How to Make a Break Escaping Stress
By Sandy Schroeder
Are you at the point of snapping? Does it seem like your family is determined to push you over the edge? We all have those moments when it all becomes too much. STRESS, in all caps, hits, followed closely by anxiety, and the day just takes a dive.
Before it goes any further, choose some quick tips like the following to reverse the flow. Some are from quickanddirtytips.com. They are all designed to make you grin again. You won’t believe how good it feels.
Stage a Movie Marathon – Dive right into your favorites and bring along the popcorn. Invite your family or friends to join in, and simply relax as you recite the lines with your favorite characters. Escape can be a marvelous stress breaker.
Dark Chocolate Rescue – Go ahead, enjoy. Researchers tell us a one-ounce piece of dark chocolate can lower stress levels and lighten the load. This is a personal favorite of mine. If you buy a box of dark chocolate cocoa powder you can swirl it through your morning oats, use it as a base for baking, or top off a special coffee brew.
Indulge in You – Take time out for a new haircut, scarf or shoes, soothing baths, or fresh scents. Use them to reaffirm you. You will come out looking better and feeling better.
Greenery Is Good – Whatever you are having for lunch or dinner, add a side salad of dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, or swiss chard. Researchers say they can offset the bad effects of cortisol, the stress hormone that is released when you are stressed.
Move a Little and Add Tunes – Love jazz nights, rock festivals, or country? Turn up the volume, and keep moving, as you let your favorite tunes bring you down from that stress peak.
Pinch Away Stress – If you feel the area between the eyebrows tighten with stress, pinch the muscle there with your bent forefinger and thumb starting at the center and work along the brow line. You will remind yourself to let go of the stress and it will reduce the wrinkle that often settles there.
Pause With a Pet – It’s really hard to scowl when your favorite pup is bounding around your feet, or your cat is purring like a freight train as you pet her. A few moments really can make a difference.
These are just a few of the many ways you can defuse your stress. Start with the things that make you smile, and keep building a list that works, ready when you need it to let go of the next stress attack.
