One of the best ways that I have found to reduce stress is to turn the telephone off. Keep radios and TVs off and just enjoy complete quiet for an hour or more each day.
After a while, it becomes your oasis of ritual and you become resentful when even a moment of quiet has been sacrificed. It soothes the mind and the body and the soul. You start to feel all the stress fall away from you.
I like to light candles and incense to make the room feel warmer and more relaxing. I like to go into the kitchen and take those moments to think about what I’m going to prepare for a meal. I slowly gather the ingredients, slowly put the meal together and just enjoy the process of creating something that gives me pleasure.
If I feel like journaling, then I find the music that I want to create a nurturing experience for the writing process. It allows me to check out of the daily chaos of everyday life. It allows me an escape to a calmer place where I can just be – to create or relax at will.
These are some of the things that I do to reduce stress.
