"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them"

I've been thinking about stress a lot, since I seem to be perpetually stressed out. And while browsing around Sparkpeople- I noticed that their motivational calander for July is 31 Days to Less Stress. Perfect timing!


So, I thought I would share their tips here 5 (or 6 for the last set) at a time- and then see how many I can do in the days that follow.

1. Reach out. Develop a network of friends and family who you can rely on and confide in. Call or visit them when you need to talk or vent. By sharing and listening, they will help you calm down.
2. Work up a sweat. Exercise is one of the best ways to de-stress. Pop in a workout video, hop on your bike or grab your jump rope. Picture the stress leaving you body through your pores and let it go.
3. Just breathe. When a stressful situation arises breathe in and out slowly and deeply for 10 full breaths. Exhaling slowly decreases your heart rate and calms the body, helping reduce stress.
4. Hold hands. A recent study published in Psychological Science found that hand-holding calms the body's reaction to stress. So grab the hand of a friend or loved on whether you're sitting on the couch or taking a walk.
5. Organize your life. De-stress your mind by de-cluttering. Clear off your desk, clear out your coset, utilize a planner and donate items you don't use. You'll be more relaxed and ready to tackle other issues.