Stop Stress in 60 Seconds

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One-Minute Stress-Busters

Pet Your Pet
Researchers looked at a group of stockbrokers who were being treated with an ACE inhibitor. Half of the subjects had a dog or cat; the other half had no pet. Although their blood pressure stayed consistent in day-to-day situations, during times of stress the pet owners had lower blood pressure and heart rates than those without pets.

Chew Gum
Studies show that chewing the stuff can actually change brain waves, improving alertness and concentration and reducing stress.

Perform a Random Act of Kindness
“Pick a bouquet of flowers from your garden and give it to a neighbor, or let someone pull ahead of you on the expressway,” Kase says. “Kindness is a natural stress-buster.”

Escape … in Your Mind
Sit in a quiet place for a moment and imagine yourself lying on a beach. Feel the sunlight on your body, hear the sounds of the ocean waves, smell the surf. “Research has found that the same parts of the brain are activated when people are imagining something as when they’re actually experiencing it,” Bauer says. “When someone imagines a serene image, the optic cortex is activated in the same way as when the person is actually seeing the beautiful vista.”

Hug and Kiss Someone
Touch can help reduce stress-hormone levels and boost the immune system.

Eat an Orange
In one study, subjects who got 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C two weeks before performing a task that combined public speaking with math problems had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and lower blood pressure than those who didn’t get the vitamin.