Engage your senses and ease your mind.

Work is driving you nuts, the bills are piling up, your garden looks like the Brazilian jungle and your youngest child just reminded you that he must build a multimedia recreation of the Battle of Culloden – by tomorrow. Feel like screaming? Breathe in, breathe out. And tame the tension by using your five senses.

Touch
Let’s hug! Embracing others – whether it’s your kid, your dog, your partner, or your friend – releases the feel-good chemical oxytocin, and it lowers cortisol (the stress hormone).

See
Surrounding yourself with nature and green spaces has been shown to help lower stress hormones. Find 20 minutes to sit in the sun, take a walk in the park, or relax in your back yard and enjoy your natural surroundings. That’s all you need to reap the benefits. And while you’re out there, focus on your breathing and the beauty around you – and feel those stress levels drop.

Hear
There’s a reason yoga studios and spas play music: It’s relaxing. But slow or soothing varieties of music aren’t the only kinds that can help you release tension. The next time you’re feeling stressed, crank up your favourite tunes. It doesn’t matter if it’s Pharrell’s “Happy,” a Michael Jackson classic, or an old-school rock jam. Music absorbs our attention, allowing our minds to wander away from stress and giving our bodies a chance to relax.

Smell
The part of your brain that tackles stress is very close to the one that processes odours. So, if you take a whiff of a scent you enjoy, it’s likely to lower your heart rate and help you calm down. Citrus, peppermint, lavender, and cinnamon are known for their relaxing effect, but you may find that comforting scents like baked cookies or freshly cut grass have the same effect.

Taste
We have some good news for you! Chocolate has been shown to lower stress. Hurray, your guilty pleasure is a powerful tension tamer. Dark chocolate is the best option, and you don’t need to eat the whole bar. A few small squares a day can keep the stress hormones away.