Stressed? Ten Things You Can Do Right Now to Relieve Your Symptoms

1. Resolve incompletes. Take care of at least one now. Research shows that incomplete projects, chores, etc. have a deep subconscious effect that increases stress. Plus, attending to unfinished business focuses your attention away from environmental stressors.

2.  Feed the birds. Most birds, excluding ostriches, have a natural calmness about them. Pigeons, with their muted "coos" are especially relaxing to feed. Find the nearest statue and go crazy.

3. Contact a worthy cause and participate. You’ll get the good feeling that comes when you are making a difference in the world, even if it's in a small way.

4. Sit in total silence for 10 minutes. Take a mental “vacation.” Close your eyes and visualize yourself in a relaxing environment. (the beach, sailing, on a cruise ship, etc.).

5. Find something humorous. Whether it comes from a book, movie, or comic strip find a way to laugh. Surprisingly, laughter helps you relax physically (specifically it reduces the amount of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol) as well as psychologically.

6. Listen to the “right” kind of music – make it classical. According to WebMD, listening to a quiet concerto or symphony for 30 minutes can equal the calming effect of 10 milligrams of Valium (see our list of the most relaxing classical music on the left sidebar).

7. Punch a big, fluffy pillow. Better yet, imagine it’s someone or something you are very upset with. The upside? You’ll stay out of jail and avoid a broken knuckle.

8. Color. I know, you gave that up in second grade. But there’s a good reason to pick up a Crayola and fill in those empty spaces. Coloring is a form of “active” meditation that focuses your attention away from the woes of the world and soothes your spirit. In fact, coloring lowers blood pressure, slows down breathing, and helps you achieve inner peace. Especially relaxing are the intricate drawings known as mandalas (mandala means circle in Sanskrit). Find free mandalas for instant download at http://mandalaofthemonth.com.

9. Give yourself an ear massage. Yes it sounds crazy, but try it for a few minutes and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Gently rub your earlobes and the outer edges of your ears between your thumb and index finger and you’ll release endorphins, the brain’s “feel good” chemicals.

10. Make duplicate keys and copies of important papers. Hey, you’re inevitably going to lose or damage the originals, why not treat yourself to some instant peace of mind?