So what do you do when you’re stressed, or when there’s just too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it?

Do you procrastinate with a spontaneous road trip? Eat an embarrassing amount of chocolate? Wander into a package store (for you non–New Englanders, that’s a beer & wine shop)? Binge-watch TV? Or maybe sleep for 20 hours straight?

If you’ve done any of those, don’t be embarrassed. I’ve done them all at some point in my life. But my all-time favorite stress reliever? Rearranging furniture.

I know. It’s the craziest thing. But there’s something oddly calming about dragging a couch from one side of the room to the other, sweat flying, determined to find the “perfect” spot. Sometimes, after all that effort, the couch ends up right back where it started. What a bummer! But still, the process works. It burns off my stress, and once I’m done, I feel ready to tackle the mountain of tasks waiting for me.

My poor husband never knows what he’ll come home to. He says thank goodness he isn’t blind—because in our house, that could be a safety hazard!

And it wasn’t just at home. When I was teaching kindergarten, I did the same thing. If I was behind on report cards or lesson plans, I’d come in early and… rearrange the entire classroom. Desks, bookshelves, reading nook—you name it. The first kindergartner to arrive would dash into the hall, grinning from ear to ear, and shout, “She did it again! The room is all different!” At least I was bringing a little joy to someone with my unusual stress relief.

So what about you? What’s your go-to stress-buster? I’d love to hear your ideas—because honestly, rearranging furniture is getting a little old.

—Peni