Yum, who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies? The taste is pure heaven, of course, but there's also something instantly therapeutic about the aroma of just-baked cookies -- childhood, perhaps, or a memory of a bakery we loved in college. Whatever the case, baking a batch is, for one, quick (cookies only take 12-15 minutes to make) and it's a simple way to reduce stress.
When you're cracking the eggs, mixing the ingredients and spooning the gooey goodness onto a cookie sheet, you can let your mind focus on happier, sweeter thoughts -- and take a moment to sniff in the sweetness.
Here's the calming catch: Up your stress-minimizing payoff by using dark chocolate chips in lieu of the milk or white variety. The dark ones offer up an added antioxidant bang, which are better for your heart and skin. If you're worried your stress might cause you to gobble up the entire batch, wrap all but a couple up and give them to a friend, neighbor or colleague -- stat. You might just help banish someone else's stress while attacking your own. Bonus.
Photo 0/7
Get Into a Yoga State of Mind
You've likely heard that yoga is mind-body-and-spirit satisfying, but for good measure, we'll reiterate that fact here. A session (or even a few moves) will help you refresh, inside and out, to diminish stress and create a balance of calm. If you don't have time to get to the gym, you can easily do some "home" ohm with a DVD, explains Betsy Seligman, a Chicago-based yoga instructor and creator of Yogatude. No time for even at-home yoga? Take just a minute to do some deep breathing (perfect for when you feel like you're about to explode in your cubicle). We often hold our breath when we're tense, and this will instantly help create a sense of calm.
Ah, women and stress, the scenarios are all too familiar; Have you been wounded by stress? Do you loathe the stressors and suffocation that stress invokes? We do too.
That's why we're committed to helping you beat the heat with these easy-to-adopt, simple moves that result in a de-stressed you -- mind and body alike. Because, according to psychologist Amy Robbins, Ph.D., who has a private practice in Chicago, where she sees plenty of women burdened by stress and anxiety, our overall appearance and feelings are directly affected by the stress we take in.
When it comes to women and stress, it "can cause your skin to have breakouts. It can make you eat too much or not eat enough. It can make you pull out your hair -- almost literally -- and can even cause you to pick at your nails and skin. When we're stressed, we start to behave in often unhealthy ways." That being said, there are things you can do -- at home, in your own space and time -- to minimize the internal and external affects of daily damners (AKA: stress). You can keep your skin and hair from feeling the pain from your stress, as well as clear your mind and spirit from the sorrow it can often bring. "Stress is a normal, common issue for all of us. But you can work through your stress in a sane and healthful way with the right know how and [by] taking some initiative," explains Dr. Robbins.
Here, six moves for women with stress to adopt so you can look incredible and feel even better --starting now.
