HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--{{{{{STRESS}}}}}

{{{{{Stress}}}}} We all deal with it. But stress isn’t good for us. It can make us physically sick. It can make us depressed. It can affect those around us. It can hinder our work. Stress will never go away. It’s a fact of life, but there are ways to cope with it, minimize it. Even get rid of some of it some of the time.

Many people swear by yoga. Others are into meditation. Lots of us exercise to relieve stress. All are great. However, sometimes we don’t have the luxury of taking a yoga, meditation or exercise break at specific times when we’re feeling overwhelmed. We need something we can do while at our desks or when we’re stuck in a traffic jam and late for a doctor’s appointment.

Here are two stress relievers to try for those times when your usual mode of stress relief isn’t available to you:

1. Take slow, deep breaths, sighing loudly, for two minutes. Large exhalations of air help your body release tension and pent-up anxiety.

2. Sing! According to a recent survey, the breathing patterns used while singing can positively influence your heart rate and health. It’s similar to doing yoga breathing exercises. (This one is best in the car with the windows rolled up if, like me, you can’t carry a tune to save your life!)