Green stress relief

Have you ever taken the life event quiz? The one where you note the stress-causing events (good and bad) over the last year?

According to the test I was given:

• Score of 300+: 80% higher risk of disease in the next 12 months
• Score of 150-299: 50% higher risk of disease in the next 12 months

I had a 469. I jokingly asked the speaker after the presentation if I was going to die. No, but I should do something like take a bubble bath by myself. Right, that would last about 30 seconds before I'd have company. Maybe I should buy his book, he said. Right.

So being a working mom, and one who's stress level is about as high as it gets, I started seeking out some low-cost, low-impact ways to reduce my stress for 30 seconds. Here are some to share with you:

• Take a walk. Even if it's just circling the building.
• Stop and smell the roses. Or coffee. Or look at the frog hopping by. By taking a few minutes at a toddlers' pace, you can relieve yourself temporarily from a situation.
• Meditate, pray or even mimic your child's babbles constantly. You'll both wind up giggling.
• Get herbal. Drink herbal tea or use herbal essential oils.
• Try deep breathing. Yes, actually getting oxygen into your brain does help.
• Dance. Dance with a date, dance alone. Dance with a toddler to Aerosmith's rendition of "I love trash" on a Sesame Street CD if you have to....whatever works. Music and exercise both help.
• And if nothing else, invest in Endangered Species chocolate and feel a little less guilty!

If you have any other ideas, post them here, I may need them to get through the week!