Anyone else find themselves going at 100 miles per hour, constantly plugged in without a second to just chill out? Us too. Between work, family and attempting to have a social life, it’s pretty hard to find time to just sit still and do something for ourselves. And if for some reason that occasion does present itself, we normally just want to curl up for a nap.
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We don’t have all the answers, but we do know that taking small steps in the right direction can make a huge difference. These little stress-busters, when used regularly, could bring your stress down to that normal-crazy level. You can try one idea for every week of the year:
1. Curl up with your real S.O., Netflix. (And use these Netflix hacks to make binge-watching so much easier.)
2. Take a bath while drinking a glass of your favorite wine.
3. Try a new, easy cardio activity: walking around the block, hiking at a well-lit park or swimming a few laps at the community pool.
4. Listen to a guided meditation podcast as you drift off to sleep.
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5. Clean that one room/area of your house that has been driving you crazy. (Trust us, you’ll feel a lot better when the organizing is done.)
6. Watch fish swim in an aquarium and release all those to-do lists in your head.
7. Buy a plant. That’s right; apparently just being around a houseplant can relax you.
8. Try a gratitude journal — write down three little things you’re grateful for at the end of each day.
9. Write down everything that is stressing you out on the next page.
10. Eat clean for one day (cutting out all processed foods) and observe how you feel before you go to sleep.
11. Practice several cycles of deep breathing at the beginning and end of your lunch break.
12. Set up a “walking date” with a good friend you haven’t seen enough of lately.
13. Drink just one glass of red wine with your evening meal.
14. Learn to meditate — and try it at least once a day.
15. Take an afternoon nap.
16. Pucker up: Kissing relieves stress by helping your brain to release endorphins.
17. Watch a viral video. A good laugh is a great relaxation technique and boosts endorphins.
18. While you’re at it, pay it forward by buying a fancy coffee for the person in line behind you, too.
19. Eat a banana — potassium helps regulate blood pressure.
20. Chew a piece of gum. According to a 2008 Swinburne University study, this act can relieve anxiety.
21. Use a Groupon to hire a housecleaning service to clean your home from top to bottom.
22. Send a friend, your mom or your sister a “just thinking about you” text and wait for their sweet response.
23. Read an old love note or love email.
24. Read an old work email, praising you for one of your biggest accomplishments.
25. Don’t just hum — sing along with music in the car at the top of your lungs.
26. Say “no” to an unnecessary commitment, with absolutely zero guilt.
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A version of this article was originally published in March 2008.
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