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Stress Relief

Quick Stress Relieve
 

Breathe in for four counts, out for eight. Don’t force the air out (that creates tension); just release. Try this at a cocktail party, the grocery store—anytime you feel your blood pressure rising. That kind of exhalation stimulates the vagus nerve, which lowers your heart rate and relaxes the entire body.

 

Stop and take in the sounds of your kitchen, the sight of your cooking counter and the delicious smell of homemade meals. We tend to worry about the future; taking stock of the moment brings us back to the present and mutes anxieties.

 

While you’re shopping, duck into Bath & Body Works and rub on some hand lotion. Lavender and ylang-ylang scents are particularly soothing, but any favorite fragrance will do. “Every time you treat yourself well, you feel more in-control. If you give yourself credit for it, it amplifies the physical stress-relieving effect.” So give yourself credit for finding a peaceful oasis in the mall!

 

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