When a work confrontation gets you agitated or to calm your nerves before an important meeting, pop a piece of gum in your mouth. A study by the Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology at Cardiff University found evidence that "chewing gum can prevent the adverse effects of acute stress."
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We are officially giving you permission to watch YouTube videos because laughter really is the best medicine. Researchers have found that laughter reduces potentially harmful stress hormones in our bodies. So go watch that video of a cat playing banjo. It's good for you.
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If you've ever ridden the subway in New York City, you'll understand why so many people are plugged into their ear buds. Music can be a powerful mood-changer. So if your daily commute is making you tense or that shrieking kid in the airplane is grating on your last nerve, pipe into some relaxing music. Check out StereoMood.com, a website that creates playlists based on the kind of mood you're in (or want to get into).
Alas, we've discovered the secret to a Brit's calm, unflappable demeanor: studies have shown that people who drink tea have less of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event. Trying to incorporate tea into your daily routine is a great way to preemptively prevent stress.
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