21.
Take up a new hobby like knitting
or crocheting
Don't worry about being good at it.
It's the process that's beneficial.
Sitting still while performing repetitive
movements is calming and stabilizing
for many people. It can be time to
collect your thoughts.
22.
Start a garden
Even apartment-dwellers can do this.
Inside in pots, pots on the patio,
pots, a small spot in your yard. There
is a little work to setting it up.
Tending plants, fruits, vegetables,
flowers and watching them grow, bloom,
or yield food is rewarding. Avid gardeners
say working a garden is the best way
to control stress and worry. An added
benefit is the creation of a more
beautiful, restful environment.
23.
Play with a dog or cat
Experts say pet owners have longer
lives and fewer stress symptoms that
non-pet owners. Playing with your
pet provide good vibrations –
for you and for the pet! It’s
a form of social interaction with
no pressure to meet anyone’s
expectations!
24.
Look at the stars and the moon
It can be a very humbling experience
to lay on a blanket with your hands
behind your head and gaze up into
the night sky. It’s more than
humbling; it’s downright beautiful
and relaxing!
Just
the other night, my grandson and I
got a blanket out and lay in the yard
looking at the moon going behind the
clouds and gazing at the stars. He’s
only three, so it’s a fascinating
experience for him, but looking at
the sky through his eyes made it even
more fascinating for me.
I could feel all my worries melting
away as we chatted about the astronauts
that get to see the stars close up
and how big the universe is while
we remain so small. When you look
at the vastness of the sky, you realize
that our problems are small compared
to that. I also get great comfort
from seeing that one bright star in
the sky that is always above my house.
When my best friend’s mother
died, we got out of the car after
coming from her visitation and my
friend’s five-year old and I
stopped to star gaze. She pointed
out one particular star and said “That’s
my grandma. She’s our guardian
angel now.” Every time I see
that star, I know Cheryl’s there
and she’ll help get me through
anything!
25.
Treat yourself to some comfort food
But
be careful or over-eating could become
your big stressor. Enjoy in moderation
and make yourself feel better.
I love mashed potatoes and gravy and
macaroni and cheese. Those are my
comfort foods. But I make sure that
I don’t overdo it. I give myself
just enough to bring on that calming
feeling.
26. Swing
Remember
the feeling of sitting inside that
little piece of leather on the playground
as you sway back and forth and feel
the wind whipping through you hair?
Do that! If you don’t have a
swing in your yard, go to a playground
and remember to pump your legs back
and forth to see how high you can
go. It’s liberating!
27.
Take a candle lit bubble bath
Even
you guys out there can benefit from
a warm bath bathed in the soft glow
of candlelight. Lay your head back,
feel the bubbles and the warm water,
and let your stress go right down
the drain when you pull the plug!
Phew!
There you have twenty-seven ways to
relax and de-stress! You can come
up with your own ways as well! The
key, really, is to find something
that makes you feel better when you
are overwhelmed and practice that
method faithfully. You’ll be
a healthier person overall.
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