10 Ways to Stress Less

Bet this will surprise you: Average stress levels in North America went down in 2011. According to a national survey, on a scale of 1 to 10 they dropped a full point, from 6.2 to 5.2.

Apparently, we're getting used to living with constant stress -- not good. However, we're also getting better at stress management -- good! Not a wiz yet at how to reduce stress? Try our top 10 ways to get some stress relief.

1. Take a time out. Step away from whatever's making every muscle tense. Even 10 minutes helps. Here's what a little deep breathing can do for you. 放下手頭的事，哪怕10分鐘，讓肌肉停止緊張。
2. Walk. Or dance, lift weights, do yoga. Exercise gives you a break and undoes some of stress's bad biological effects. Choose exercise over alcohol. 走路，或做其他運動。
3. Talk. Vent to someone close. 聊天
4. Meditate. Or do 10 minutes of deep breathing twice a day. 冥想
5. Laugh. Call your funniest friend, catch a favorite sitcom, or watch crazy-cat videos online. Make a "happy friend" date. 大笑
6. Let it go. Is there someone who always gets to you? Take a deep breath and move on. The person you're letting off the hook is you. 算了吧，一切都去他的！
7. Keep lavender and lemon around -- sprays, oils or the real things. Their calming scents are proven relaxants. Consider an aromatherapy massage.  備些薰衣草和檸檬，其噴霧劑或精油也行，它們具有鎮(zhèn)靜和松弛的功效
8. Play with a pet. Just stroking a four-legged friend lowers stress and blood pressure. Find out how your pets can help you live longer. 和寵物玩一會兒，四條腿的朋友能讓你舒緩壓力和降低血壓。
9. Squeeze tight. Scrunch up every face or body muscle for 15 seconds, then release. Repeat. Contraction-relaxation unknots you. 緊張肌肉15秒鐘，然后放松，重復(fù)做。
10. Accentuate the positive. At night, focus on three good things that happened today. Be grateful. Say thanks. A lot. Life is good 強(qiáng)調(diào)積極和樂觀的事物，晚間，思維集中在白天發(fā)生過的3件好事上，心存感恩，說聲謝謝。