Stress

10 Quick and Effective Relaxation Tips

Catherine Roberts

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In the midst of screaming kids, piles of paperwork, demanding bosses, and looming deadlines, we don’t always have the time to take a lengthy breather.

Luckily, the following ten relaxation tactics will help you quickly and effectively calm your nerves in times of stress…

1. Get Some Sun

A quick dose of vitamin D absorbed naturally from the sun’s rays is a quick shot to stress relief. Not only will feeling the sun on your skin banish negative thoughts and depression almost instantly, it will clear and energize your mind as well.

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2. Savor a Sweet Mango

We don’t all have the time and money to take a tropical vacation every year. However, you can whisk your senses away to tropical climes by enjoying a juicy snack of fresh mango. The fruit contains, linalool, a compound that naturally eases anxiety.

3. Visualize Your Happy Place

A remote fishing cottage, playing with your childhood pet, laying in bed with your special someone—whatever and wherever your happy place is, you can get there quick by simply closing your eyes and using a technique known as “creative visualization,” which instantly produces the warm fuzzies!

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4. Stretch Out

It’s no wonder you’re stressed! After sitting in the same spot for hours (I’m looking at you computer), the blood flow in your body is as stagnant as your mood. So do yourself a favor—stand up and stretch out to relieve muscle tension and encourage fresh blood flow.

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5. Brew Some Tea

Instead of setting your mood to boil—set the kettle to boil and brew some tea, green preferably. Green tea contains L-Theanine, a chemical compound that soothes tension and rage with each calming sip.

6. A Little Dab of Honey Will Do

A spoonful of honey makes the medicine go down and it also relieves those daily annoyances that send your temper soaring. How? Thanks to natural ant-inflammatory compounds that shrink inflammation-causing anxiety in our brains.

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7. Dab Water On Artery Points

While strong perfume may leave you with a headache, dabbing cold water on your wrists and behind your earlobes (major arterial points) will cool out and zen out the body and mind.

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8. Turn Up That Song

Top 40, hip hop, country, sweating’ to the oldies…whatever your jam, getting down to a favorite tune will almost instantly banish any sour mood.

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9. Chew a Stick of Gum

The flavor is irrelevant—spearmint, cinnamon, cherry, or bubblegum—the act of chewing considerably reduces stress, lessens anger, and is easier on the waistline than that chocolate cake.

10. Massage Tense Hands

If you don’t have time to duck out for a lunch time massage appointment, do the next best thing and apply self massage techniques to tired hands. If you type at a computer all day or work with tools, a quick hand rub will relieve tension, slow heart rate, and improve mood.