Contributed by Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

April is Stress Awareness Month and has been for the last twenty years.

Dr. Mort Orman, M.D. has been making stress relief publications available to the public to assist the population with this stress epidemic.

Dr. Mort Orman believes that when we say we are “stressed,” what we really mean could be one or more other feelings, such as feeling anxious, frustrated, or angry, being excessively tired, experiencing muscle pain, etc.

So what can you do about these real feelings we call stress? There are multiple relaxation strategies you can use; here are the top ten tips and techniques for stress relief.

 

10. Breathe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breathing strongly influences our mind and our mood. Take time out of each day to pay attention to your breathing and take some deep long breaths.

9. Get organized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being unorganized can cause us to feel flustered and confused. By using a monthly planner you will feel more accomplished every time you get to cross something off the list!

8. Try aromatherapy products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They even make aromatherapy products for the hot tub, spa or bath! If you are going to give tip #2 on this list a try then consider reusable fragrance beads for the warm water. Spa fragrances come in multiple scents so it’s likely you‘ll find one you enjoy.

7. Speak your mind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are feeling frustrated or angry, you should talk about it! Keeping negative feelings bottled up inside will not help the word “stress” leave your mind.

6. Take a walk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking a nice walk allows you to enjoy a change in scenery and get some fresh air. Walk away from the environment you felt negative feelings in and return for a fresh start.

5. Play and laugh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Play games with a friend. Playing games and laughing can be the best medicine. If you are feeling down, call someone you know will make you smile.

4. Start a journal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If what’s bothering you is personal, write it down. It will help to get negative thoughts out of your mind and onto the paper. Be sure to write positive thoughts down and end your journal entry on a happy note each day!

3. Go on a trip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a mini-vacation and spend the day doing things you enjoy. Be sure to go far enough away for a change of scenery; perhaps just a few towns away!

2. Hot soak

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soak in a hot tub, spa or bath. Warm water is extremely relaxing for muscles. Many hot tubs come equipped with jets that target the upper back, the lower back, and feet for beneficial hydrotherapy. After a long day, you will feel relaxed in minutes.

1. Sleep

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’d be amazed at the list of health benefits a good night’s sleep offers. It’s easy to get carried away with daily tasks and skimp on sleep, but sleep is important and crucial to a healthy lifestyle. Try taking one night out of the week to go to sleep at least an hour earlier.

These top 10 tips and techniques for stress relief will get your Stress Awareness Month off to a great start. Don’t forget: Stress is only a WORD! Try to pinpoint negative feelings and then use these top 10 stress relief tips to help fix it.