Your favourite 5-minute de-stressors

Clean up!
My favourite five-minute de-stresser is to clean, tidy and/or reorganize one shelf or drawer in my living space. The sense of accomplishment and control spills over into my overly-committed life and lowers my stress.

Kathleen Patchell

Tea time

I boil some water and make a calming chamomile tea to drink. I also put some aside in a little teacup and wait for it to cool down but when it's still warm, I dip two cotton pads in the tea, squeeze out excess tea and put the pads over my eyes. Then I sit in my big comfy chair in my bedroom and sip away at my tea with the pads on my eyes to relax my eyes

Sometimes I stay in there longer than five minutes -- it all depends if my kids don't come looking for me!

Other de-stressors: Go for a quick brisk walk or simply tell your husband to mind the kids and go out to the store by yourself or go straight to bed to sleep.

Claudia Albano
Richmond Hill, ON

Sit. Read. Relax
There are many things I do to de-stress, however, my favourite thing involves many senses: Taking a few minutes to have a cup of tea, sitting with a magazine and a blanket over my legs, reading a few articles before I have to get up and do... something... there's always something.

Leslie McCullough
Pickering, ON

Crack a joke
I have a book of jokes that I carry with me as a means of de-stressing. They help to divert my focus and never fail in making me laugh out loud! By the time I am finished reading them, I feel more relaxed, genuinely happier and ready to tackle any problem.

Suzi Hushen

Chocolate relief
My favourite five-minute de-stressor is to take a small piece of dark chocolate and place it in my mouth and just let it melt while I lay on my bed alone with the door closed. I usually place a lavender eye pillow on my eyes while I lay there, practising relaxation exercises like deep breathing.

When the five minutes are up, I feel a whole lot better!

Jeannine Miranda

Click to continue for more advice from Homemakers readers on how to chill out...

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Cuddles and reading material
'Sex' would win, for sure, but five minutes may not be enough time :)

I have two favourite five-minute de-stressors: First, if he'll let me, five minutes of lying on the couch cuddling with my 2-year-old son makes me forget all the chaos and relax with love and warmth. Second, sitting on the closed toilet seat, reading a book or flipping through a magazine while my kids frolic in the bath really is relaxing.

Keri McKenzie
North Vancouver, BC

Laah-vender
I can give you one of the best five-minute de-stressors around and it costs pennies. I went to visit my Home Depot outdoor garden shop and purchased several herbs. Among them, I bought two varieties of lavender.

I pick the flowers for bouquets to hang in my closet, or a sachet in my underwear drawer and the stems I sometimes grab a stock and run into the house, pour a nice bath and squeeze them under the warm running water, and let them float in the water. Grab a nice chilled glass of Chardonnay or green tea with lemon, and hop into my bath with my book and voila! Stress free in five.

Working women and at-home moms can do this ANY time the kids are in bed or your husband stands in as ref. for 20 minutes. Make sure you follow gardener's tips and you can have a beautiful bunch of lavender any time you walk out your back door.

Rose Marie Hogue
Windsor, ON

Call on a wise woman
My best way to de-stress in a short period of time was to just call my grandmother and talk to her for a few minutes, ask her about her day, her life, ask her to give me examples of how she coped with a huge family, etc., and then I'd feel much better. Unfortunately, she passed away in December, at the age of 95. (I am almost 50 therefore I feel extremely lucky to have had a grandmother for so long!)

Sue Adams
Orleans, ON

We have four more quick and easy ways to relax, so click to continue...

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Have a little faith
Stopping for five minutes to pray and ask for God's help is a sure way to give me fresh perspective and renewed energy to meet the challenges and responsibilities that bombard me each day. Such times of meditation leave me with great peace and security, reminding me that there is always someone to help me when I need it most.

Ruth Micklefield

Just breathe
My favourite five-minute de-stressor is breathing deeply. Inhale and create a balloon with your abdomen, exhale and allow your abdomen to sink. You can do it anywhere, anytime, it calms and slows you down, gives your body energy with the extra oxygen and helps you when driving, waiting in line, during meetings and with your relationships, too.

Monique Duguay

Have some doggone fun
My favourite way to unwind quickly is to get on the floor with my dog, a 10-year old Sheltie. If he's being lazy then we just hang out. I rub his belly and scratch behind his ears and he reciprocates by giving me kisses on the back of my hands. If he's feeling lively then I tug on his legs (he only has three) and spin him around on the floor. He always looks like he's laughing his head off. It works every time. :-)

Sylvia Currie

Call on a few of your favourite things
Sit back with a homemade mocha with chocolate milk foam and sprinkles, light a scented candle, and put on your favourite song. Guaranteed to relax and de-stress you, as long as you're not allergic to chocolate or afraid of candles.

Tammy Loiselle
London, ON

Some say that stress is a fact of life but when tension threatens to break your spirit, remember that stress-busting solutions abound. The next time you want to calm down and return to your very own version of bliss, go on and take five!

You can also work stress right out of your body with stress-relieving exercises.

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