20 ways to switch off the stress

A Rush of Blood to the Head isn’t just a Coldplay album you’d like to switch off, it’s also the physical consequence of rolling yourself up in a mesh hammock and hanging upside down for a few seconds at a time. That’s what happens in aerial yoga. You’re suspended in nets that hang from the ceiling, and – at least in our beginner’s class – guided through a series of poses that look neck-breakingly dangerous, but are surprisingly easy once you’re in them. Surprisingly not easy? The hanging upside down part – called an ‘inversion’, and the first time we tried it, we felt like our head would explode after about three seconds. That sensation abated with repetition, but it never quite went away. Aerial yoga’s unique selling point is the way it lets your whole body stretch out and decompress, sans the usual pull of gravity. It’s also said to help with circulation and lymphatic drainage, as all that blood that’s been pooling in your toes rushes back through your body. The nicest part, however, comes at the end of class, when you spend time hanging out in the foetal position, cocooned in a white veil, and gently rocking like a baby. We came out feeling a little taller, and much better rested.

It's less than an hour's drive from the CBD, yet so many Sydneysiders haven't stepped foot in the pristine 15,091 hectares of bushland that lines the coast south of Sydney. Whether you want to swim in pristine water holes, hike along the jagged coastline, chase waterfalls or just GTFO of Sydney for the day, the Royal National Park is the perfect place to get grounded. And bonus switch off: there’s little-to-no reception along the headlands so you’ll be foot loose and screen free!

A lot of people might be broadly aware of Australia’s Aboriginal history but the mistake is in considering it just that: history. The spiritual practices of our first peoples are still part of their daily lives in 2016, and through Splendour Tailored Tours you’ll get a glimpse into the world’s oldest continuous culture, as it is lived, not how you imagine it to be. Prepare to get up early because you’ll be meeting Aboriginal elder Aunty Margaret Campbell under the pylons of the Harbour Bridge for a welcome to country and to acknowledge the ‘grandfather sun’. Aunty Marg’s stories will transport you a time and place before colonization, when people could watch the whales from the lookout that existed long before the bridge and bring their fish to the cooking fires built on the same sandstone they used as a foundation for Sydney.

As Choir of Hard Knocks and Sydney Street Choir founder Jonathan Welch says, “Singing for an hour a week in a choir has now been scientifically proven to help build your immune system and fight cancer, build neural pathways for those who’ve had strokes and can't speak ... the list goes on.” It’s also anecdotally proven to make you feel happy. Inner Westies can check out Newtown’s Welcome Choir, which meets weekly and is open to people who love singing and are willing to learn the lyrics – you don’t need to audition, you don’t even need to be able to read music. “We want to offer a place that is also safe for greater diversity,” says co-founder Betty Judd. Lead by musical director Bek Jensen, the 30-or-so regulars have a feelgood repertoire that includes Adele, Fleetwood Mac, Outkast, Prince and Madonna.

Spring is a time for renewal, and philosophy can be a big help when it comes to finding your way around who you are and where you want to go. This month, the School of Life is running a workshop called Making Meaning: Spring in which Dr Kirsty McGeoch, a certified facilitator with the Center for Courage & Renewal, will lead an exploration of how we can learn about ourselves through the lens of the seasons – incorporating personal reflection, engagement with others, as well as poetry, music and art. If seasonality is not your jam, they’re also running courses in Understanding Mindfulness, How to Realise your Potential and Living with a Creative Mind.

Waterfalls, weeping willows, lily pads and blossoms make this one-hectare garden a charming and calming place to visit. The garden transports visitors from Sydney's city of sin into a world of tradition and calm – a refreshing change from exhaust fumes and traffic. The garden is dotted with hidden treasures, including an ancient cyad (fossil plant) and the red silk cotton tree (a floral symbol of Guangdong). A highlight is the Lake of Brightness, which is full of chubby carp. Savour the peace and quiet and be cocooned from the crazy city.

Sometimes the only cure is sleep. Hangovers, work stress, relationship issues can all feel very different after a long nap. Luckily, city workers can hibernate at any time of day in the Sleep Pods at Pitt Street Mall’s Virgin Active gym. The pods recline to promote blood flow and reduce pressure on the lower back, and they block out sound from the surrounding workout studios, letting you drift off during your lunchbreak. Need to keep it brief? Subtle vibrations in the pod bring you back to consciousness in time for that boardroom meeting.

When you’re getting stuck into a dirty job there’s no time for texting. Put your phone away and lend a hand down on the urban farm. Not-for-profit organisation Pocket City Farms have turned a former disused bowling club into a fully operational urban farm, called Camperdown Commons, and they need people like you to muck in and help keep the project running. They have regular volunteering slots that run from 10am-noon, and tasks include weeding, planting, chicken coop cleaning, mulching, compost turning and many other day-to-day duties. Sign up to help on the Pocket City Farms website and farm manager Michael Zagoridis will be in touch with the days they have available for helpers. 10am-noon. Free. Various days.

Turn your house into a jungle with a crash course in Creative Indoor Gardening. The Planthunter founder Georgina Reid will teach you how to propagate plants, how to be creative with plant design and how to make sure you don’t kill them within the first week. From watering to fertilising, you’ll walk away with the basics as well as a collection of indoor plant cuttings so you can start building your botanical empire. There’ll be wine, a chance to get hands-on, and plenty of like-minded plant lovers to chat to.

Spin some yarn, literally and figuratively, at Work-Shop’s Free Form Weaving class. It’s social and you’ll learn a new skill, plus we’re pretty sure you can’t check work emails as you craft your wall hanging. Teacher Sky Carter will run through simple techniques to create a woven masterpiece, and you get to take home your own loom so you can repeat the skills you’ve learned in front of the TV. Other courses at Work-Shop in September include Introduction to Sculpture, Shibori: Indian Dyeing, Creative Fine Line Illustration and Cheesemaking.

Meditation is said to improve sleep patterns, reduce anxiety and improve rational decision making, but it’s not easy to achieve on your own. If you struggle to switch off without a bit of guidance, drop into Centred Meditation in the city for a half-an-hour calming experience in an armchair. Each session is free of chanting, prayer or religious affiliation and you can book your slot in advance or simply show up. They offer three different types of meditation, called ‘clarity’, ‘confidence’ and ‘calm’ which means you can choose the one that suits your frame of mind whether you’re anticipating a big day ahead or want to zone out after hours. There are cushions, blankets and tea to help make the experience more snug.

This escape room in Newtown is brilliantly challenging and entertaining, and a great way to forget the real world for 60 minutes. Try the debut escape room in Newtown, the Cipher Room. You and your co-players have just one hour to locate the secrets that Agent ‘M’ has hidden somewhere in the room. To find them, you’re going to have to look for clues, follow a bunch of hints and crack a bunch of codes. Time Out sent a trio of players to solve the room’s mysteries, but up to six people can play at once. This is a game that has been cleverly conceived to provide a variety of tactile, visual and aural experiences.