How to Beat Stress - the Fun Way

Even when you do the healthy stuff to help beat stress, life still wants to beat you up. Here are a few common-sense fun tips to bust basic daily stress.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Stress
• A Mind
• Willingness to destress
• Innovation
• Patience

1. Plan to do something each day that gives you energy - something you love to do. Do it during a work break, take an extra work break - heck - make sure to TAKE a work break! Do you like to bounce a ball or toss a yo-yo - do it. Do you like the feel of your back cracking while you stretch - do that. Do you really like the coffee shop 3 blocks away better than the one in the lobby? Take the break and go!
2. If work is part of your daily stress (or daily stress is part of your work) keep a file with copies of your compliments and accomplishments. Print out kudos e-mails and keep even post-its where someone said thanks. Might sound silly, but there are days when looking at the last 6 compliments can turn your frown upside down. :0)
3. Laugh more! Folks who laugh seem to enjoy life more, and enjoying yourself is an easy way to not even notice little stressors that might otherwise make you want to kick something. Do you have a favorite comedian or sitcom? Consider making tapes of several episodes, TIVOing something on late at night, and check out the Planet’s Funniest Animals, etc. Whatever healthy humor you can find, grab it and add a daily laugh track to your life.
4. Take a meandering walk. You’re in a hurry, need to get here, there, somewhere fast, but just. . slow. . . it . . . down. See flowers? Take a sniff (unless allergic - then hold breath). Sure, you might look funny, but you’ll be someone else’s stress-busting laugh track. Really, Touch a plant or texture that intrigues you. Pause and look at the art displays and sculptures in the buildings you usually run through. Choose different paths to get to the same delis and shops. Actually look in the windows.
5. Plan a special moment to look forward to. Maybe it’s sleeping in Saturday, AND Sunday. Maybe it’s treating yourself to a waffle breakfast for dinner. instead of dinner. Maybe it’s getting a couple of chores done early (or ignoring them) so you can just. . .sit. . .down. Focus on a trip you’d like to take and start planning it - just for fun. Consider planning a visit to a museum or local play rather than just another movie. Whatever floats your boat, think about sailing it. . .savor it. . . then do it.
6. When you really do get tense, squeeze something. Maybe some Play-doh. Maybe a Hug-the-World pillow. Maybe one of those grip strengtheners. Maybe your dog or cat or kid (gently, please) Maybe your muscles - carefully tighten tense muscles in your neck, hold for a count of 7 or 8, then quick release to flood with relaxation. Same for your face, and shoulder blades.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, we live however many times we live. So LIVE!!!!!