I recently read an article in HealthKeepers Magazine giving 31 simple things we can do to relieve stress. Life is busy for most of us. We wear many hats and have lots of responsibilities that at the end of the day we feel tired and stressed. Don’t let life overwhelm you. Take control and relieve stress with these 31 simple things.
- Smile. It makes you feel good and it’s contagious. Smile at someone and they’ll smile back.
- Breathe. Take five, slow, deep cleansing breaths and empty your mind of worrisome thoughts.
- Stand up and stretch.
- Speak kindly to yourself. Self-talk has tremendous power. Treat yourself with the respect and love you give to others.
- Take frequent breaks. Working on a big project? You’ll be sharper and smarter if you take a break to replenish your mind and body.
- Sit. Be silent. In today’s noisy world, silence is a luxury.
- Listen to your favorite music. Sing along. Loudly.
- Walk. Get your blood pumping and release endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemicals.
- Dance. Go ahead. No one’s looking and it feels good to move to the music.
- Take a relaxing bath or shower.
- Connect with nature. Go cloud watching. Watch a sunset. Gaze at the stars.
- Watch a feel good movie.
- Eat well. A high nutrient diet fuels your body and stabilizes your moods.
- Cook. Prepare a sumptuous home-cooked meal.
- Write. Release your thoughts into your own personal journal.
- De-clutter. It will create calm in your busy environment.
- Hug a loved one. This releases serotonin, the happy hormone.
- Sleep. Make sure your bedroom is cool, quiet and uncluttered.
- Change your bed sheets and pillowcases, then lie on your bed and enjoy the fresh, clean feeling.
- Play. Spend time with your children, grandchildren, younger sibling, your baby nephew or niece. See the world through their eyes.
- Spend time with your pet. In their world, there is no past or future. There is only now.
- Read a book. If you don’t have anything good on your shelf, go to the library or a local bookstore.
- Learn a skill for your personal pleasure. Like to keep your hands busy? Take up knitting, weaving or jewelry making. Do scrapbooking. Learn magic tricks. If you’re artistic, draw, paint or sculpt. If you’re crafty, make things for your home. Learn to play an instrument.
- Release your frustrations. Let it all out in a safe way. Punch a punching bag. Yell into a pillow. Have a good cry.
- Reminisce. Take out your memory box or old photo albums and recall the good moments in your life.
- Spend some quality time with your loved ones. Invite friends or family over for a potluck dinner. Play board games, watch a DVD marathon or simply talk and have a stimulating conversation.
- Turn off the TV. Refuse to watch negative programs that leave you feeling down.
- Reconnect with old friends relatives. Call, email or drop a note recalling the good times you’ve enjoyed together.
- Create good smells. Aromas elicit dramatic changes in your emotional state and cause you to think back to a person, place or time when you first experienced a particular smell.
- Take pictures. Pull out your camera and take pictures around the house. Have fun with macro shots or experiment with angles.
- Count your blessings. Every day, more things go right than wrong. Focus on what’s going right in your life.
HealthKeepers Magazine December 2011