What are the best ways to beat stress?

• A recent study shows that drinking tea is one of the best ways to beat stress. http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090813/1536/tls-it-s-official-a-nice-cup-of-tea-soot.html. What are some of the things you do to lead a carefree, happy life? How do you beat stress? Share stress busters.

• Answer:

  1. Spend some time in the silence every day. In our high-tech world, we are surrounded by and immersed in information—streaming in via television, e-mail, voice mail, fax machines and pagers. Information overload can become a detriment to your health, knocking you off balance and creating a sort of artificial dependence upon these stimulations. So make time for yourself, and take a break from the info-stream every day. 2. Reconnecting with stillness is an important component of health. Every day, devote a little time to take yourself out of the "busyness" game. First, eliminate all forms of intrusion. Then close your eyes, breathe deeply and let your thoughts float downstream like a log carried by the river. You can practice meditation or relax in a hot bath with aromatherapy. When a thought comes up, just watch it float away. 3. Don't buy into the cultural definition of "news." Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends taking a voluntary "news blackout" on a regular basis—stop reading the newspaper and watching television for one day, a week or longer. A constant supply of "bad news" isn't healthy for our bodies—our cells are designed to take in joy, not disaster! 4. Pursue your passion. Activities that absorb you completely will slow your brain waves and put you into that "zone" in which internal chatter is stilled. It could be bird-watching, cooking, hiking, biking or riding, painting, writing, sewing, gardening, photography, working with animals. Physical movement is important—it opens the chest, lifts your mood, curbs food cravings and lowers blood pressure. You'll also sleep better at night.