- Orange Sniffing
- Laughing
- Rubber Band Snapping
According to Prevention, sniffing the scent of an orange may relieve stress. In fact, one study conducted in Brazil found that subjects who took a stress-inducing test experienced less anxiety when they inhaled orange essential oil for five minutes before taking the test. And the results were said to last the rest of the day.
To give orange sniffing a try, purchase orange essential oil at a health-oriented store and sniff away. Just be sure to read the directions first.
Not only is laughing fun, but it's also good for your health. Research has shown that laughter and meditation may provide parallel benefits.
“Joyful laughter immediately produces the same brain wave frequencies experienced by people in a true meditative state,” says Lee Berk, lead researcher of the study and associate professor of pathology and human anatomy at Loma Linda University, as originally reported in Prevention.
In the study, participants viewed videos that were either funny, distressful or spiritual. Simultaneously, researchers measured brain wave activity with an EEG.
What they found is fascinating. Funny videos resulted in gamma waves similar to those produced during meditation. Berk says that this is like using your brain all at once. He compares this to exercise in that “exercise reconditions and reprograms your body over time.”
If you’re looking to decrease stress, give your favorite funny movie a watch, or check out a comedy show. You’ll feel more relaxed in no time.
According to She Knows, snapping a rubber band on your wrist has been shown to reduce stress. When stress arises, you gently snap the rubber band. As time goes on, you’ll equate that feeling to stress and try to avoid it. This method, called operant conditioning, is said to have been pioneered by psychologist B.F. Skinner. And many people say that it works.