How to Enjoy Stress Awareness Month in April

April is Stress Awareness Month and a time to get to the bottom of what stresses you out, how to eliminate what is stressing you out, and maybe find a new hobby to do for the rest of the year. Although April 16 is official Stress Awareness Day, these thirteen tips can be used the other 364 days of the year to calm you down in an already crazy world.

1. Exercise-There are so many different variations in exercising, be it pilates, yoga, dancing, running, or walking. Exercising can become a chore and uneventful if you're doing an exercise that you don't enjoy. For example, if you're not really into walking but you like to visit the lakefront, drive to a nearby lake location and walk alongside the water. If you love to dance but don't know how to step, go to a dance class that plays the kind of music you enjoy. It may make learning to do the dance easier.

2. Write-Authors tend to write in journals or blog a lot to get their thoughts off their minds. Not only is writing a profession, but it's also therapeutic to say things that you may not be able to say to someone's face, whether it's someone who is hurting your feelings or someone you are growing loving feelings for.

3. Read-If you're a bookworm, reading is something you do regularly, but for those who aren't regular readers, browse the bookstore for the type of material you'd be interested in. If you love hip hop, "XXL" or "Vibe" magazine may be the publications you want to pick up. If you're trying to work on your business and just don't know where to start, try "Black Enterprise" magazine. If you're not interested in fiction, try nonfiction books about topics you're interested in.

4. Pray-Religious people find that praying relieves a lot of tension. They are able to connect with the god that they believe in and get all their thoughts out. It's not uncommon to end up crying and laughing to be able to speak to the god that you believe knows you best and has your best interest at heart. Church ceremonies are an excellent place to get all your thoughts on the table.

5. Hang out with close family-We all have those relatives that we'd rather confine to holiday occasions only, so find the relatives that you enjoy hanging out with on a regular basis and plan a get-together. It doesn't matter where it is as long as it's a place that both or all of you enjoy.

6. Hang out with friends-Some of us connect better with our friends than we do with family or consider our family as friends. Plan a day out with your friends to a place that both or all of you enjoy.

7. Laugh-USA Today reports that 10-15 minutes of laughing per day can burn off a medium square of chocolate or 4.4 pounds per year. Attend a comedy club event or hang out with someone who makes you laugh regularly. Who it is really doesn't matter as long as they keep you in a joyous mood. We can always find somebody to piss us off, but when you find someone who can always make you laugh, hold on to him or her for dear life.

8. Take a vacation-This is a little more difficult to do now considering America is in a recession, but taking a vacation does not have to be to another state or country. If you have the money to travel overseas or across the stateline, by all means, do so. But a vacation can be spending the night at someone's home for a few days or hiding out in a hotel across town just to get away. Act like a tourist in your hometown and see what sightseers see. All Chicagoans haven't been to the Sears Tower. New Yorkers haven't all been to Times Square. Everybody from Florida isn't going to Disneyworld every weekend. Spend time enjoying your hometown, and if you don't have the money to get away, turn your phone off and hide out in your own home. Send the kids to a trusted parties home and play Heather Headley's "Me Time" to get yourself into a justifiably selfish day.

9. Listen to music-Music can take a person to a different place, and it doesn't have to be slow or soothing like rainwater to do so. If hip hop is what calms you down, blast it. If J-Setting to the latest pop music is your thing, start swinging those arms and hips. Get a bunch of your favorite music CDs or a mixtape and listen to it in your car, with your MP3 player while you're running errands, or hanging out around the house. And if you do like the sound of crickets or water or the beach, YouTube has plenty of soundbites of these nature sounds if you don't want to purchase any.

10. Have sex-CBS News reports that a half hour of sex burns 85 calories or more, improves cardiovascular health, boosts self-esteem, and the oxytocin after an orgasm relates to sleep. So not only is it fun, it's relaxing too if done with the right person. (Note: Make sure to use birth control and be with a partner you're comfortable with to make it a far better experience. Nobody wants to worry about an unexpected pregnancy or how ugly this guy is tomorrow when you wake up next to him on Stress Awareness Month.)

11. Sleep-Try to get at least eight hours of comfortable sleep. April is the time to shop for a new mattress that fits your body type, replace pillows that have gone flat or are uncomfortable, and wash your sheets so they'll have that fresh detergent or fabric softener smell. Being able to zone out and get sufficient sleep can relieve a person of a lot of unnecessary tension physically and mentally.

12. Don't complain-We can complain about the things that are going wrong in our lives but make a point of letting this month (or day) be the time you concentrate on what's going right in your life. If someone tries to complain to you, change the subject to a more positive topic or ask them how they can change the situation they're in. But don't be the Misery Loves Company party.

13. Rent or watch movies-Watching your favorite movies is a common way to put yourself in the actors' places, especially romantic or historical films. Find those movies that will help you zone out, turn the lights off, grab some popcorn and drinks, and get the remote for a showtime at home. And if you have the extra funds, go to a movie theater and see a new flick instead.