Get Out the Big Guns
As we, as a nation, become increasingly stressed out, our cultural fascination with yoga, meditation and all things aromatherapy increases. Ever wonder why? Duh, these techniques are wonderful stress-reducers, and they don’t take a lot of time, energy or money to perfect. Instructional manuals abound for these no-longer “new age” practices, so we won’t reinvent the wheel in this pithy article. However, here’s a list of things you ought to try, at least once, just to find out if they work for you:

• Yoga or Pilates
• Transcendental Meditation (TM)
• Deep Breathing/Relaxation Techniques
• Aromatherapy (candles, cleanliness and smell-good scents)

Finally, use a little common sense. If you aren’t eating right, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep, then of course you’re feeling grumpy and tired! Get at least eight hours of sleep, eat fruits and vegetables and try for a half-hour of exercise at least three times a week. The doctors and magazine articles aren’t lying: you need to do this stuff if you want to feel good every day.

Bright Idea: A 20-minute catnap can do wonders for your stressed-out self. Invest in a comfy eye mask, slip it on and crash out … but remember to set the alarm! If you oversleep, not only will you stress yourself out further as you race to catch up with everything you missed, but you’ll also wind up feeling groggy and dumb. The key to savvy daytime sleeping: keep it short and sweet.