4 Simple Ways to Destress in One Minute or Less

“If you feel too pressed for time to engage in "stress-reduction strategies," there are ways to de-stress that take about one minute. These research-supported strategies can be accomplished while sitting in traffic or standing in line.

(Fake) smile

It turns out that not only does an increase in serotonin make you feel happy (and therefore more likely to smile), but that it works in the other direction too; smiling (or fake-smiling) increases serotonin levels in the brain, making you feel less stressed and ever so slightly happier. This is related to the facial-feedback effect supported by much research. Activating the smile muscles eases stress when you’re upset and magnifies happy feelings.

Play a nostalgic song

While you’re still driving, play a minute of a song that reminds you of a time in your life when you (and the world) were more carefree. Whatever does it for you—"Rock Lobster"? "My Sharona"?—something slightly silly seems to work best. When you hear your jam, the associations with that time in your life will trigger the part of the brain that contains those memories, and studies on mood and memory have shown that good memories trigger happy thoughts which trigger more good memories, leaving the present stress behind.

Pose Like a Hero

Stop for a second and do the “hero pose.” - stand with your back straight and look out onto an imagined horizon, hands on your hips, jaw slightly forward. Imagine a cape flowing out behind you. When used prior to a task, the hero pose has been found to improve performance compared to people who don’t pose. Psychologist Amy Cuddy’s research describes "power posing" and its effects, and the hero pose has even had a moment on the show Grey’s Anatomy, where the doctors pose before a big surgery. (Note: The power pose effect still needs further validation and replication. Please see Cuddy's comments about that.)

Hug Someone (or hug your pet)

Research has shown that tactile comfort is central to feeling secure, and hugs stimulate the release of oxytocin, which is the hormone that promotes a feeling of warmth and bonding (the “awww” hormone).”

Read the whole article at Psychology Today

#Stress #Research #Well-being

💬 What is a technique that helps you to deal with stress?