Just Relax! Some Popular and Uncommon Stress Reducers

Life is too short and may be shorter if you are always stressed. The risks of high levels of stress are stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. We all need to learn to relax!

There are just about as many ways to relax and reduce stress as there are individuals in the world. This is personal, unique and depends upon what has you stressed in the first place! However, some ways I have found personally useful, as well as found by searching the web are as follows:

Take a hot bath...this not only allow the body to truly relax due to the temperature of the water relaxing your muscles, but there is something about the idea that begins to relax you even before you get in the water. Take a good book and 30 minutes in the bathtub and you might just feel like you can take on anything.

Prevention...don't take life and yourself too seriously. After all, there is only so much that we can do during a day or week and we should not get all worked up if some things "fall through the cracks".

Take a walk...a 10 minute walk around the block or around your office building is a great way to clear your mind. I find that at times when I am very deep into a project and am having a difficult time completing something, a walk out to my car may be all I need.

Golf...now this is something I have never personally done, but a lot of people I talk to find this very relaxing. It is a combination of something physical and forcing you to focus on one thing...must keep you centered.

Cat Nap...I recall my Mother doing this all the time when I was younger. We would go visit her aunt and she would say "just give me 10 minutes and I will feel better". Sure enough, she would be up and ready to go! Now that I have two children of my own, and work full time I find that I do this frequently on the weekends or even while supper is cooking! It really does work :)

Creative Outlet...many people like to knit, crochet, sew, craft, scrapbook...the list goes on. The idea is to do something you enjoy...I like to write!

Exercise...physical activity which increases your heart rate and breathing (aerobic) has been proven to increase hormones in your body that actually do relax and ease the stress. Whether it be a membership at a gym or the local YMCA or just a jog, brisk walk, or bike ride around your neighborhood, try this and let me know how it works. :)

Playing with young children...there is something so carefree about children that can be infectious. It may be that they do not yet have the worries that adults do that get them stressed in the first place. However, whether you have young children or maybe a friend or relative does, sit down and build something or play "Simon says" or "Eye Spy" and you will forget everything else.

Video Games...now if you are addictive personality, this could actually cause you more stress!! However, I have found that playing The Sims or some other mindless game helps me to wind down. I also play a lot of online games either in Real Arcade or King.com which help me to relax, too.

Get up and stretch...stand up from your desk at work or your sofa or chair at home and just stretch out to the ceiling. While doing so, take deep breaths and alternate stretching up higher with the right arm and then the left. Many times we get stressed because we are reacting to our bodies warning signs. So whatever you decide to do, just stop and take a breath. The old saying of taking time to "stop and smell the roses" is good advice!