Smile Your Stress Away and Other Natural Ways to Reduce Stress

Laugh out loud - Rent some funny comedic movies. Laughter is a healing reaction to a pleasurable experience of the mind. Make a big batch of popcorn, turn off your phones, wrap up in your favorite pajamas and let the movies entertain your weary mind.  In addition to alleviating stress, "Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack," according to a new study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore

Get back to nature - Spend some time outdoors and let nature nurture you. Somehow, fresh air and sunshine have a great effect on a person's mentality. Getting vitamin D naturally from the sun is a great way to nourish oneself. Cool breezes, birds chirping and trees casting long shadows with the wind swaying their branches somehow make the mind forget the problems we have. After all, think of what the large older trees have withstood in the many years of their existence; hurricanes, flash floods, forest fires, the mere history they've survived. Individually, we are so small in the grand scheme of things, and the majority of the time, so are our problems. For those who live in areas with limited sunlight, or during the cold winter months, we at RehabMart recommend full spectrum Light Therapy lights. 

Recess for stress -  Play with your children or grandchildren. Children are truly gifts to us all. They have a magical way of making us all forget about the problems we have and get in touch with that inner child we often abandon. Get on the floor with them and color. Coloring is a really therapeutic way of dealing with stress, and somehow, simple things always seem to make us forget difficult things. Have tickle wars, pillow fights and just enjoy their presence. They are only here for such a short while before they morph into adults right under our noses. Enjoy them, celebrate them. Let them remind us of what is truly important.

Call somebody who cares - Call a good friend that you may have been neglecting lately. A lot of times they have just the right solution, or words to say to make you feel much better. Friends and loved ones almost always can share a funny story or memory with you. Let them offer you their support, remember why they are your friend and always remember to ask them about their problems and how you may help them if need be. Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do for ourselves is ask for help, and the smartest thing is to give it back.

Give a little love - Find ways to help others that are less fortunate. Research online to find local volunteer agencies you can join if you have the spare time. Nothing puts our problems and woes into proper perspective like seeing the struggles of those less fortunate. Being of service to others seems to always multiply our joys and lessen our sorrows. Just because your situation isn't ideal doesn't mean you can't make a difference in someone else's life. Join online sites like ehow and  share what you know, what you've learned, and touch people across the barriers of distance. You never know who you may inspire or help with your thoughts and wisdom.

Work it out - Exercising is a great way to reduce stress as it improves health, both physical and mental. It also improves our ability to sleep and rest effectively which is often at the tail end of a stressful day and life. Get in at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily to gain some benefit for reducing stress. Yoga is also a great form of exercise for relieving stress.
 
You are what you eat - Our diets have impact on so many things in our life, it only stands to reason that a poor diet will not help our stress levels. Take inventory of the foods and drinks you consume every day and look for simple, easy changes to begin with. Reduce the amount of caffeine in your diet, sugars, starches, salty, pre-packaged processed foods and increase your intake of vegetables and fruits. Hydrate your body, and since it is almost impossible for any human being to get the right amount of all vitamins and minerals from just diet alone, take a good vitamin and mineral supplement once a day.