Monday Not So Mellow YET: 5 Ways to Relax
Let’s focus on ways to corral your stress and create more mellow days. My brain has been spinning from computer problems and changes.
When you’re blood is boiling, your head is pounding and 
you think you’re going to explode at the next person or pet who crosses your path, you need to have a quick release valve.
Here are 5 ways to quickly add some mellow to your day.
- Breathe! When you are stressed you tend to take shallower and quicker breathes. This leaves your brain with inadequate oxygen.
- Sit or stand straight.
- Breathe in through your nose to the count of 5.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth to the count of 8.
- Repeat as necessary.
- Jump into a comfy pair of walking shoes and walk briskly around the block. Add the deep breathing techniques above to amplify the positive effects.
- Put on some favorite upbeat tunes and dance around the room. Grab your toddler and swirl around until both of you are laughing.
- Smell something soothing. Soothing scents such as lavender are calming. Other scents such as cinnamon or peach which bring back great memories can lower your stress levels.
- Put on a sad movie and have a good cry. Crying releases stress-related hormones. Women especially respond to a “good” cry.
A BONUS Relaxation Tip
Put on some dirt-digging clothes, grab a trowel, bend down and pull a weed or two or three until your garden is tidy and your body feels a that good sense of fatigue gardeners enjoy!
May you experience days that aren’t mellow. Remember a life lived on a single plane (either all up or all down) is either totally chaotic or totally depressing.
