but it makes such a mess. Instead, head to the recycling centre and be a good citizen while smashing away your stress!