A Visit to Crazy Town

I've got a lot on my plate, and I'm not talking BBQ. I'm teaching a new English class this fall, I've got several story irons in the fire, I'm in the middle of a landscaping project, there's the back forty to plow and if I don't get my fanny over to Target and buy some new underwear, well, let's just say things ain't gonna be pretty around here. Yep. Life can be crazy nuts sometimes, so here are a few coping skills that just might get you by . . .

3 Ways To Beat Stress

Eat
Yeah, I know. This sounds like a stupid made-up coping mechanism to deal with stress just because I love me a good bean burrito from Chipotle. But no, Ke-mo Sah-bee, I'm not foolin' with ya. Taking a lunch break is good for your body and your mind. Check out this little article: If You Think You're Productive During Lunch, Think Again.

Breathe
Andrew Weil, MD, has a 4-7-8 breathing trick that leaches stress from your lungs. Go ahead, give it a whirl . . .
1. Exhale completely through your mouth making a whoosh sound.
2. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose for a mental count of four.
3. Hold your breath for a count of seven.
4. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.
5. This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle 3 more times for a total of four breaths.
What did you think? Want to try another one? Check out his Three Breathing Exercises article.

Walk
Walking improves creativity, but don't take my word for it. The brains at Stanford University say so too. Their study showed that a person's creative output increased by 60% when walking. And if you're interested in reading more about the study, click here.

If your schedule is as whacked out as mine, give these 3 stress-relievers a try. Personally, I like the lunch one the best.