Long ago, I photocopied an article called “50 Quick Stress Cures” from a Ladies Home Journal and stashed it away for future reference. Today, while de-cluttering my desk, the article resurfaced. (Funny how these things pop up at just the right time, isn’t it?)
Since I’m a condenser by nature, here’s MY top 10 stress reduction strategies:
1. Talk to someone – “Bottling things up is for brewers.” Exchange a listening ear with a close friend or significant other. I’m lucky – my hubby is 100% trustworthy with my gripes and I also have a close friend who is an excellent listener. Of course, I provide the same for both of them. (Hubby is also excellent at providing such true–but unhelpful–advice as “Just let it go”, and “No one cares as much as you think they do. They’ve probably already forgotten about it.”)
2. Choose your food wisely – Always eat breakfast (preferably a healthy one), which I’m a first class grump. ‘Nuff said. Eating almonds, fiber, dark chocolate, or a bowl of oatmeal before bed are other easy dietary stress busters. Finally, add drinking black tea, a glass of red wine, and staying well-hydrated to the list and you should be in good shape. (I drink green tea because it’s lower in caffeine.) A note on the red wine: make sure you don’t drink your daily glass right before bedtime; it’s actually a stimulant.
3. Laugh – “[Laughing] decreases stress hormones in the bloodstream [and] relaxes muscles.” Watching Family Guy usually does it for me.
4. Do something girly for yourself – Whether it’s a haircut/color, buying a new nail or lip color, or just shaving your legs, doing something feminine for yourself is an easy pick-me-up.
5. Play with your pet – I’m lucky, I can tease my kitty, play fetch with the dogs, or groom my horse. They’re all forms of therapy for me.
6. Stretch – Stretching releases toxins that build up in the body’s soft tissues. Thus, stretching=instant detox!
7. Have sex – “An orgasm a day keeps stress away. Well, perhaps you don’t need one every day, but research is clear that the massive endorphin release that happens during orgasm has a calming effect on the body long afterward. And let’s be frank: partner optional.” Ditto for exercising in general.
8. Loose yourself in a good book – My #1 favorite form of stress release. I read for a few minutes (or longer) in bed every night before I turn off the light. This is my routine, and it tells my mind “OK, time to turn off up there”. I usually fall asleep just a minute or so after turning off the light.
9. Crank up the music – Loosing yourself in a song is a great stress reliever. I usually indulge in my car with my sunroof open.
10. Do some handiwork – Whether it’s knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, or sewing, the repetitive motion and mindlessness of these crafts allow your brain some downtime. Plus, you get to enjoy–or gift away–the results.
Aspiring Alverna 