Music

• Most types of music, especially those with gentle sounds and soft rhythms, have been proven to soothe the mind and enliven the mood. Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine monitored a large group of mildly depressed adults for more than two months and studied how daily listening to classical music affected their mental conditions. As a result, their overall feelings improved significantly and their levels of the stress hormone cortisol also became lower.
  
  

Aromatherapy

• Aromatherapy is another effective stress reliever that you can use in many ways. You can light scented candles, burn aromatic incense, surround your desk with fragrant flowers or add essential oils to the water in your bathtub. Experiment and find out what methods you prefer. Aromatherapists recommend lavender and orange to reduce tension, bergamot and chamomile to relieve anger, and cedar and ylang ylang to lessen anxiety.
  
  

Journaling

• Sometimes it can be difficult to share your negative feelings with other people. It may be easier to write those feelings down, identify them and face your own deepest problems. This can lead to changes in thought processes and emergence of problem-solving plans. If you want to use this method to relieve stress, set a daily schedule for journaling and stick to it. Unlock your reservoir of feelings and let them flood out. Always be true to yourself. No one else is going to read it anyway.
  
  

Meditation

• Think of your mind as a computer. Sometimes it tends to overwork and needs to be reset. Meditation, even for just a few minutes, can help refresh your mind. Besides its calming effect, meditation has also been proven to help lower blood pressure and stimulate the release of endorphins, chemical compounds in the brain that promote the sensation of well being. There are no right or wrong postures for meditating. You can lie down, sit on a chair or sit cross-legged on the floor. Then close your eyes, relax your body, breathe deeply, focus on the consistent rhythm of your own breathing and rid all thoughts from your mind.
  
  

Humor Therapy

• Laughter is the best stress reliever you. On the physical level, it helps reduce muscle tension and blood pressure, and lowers the levels of stress hormones. On the deeper level of being, having a good sense of humor can shield you from sadness and pains of life. Find what makes you laugh. Place smile-coaxing pictures or knickknacks on your desk at work. Go home to watch your favorite funny sitcoms after a long day. Socialize with your friends and colleagues more. Or even poke fun at yourself sometimes.