Helpful Hints and Tips for Getting Rid of Stress

• Allow yourself some private time each day, as little as half an hour can make a difference.
• Pray and meditate.
• Take a long walk. Exercise that relaxes and gives new perspectives is rejuvenating.
• Buy a bouquet of flowers for yourself. Or pick one from your garden, even roadside Queen Anne's Lace will do
• Turn off the phone, and allow your answering machine to pick up your calls. This is a mindsaver.
• Snuggle up with a good book.
• Put on your favorite music. You can even turn it up loud, and dance; if you have toddlers they love this, too.
• Call a friend, and settle in with a hot cup of tea, give yourself time to enjoy the conversation.
• Run the hot water, pour in bath salts, and luxuriate in your tub for a long, fragrant soak at the end of the day.
• Indulge in getting (or giving) a massage.
• Fix a little favorite comfort food.
• Recall favorite memories, and allow yourself to recreate that feeling with loved ones, or a special moment in your life.
• Write. In your journal, or a love letter to anyone you love, or a poem to express yourself
• Treat yourself to a trip to the salon,a manicure and a pedicure, a shampoo and styling, nothing too different, maybe, but just for the fun
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• Rent a great video. Or better yet, go to the library, and borrow it with some good books
• New Books! There are times only a Borders or Barnes and Noble store will do! Spend the afternoon, on your own or with a friend.
• Start a Blessings journal, and take time for God.
• Go outside: to the beach, hike in the park, walk in the neighborhood. Bask in the sunshine, examine the trees and the flowers, make up pictures in the clouds, delight in the day.