How do you de-stress?

MomLive
Sun, 27 Feb 2011 09:17:53 +0000

I went through a very stressful couple of years, to the point my very low blood pressure was starting to rise.

I get regular spa pedicures and massages (at least once a month for both). I’ve never been one to spend money on these types of things but now I feel like I need them to keep my sanity. I also enjoy a glass or two of my favorite wine most evenings.

I also have found regular exercise helps my mood. It needs to be strenuous enough to get me sweaty but even thirty minutes twice a week seems to really help.

Recently, I started doing something I’ve never done before…watching a sitcom that makes me laugh. My current favorite is Everyone Loves Raymond, which is on in re-runs daily about the time I go to bed. So I turn it on in the bedroom and watch it. Every time I laugh, I can feel those endorphins kick in and feel more relaxed. They say that laugther is the best medicine. It seems to be working for me, my blood pressure is back to normal.

[Laughter is the Best Medicine: The Health Benefits of Humor](http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm)

I’ve also stopped doing things that cause me stress like watching the news on TV, especially those talking-head type shows.