10 free ways you can relieve stress from home

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has officially asked Michiganders to stay home as much as possible for at least the next three weeks in order to slow the spread of coronavirus. While there are lots of resources online dedicated to keeping kids occupied and learning while schools are closed, adults are just as susceptible to cabin fever. Whether you’re working from home, keeping your kids busy all day or putting in long hours at an essential business, it’s important to take measures to protect your mental health.

Find some time every day to put down your phone, turn off the news and focus on self care. Here are 10 free activities that can help you feel less cooped up and relieve some stress:

1. Go for a walk! Outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running and biking are all still fair game — just stay at least six feet away from anyone else you encounter.

2. Connect face-to-face with friends or family using Zoom. Zoom is the same platform Oakland Family Services is using to offer virtual counseling services. Set up is simple, and you can make it a real party by video chatting with up to 100 participants.

3. Head to a national park! Google Earth has launched virtual tours of 31 U.S. national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rainier, Yellowstone and Yosemite!

4. Need some spring? House Beautiful gathered a list of five gardens you can tour virtually, from Claude Monet’s Garden in France to the Chicago Botanic Garden and Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

5. Add some color. Coloring is a great way to relieve stress, even for adults! Check out Just Color, which offers more than 1,500 free, printable coloring pages for adults.

6. Take a break to stretch. There are countless instructional yoga videos on YouTube. If you’re a total beginner, try this 20-minute session from Yoga with Adriene.

7. Feeling artsy? Go to the Detroit Institute of Arts! The DIA is closed through at least April 5, but you can view and search the museum’s collection online.

8. Make some quiet time. Calm has compiled a list of free resources — including guided meditations, calming music and sleep stories — that will help you tune out the world and focus on your mental and emotional wellness.

9. Enjoy a night at the theater! Broadway’s live shows are shut down, but you can stream recorded performances using BroadwayHD's seven-day free trial. The site offers both modern and classic musicals alongside a collection of ballets, movies and documentaries.

10. Take a warm bath. It may sound silly, but taking a bath can help you feel better. Bring a good book or play some music while you soak. (If you have kids at home, this is a good excuse to close the door and take a few minutes to yourself!)

If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression or another mental health concern, please reach out to our Day One counseling program at (248) 858-7766. While our physical offices are closed for the time being, we are offering virtual counseling through Zoom and are continuing to welcome new clients.

Click here to read about the steps Oakland Family Services is taking to maintain services during the coronavirus pandemic, while at the same time protecting the health of our staff and the individuals and families we serve.

Click here to read about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, which orders all Michiganders to remain in their homes for at least the next three weeks except for certain designated activities.