How to Relieve Stress and Improve Your Grocery Shopping Experience

What studying for finals can make you feel like.

The end of the semester is approaching and the weather is getting warmer.  It’s hard to stay focused when you just want to be out in the sun having a good time with friends.  At the same time though studying for exams is killer and for your mental sanity scheduling breaks is a must.  My new favorite stress reliever was inspired by Ellen Degeneres’s dance dare.  On her talk show she dared her viewers to film themselves dancing behind people without getting caught.  My friend Preston and I tried this out at Smith’s grocery store.

As we grazed the aisles Preston smiled at me, said “Ladies first…” and motioned me toward an unsuspecting shopper.  Nerve-wracking yet exhilarating I danced as if I were in my room and no one else was home.   For twelve seconds I shook my hips and pumped my arms as the elderly woman browsed the Jell-O selections.  I walked away a champion not getting caught.

Slightly more timid, Preston approached a man distracted by his cell phone.  He then danced as I filmed.  Never before had I noticed the intense focus people have as they grocery shop.  I personally get extremely distracted while grocery shopping, because I find it boring.  Usually I shop with my roommate Melanie and try to make it more interesting by catching her off guard via throwing lentils at her face when she least expects it.  I discovered though that dancing behind people is more satisfying for me and probably less frustrating for Melanie.

Check out our dance moves here!

If you too find grocery shopping dull and final exams overly stressful, take a break and dance your heart out among the tomato sauce and hamburger buns.  Whatever you do, do not get caught, but if you do get caught…no worries, that is hilarious too.  At the end of our trip we came back to my apartment, edited our video feed, and set it to music.  The song we chose was Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe.”  Dance, laugh, spend time with friends and enjoy yourself!  Liven up the mundane, ordinary tasks like grocery shopping and loosen up.  Once you feel that your stress is sufficiently relieved you will be better prepared to conquer finals!  Good luck everyone!  Dominate those tests.