7 Ways to Stress Less

This past Sunday, I ran across a Buzzfeed post with 7 ways to help you stress less during the coming week. As a Type-A person who battles anxiety, of course I had to read. And with each of their fabulous tips, I kept thinking to myself: We have a book for that! And that! And that!

So, below I’ve paraphrased their tips to stress less, along with information on each of our books to help you find more information.

1. Tip: Take a candlelit bath or shower while listening to some soothing music. I personally am a HUGE fan of a long soak in the tub, preferably with a glass of pinot grigio and a good book. Looking for more ways to use baths to relax, renew, and re-invigorate? Check out The Book of Sacred Baths, by Paulette Kouffman Sherman, PsyD.
    

2. Tip: Download a meditation app. Not everyone has a smart phone, and of those of us that do, our app preferences vary. (I’m not one for meditation apps, but I do have one that includes soothing rain shower sounds and another puzzle app that I play when my anxiety gets overwhelming.) Apps not your thing? Check out our huge selection of meditation CDs, including Voice of the Soul from Alanna Fairchild.
    

3. Tip: Start following a bunch of dogs (and cats!) on social media. I personally believe that the Interwebs were created specifically for cat videos (sorry, Tim Berners-Lee!), and studies have shown that taking a short break to watch animals is good for your health and helps productivity. Looking for some cute, inspirational animals to help you through the day? Check out Blue Angel Publishing’s ridiculously cute and inspirational animal books and oracles, including The Little Book of Happiness
    

4. Tip: Try a restorative yoga pose. Yoga is a fabulous practice, especially when it comes to relieving stress. Check out Yoga Therapy for Stress & Anxiety, by Robert Butera, Erin Byron, and Staffan Elgelid.
    

5. Tip: Buy an adult coloring book. We love this coloring book craze! It is a mindful practice that helps relieve stress as well as bolster our creativity. Try any one of our available coloring books, such as the new Jasmine Becket-Griffith Halloween Coloring Book.
    

6. Tip: Take a walk outside. There is no denying, at least for me, that being outside in nature helps my outlook on life. The smells, sights, and sounds are immediately calming. (And, here at Llewellyn, we’re fantastically blessed that our offices come with plenty of forest and swamp around us—complete with wild turkeys and deer!) Looking for more ways to connect with the natural world? Check out Tess Whitehurst’s Magic of Trees and Melissa Alvarez’s Animal Frequency, both due out this spring.
    

7. Tip: Meet up with your friends and family. Friends and family are an incredible source of support, and are there for advice and laughter (which is, after all, the best medicine). Looking for more ways to bolster your relationships? Check out Sharon Lipinski’s 365 Ways to Live Generously or Alexandra Chauran’s Compassion Is the Key to Everything.
   
   

I know this list is missing a great number of items, since we all have those things that work for us. What do you use to relax and stress less?