The house is a disaster. Your kid’s teacher just called to have a “talk.” And you have about 14,001 things to do before you can even think about SparkNotes-ing tonight’s book club (which you’re hosting).
Yeah, it’s a stressful day. But you can do it. Breathe in. Breathe out. Here are some real ways to reduce stress fast--because you’ve got wayyyy too much to do.
Exercise is proven to release serotonin (the happy hormone). We’re not saying you have to squeeze in a quick boot-camp class, but you can do a little movement almost anywhere. Whether you do leg lifts and torso twists at the office or stream a workout class at home, you will definitely fight off anxiety.
What’s better at making you smile than adorable animal videos on YouTube? And better yet, a recent study says the humor we get from cat videos is actually good for us. So watch away.
Besides the physical benefits of stretching your muscles, adjustments to your posture and body position can help you feel more relaxed by lowering yourblood pressure and breathing rate, which in turn helps to relieve stress. Voilà!
This breathing exercise, created by John Sahakian, a Los Angeles-based clinical hypnotherapist and yoga instructor, takes three minutes and can be done while sitting in your car between errands. (No oms necessary.)
Studies show that adult coloring books can help with everything from stress and work performance to insomnia. So what are you waiting for? Grab some colored pencils (or your kid’s crayons) and color yourself calm.
OK, so this one may clock in at a little over five minutes, but it’s well worth it. The change of scenery, the fresh air and a few good minutes with your own thoughts can help put your mind at ease.
When all else fails, allowing yourself to get a little angry will help you to release that negative energy and move on with your day. AGHHHH!
Ah, so much better.
