- Breathe. Shallow, rapid breathing is a sure sign of stress. Take a long, deep breath through your nose until you feel the bottom of your lungs expand. Exhale slowly. Repeat. This will put more oxygen in
your system, sharpen you mentally and relieve tense muscles.
- Move. This will increase oxygen in your system, relieve tense muscles and physically get you away from the source of stress.
- Dream.
Go somewhere quiet (the bathroom, an empty office or corridor) and visualize you’re at the beach, in a mountain meadow, fishing at the lake. Call up the sights, the sounds, the smells. A five-minute mental vacation may not feel as good as the real thing, but it can give you a daily physical and mental boost.
- Talk. Sometimes you just need a sympathetic ear. Other times you need to vent. Or lend someone else an ear or shoulder. Strengthening your social network gives you more options for handling stress.
- Have fun. Laughter breaks tension, increases oxygen levels in the body and relaxes your muscles.
- Know thyself. Recognizing situations that stress you out helps you figure out how to avoid them, make them less stressful or what to do afterward to relieve the stress.
- Check the net. There are plenty of stress-busting on-line resources, including:
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