Stress is a part of life, but it seems like lately with the economy in the state it's in (and gas prices skyrocketing to record high after record high), it's getting to be more than just a part of life -- for some of us, stress has downright taken over our lives.

Stress is bad, there's no doubt about that. Sure, in the case of meeting a bear in the woods, stress might help you run faster (or are you supposed stand still?) but in a civilized society, stress doesn't do much more than make us sick. Chronic mental illnesses like depression and anxiety are often directly linked to stress, as are physical conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, insomnia, and obesity, to name just a few from an ever growing list.

Source

Deadlines, work, overbooked schedules ... we all have stress in our lives. Finding ways to cope with and release stress is essential to a pleasant and happy life. Goodness knows the things that are creating stress probably aren't going away anytime soon.

Good Housekeeping has a list of 52 ways to reduce stress. What I love about these ideas is that they're reasonable and easy to accomplish. After all, you don't want to add more stress in your effort to release stress. Some of my favorite ideas from their list include:

• Uncork a Bottle of Whine. Call up a friend or get together just to vent. Be sure to listen to your friend's issues as well.
• Bless Their Hearts. My maternal grandmother always said this, so maybe that's why I love this tip so much. Whenever someone annoys you -- a driver cutting you off in traffic, a rude sales clerk -- just think or say "Bless their hearts." Three simple words to remind you to be compassionate even in the face of annoyance.
• Demi De-Clutter. Instead of trying to declutter your whole home, just pick one small area at a time... a drawer, a desk, the top shelf of your closet. When you break the job down to small portions, it's more manageable.

Check out the full list for more doable stress relievers. Also, visit AOL Health to check your stress level.

Source

Spring is here and that means flowers, nature in bloom everywhere, and as I just recently learned while working on an article for AOL Body (11 Reasons to Love Spring): the potential for improved health. While doing research for the article, I had the opportunity to discover a new reason to love spring, which is -- at the risking of sounding touchy-feely -- the healing powers of gardening.

"Watching something grow and even smelling flowers can have an impact on someone's health," says Mary Beth Miller, a horticultural therapist with Gardening for Good. A horticultural what? No, not a therapist for plants, but someone who helps her (human) patients address mental or physical health problems through gardening and connecting with nature.

What are the health benefits? The Horticultural Therapy Institute says this unique brand of therapy:

Life is too short not to be fully "tuned in." The Daily Turn On! is designed to wake up your senses, all six of them: smell, taste, touch, hearing, sight and intuition! Everyday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will awaken your mind, your body and your life!

Did you know ... The act of touching and being touched can boost your immune system. The more touches, hugs, kisses, massages, handshakes, pats on the back, etc., you give and receive will make you healthier and happier.

A woman's skin is more sensitive than a man's, and yet women need more touch. Women typically experience a higher level of stress but lower levels of the chemicals necessary to balance stress. A quick hug is a quick and easy way to reduce stress. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't wait for someone to hug you -- go after it yourself and hug someone. You will feel better immediately!

Try it out ... Hug a friend, a family member or even a colleague. Pat a friend on the hand or shoulder when speaking. Kiss a cheek when greeting. Give hello and good-bye hugs. When hugging children, let them let go of you first!

Observe your emotions ... Are you happy? Do you feel alive and awake? More positive? Less stressed? Share your experiences with us. More hugs in this world and more people talking about them can only be a good thing!

Turn On your senses ... Live a Fit Life!

Life Fit Chat with That's Fit Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis brings conversation provoking tidbits to your table, served up with a touch of spice! Byte-sized information that pack some punch, brought to you every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!

Did you know ... Walking can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and increase muscle form. A recent Japanese study involving 250 older adults confirmed just that. The study participants engaged in either no walking or walking with varying degrees of intensity. Not surprisingly, the group that participated in higher-intensity walking enjoyed a decrease in high blood pressure and reduced muscular deterioration. Dr. James Levine commented on this study in the July 2007 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings as he regaled the benefits of walking, "Walking doesn't cost you anything, you can do it barefoot and you can do it now, this minute."

Sometimes I have to laugh when the obvious is just so obvious. Life is stressful. We all know that, yet so many times in our attempt to stay healthy we only generate more stress for ourselves. Take for example this common scenario ...

Your favorite spin class starts at 6pm. The gym is 15 minutes across town, but in rush hour it takes more than 45 minutes. You rush to the gym, frantically trying to dodge traffic to get there in time to put your name on the list. You know you have to get there at least 20 minutes early or you will never manage to get a bike. By the time you arrive to the gym you are so stressed out you have to work out just to release all of that internalized aggression you experienced trying to get to the gym on time.

Now here comes the obvious ... you could take a leisure drive home, listen to relaxing music, grab the dog and hit the pavement. This "new" idea has a fabulous new term-ecocize. And, it is not just for cardiovascular health. Recent studies by Mind, a non-profit mental health organization in the UK, also indicate that a stroll outdoors aids in decreasing symptoms of depression which eco-psychologist are now calling "eco-therapy."

Go eco-get fit and happy. You may even get to know your neighbors.

Feeling overwhelmed and a bit stressed out? Goodness knows I do... I sometimes wonder how in the world I will continue managing two jobs and being a single parent to a very busy 10-year-old. But at least I don't have paparazzi to deal with. I can only imagine the pressure and stress of being a busy professional with a family -- and doing it in the glow of Hollywood.

This site gives some practical advice from celebrities on their favorite ways to reduce stress. Kathy Griffin likes to live life on the "TV" list. Nancy Travis swears by jogging or a good massage. Alison Sweeney likes to visit the gym.

What are your favorite ways to de-stress?

Source

We all have enough stress at work without experiencing it to and from work on top of things. Learning to relax and let things go isn't easy, but trying the following tips may help you have a better and less tense commute:

Start off by taking a breather. Make a conscious effort to relax and set the right atmosphere for yourself -- be calm on purpose. This one surprised me, but believe it or not being calm and creating that atmosphere really will be a lot easier in a luxury vehicle. Going into debt over a buying pricey vehicle won't reduce stress for most of us, but if it does happen to be an option for you then by all means, consider it.

Source

With the holidays under full swing, stress is becoming the normal way of life for many this month. When the going gets tough, many people need to realize the the human body -- both physically and mentally -- needs a break from time to time.

Physical breaks are pretty easy -- your body just tells you that it needs to shut down for a while using things like lethargy, tiredness or aching.

Source

I think pretty much all people would say they experience stress on a daily, if not practically constant, basis. Whether it's work related, health or family issues, or even just wondering whether that credit card bill you mailed will make it before the deadline, our society has turned stress into a chronic everyday event.

Bad news -- stress can kill! That sounds like a terrible overstatement, but it's true if you think about it. Stress has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia ... and the list goes on.

Good news -- there are ways to combat stress and bring it down to manageable levels. Here are a few of my favorites, from an article I found on 10 tips for stress management:

• Identify your triggers: This one makes sense to me, it's the whole "knowing is the first step" principle in action.
• Aromatherapy: I think smell really can relax you. I feel instantly better when I walk into my apartment after a long day at work and smell the new air freshener I forgot I'd replaced that morning. It's those little things that can really help, even if it is just a little "apples and cinnamon" floating from the kitchen.
• Aerobic exercise: For me it's not so much during the workout, but immediately afterwards. I feel much better, and it's almost like once I've worked out I've got full permission to relax, guilt-free, the rest of the day.

Source

Instead of exercising -- or using a punching bag -- to reduce stress, sitting somewhere quiet and intently meditating on something peaceful or inspirational can be just as stress-relieving. While exercising is an excellent tonic for reducing stress, so are the yoga and meditation arenas. I say "arenas," as there are many different ways to use your emotional state to reduce stress.

However, trying to find the time and place for meditation in our activity-packed schedules is the ever-increasing challenge. But if you can find a place (even in your car) to find quiet time and meditate (pick your focus), a possible lower blood pressure and reduced breathing rate brought on by meditation can have tremendous effects on your personal well-being.

Using the tried-and-true "relaxation response" is something I've done many times, much to the benefit of my entire outlook on the day. Try it and see what it does for you. Proof is in the trying and achieving, so all you need is a quiet place free of distractions. Once you find it, keep it in your back pocket for daily use.

Source