5 Fast Stress Busters that Rival Ghostbusters
By Sandy Schroeder
Got trouble? Call Ghostbusters, of course. But what if you want results in 15 minutes or less, and you really don’t want to create a scene?
We all know the stress signs, as the heart races, blood pressure rises, and adrenaline surges, but getting stuck with those symptoms day-after-day could put you at risk for heart disease, weight gain, and brain fog, according to Ash Nadkarni, MD, an associate psychiatrist at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Here are some of Health.com’s quick relief stress busters to try.
Giggle a little or a lot – When stress is making your head explode, drop back and pull up a funny joke, call a funny friend, or do your own impromptu take on what is stressing you out. You may come up with some hysterical putdowns or parodies of life that absolutely nail the situation and take a huge bite out of your stress.
Begin the day 15 minutes early – That sounds painful, but it could be the best way to have 15 minutes to yourself to calmly contemplate the day as you sip your coffee or tea. In contrast, when the alarm goes off and you hit the floor running, you could be setting a stress tone for the whole day.
Clear out clutter – When you are overwhelmed, the last thing you want to do is sort through files, or clean up at home, but it actually works. When you tidy up your world, you may also clear your mind. Taking control of your clutter may inspire you to stay stress-free with ongoing sessions. Put them on your calendar and connect with the Salvation Army or Goodwill to pick up donations.
Color in your surroundings – Red excites and blues, greens and grays soothe, but surrounding yourself with the color you love could lower your stress. Buttercup yellow, palest pink, soft lavender, shiny black or rich bronze could be the color that makes you feel good. Add it to your workspace as a computer screensaver, paintings or pottery, or carry it with you in totes, scarves or jewelry.
Sing, dance or strum along – If you play an instrument such as the guitar, piano or a flute, you may already know the relief that comes from simply taking a few minutes with your music. Singing or dancing can work the same way as you let the music take over. Researchers say singing can lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Some surgeons play music as they operate. Some professors do their best work as classical music soars through their office.
If you try these stress busters, and they work, keep looking for more, or invent your own. The lighter your stress load the more creative you may become.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Valencia, Calif.