Activities to Manage Chronic Pain and Stress

December 2, 2020 | by Tess

Ever since I have had a chronic headache, I have to keep my mind busy so I do not focus on pain. Over the past 3 years, I have found a variety of activities that help with stress, which can be a trigger for pain, and I want to share some ideas with you!

Meditation:

Meditation helps me de-stress and gets the day off on the right foot. I used to meditate in the night but now I prefer meditating every morning to get my day started. I used the app headspace but now I transitioned to the Chopra app where there are more lessons on self growth and morning meditations.

Exercise:

Like I have mentioned before, exercise has always been a big part of my life. I have played tennis since I was 8 and usually practice 3-4 days a week and also enjoy low intensity movement like walking and yoga. Exercise helps take my mind off of any problems and I always feel energized after I get some movement during the day.

Cooking and Baking:

Over quarantine, I have found a new interest in cooking and baking. At the start of quarantine, I subscribed to a Hello Fresh subscription and I recommend it for people who want to start cooking. Now, I like to find my own recipes and make healthy alternatives that fit my diet. For me, cooking and baking helps me relax and I love putting on some music and making healthy meals.

Watching New Shows:

Over the past few months, I have been watching tv shows in the night. These shows helps me relax and gives me something to look forward to during the day. I also like watching a show when I workout on the elliptical; I have the netflix app on my phone and will put an episode on. Some of my favorite shows are Greys anatomy, Gossip girl, and Stranger things :)

Reading:

Throughout my chronic pain journey I have spent more time reading, especially when I was first diagnosed. For the first few months of having a nagging headache, I could not watch as many shows or movies because the light would increase my pain, so I found a new interest in reading. I love fantasy books where I can imagine myself in a different worlds!

If you are having a hard time dealing with stress or want to find a hobby that fills up your time, it is always a good idea to switch up your routine and try something new. Some other activities that my friends like to do are journaling, gardening, drawing, playing an instrument, and many more!