When "serenity now" isn't working, keep your cool with these easy, instant fixes
Photo 5/8
Listen to Music
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).
Photo 6/8
Have a Cuppa
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.
It's been said that a hug is "like an emotional Heimlich." (Thank you, "Pushing Daisies.") And now there's science to back it up: a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that people who hugged their significant other had an overall lower heart rate and blood pressure when talking about a personal experience that triggered anger or stress. So if you're starting to feel upset, go hug somebody. (Preferably somebody you know.)
Several breathing exercises can instantly kick-start feelings of calmness. Steve Pavilanis of ALifeLessAnxious.com suggests this: Inhale deeply, holding your breath in as you tense your whole body. Hold this for five to 10 seconds, then relax your muscles as you exhale slowly. Feel better yet?
