Lean into the ball, and
hold gentle pressure for up
to 15 seconds. Then move
the ball to another spot,
and apply pressure,” says
Cathy Benninger, a nurse
practitioner and assistant
professor at The Ohio
State University Wexner
Medical Center in
Columbus.
A good belly laugh
doesn’t just lighten the
load mentally. It lowers
cortisol, your body’s stress
hormone, and
boosts brain chemicals
called endorphins, which
help your mood. Lighten
up by tuning in to your
favorite sitcom or video,
reading the comics, or
chatting with someone
who makes you smile.
Joy feelings magazine
7. Laugh Out Loud
8. Crank Up the Tunes
Research shows that
listening to soothing
music can lower blood
pressure, heart rate,
and anxiety. “Create a
playlist of songs or nature
sounds (the ocean, a
bubbling brook, birds