Rage against the machines

Many of you will remember the 70s TV series The Incredible Hulk.

I’ll never forget coming across this angry, green-skinned monstrosity one Saturday afternoon at the tender age of 5, while simultaneously eating a bacon sandwich. 

Let’s just say it put me of pork for life.

But as an adult, I look at the hulk in admiration. Because he has the gift that none of us has: of being able to vent his rage at the drop of a hat, with no self-consciousness, embarrassment or shame about wearing rags for shorts.

And what is this pent-up anger doing to us I wonder? We’re more stressed and burnt out than ever – even Beyonce has joined the meltdown conversation. 

Despite mental health and anxiety becoming a lot better understood, many of us feel the need to keep a lid on things, to seem in control. Sadly stomping our feet, shouting at people and crying in public aren’t really the done thing.

Well, a solution is in sight.‍

Welcome to the Rage Rooms

Billed as the fun way to de-stress in Norwich, the Rage Rooms rent out specially designed ‘rage rooms’ full of objects you can club to pieces. 

The company says it’s never been busier, with people visitors ranging from hospitality workers to primary school teachers. "It’s not just fun anymore… people have a real reason to come in," says manager Gemma Whiddett.

I love this as an alternative to team bonding events – forget building a tower from marshmallows and spaghetti – the kindest gift you can give to your team is the gift of rage. Who hasn’t dreamed of smashing their computer to pieces or bludgeoning that jammed printer to death?

And if not for work, why not for Christmas? It might be what we need as we enter the winter of discontent – and a way to keep warm without putting the heating on (failing this, try the below).