stress

Between social media, email, and texting, it's easy to go without actually talking to your closest friends. If you find yourself stressed out during your day, whether it be work-, family-, or life-related, there's no reason you have to deal with it on your own. Picking up the phone and reaching out to someone you trust is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make you feel better. The next time you're stressed, take a few minutes to call a friend or family member with a caring ear. Talking therapy with someone close will ease your mind and can prevent you from turning to stress-induced habits like overeating. Although turning to our loved ones in a time of need can make all the difference, it's also great to connect and laugh with friends even on days when you're feeling happy and relaxed.

When traveling, or simply at the end of a crazy workday, a soothing eye mask is just the thing to relax your worries away. And making your own is a great way to repurpose an old shirt. Filled with scented rice, this DIY eye mask can be warmed or chilled and stays put thanks to an elastic headband. Instead of paying top dollar for a specialty mask, this soother only costs a few dollars to make. And this fun project is a great party activity that doesn't require a sewing machine — just the help of a sewing kit. So call your friends, and get busy making these easy homemade eye masks.

Keep reading for the directions.

It's natural for work to leave you a little stressed, but if you're a frazzled mess from nine to five, it's important to step back and relax. Not sure how to loosen up? From doodling to redecorating, here are 13 easy ways to de-stress during the workday:

1. Finish the tough stuff first. Try to get your most complicated tasks out of the way early in the day so that they're not looming over you for hours. Think of it as a "best for last" technique and you'll start to look forward to your afternoons.
2. Make exercise a priority. Whether it's a quick walk around the block or a full-on gym session during your lunch hour, moving your body is crucial for your sanity. Aim to stretch every hour, too, in an effort to clear your head.
3. Savor your snack. Rather than mindlessly munching on whatever snacks are handy, bring your favorite treat from home and take the time to relish every bite. Make it a healthy bite to really rev up your mood and energy.
4. Connect with a friend. Socializing is one of the easiest ways to distract yourself from everyday anxieties, so call up a pal to chat for a few minutes. Try to avoid any work-related venting and stick to fun, tension-free topics instead.
5. Congregate at the water cooler. It's important to engage with your co-workers on a day-to-day basis. Not only will kitchen small talk free up your mind for a few minutes, but it will also help you build positive relationships around the office.
6. Take five to do something lighthearted. Were you the type who doodled during class? For five (and only five) quick minutes, draw, catch up on Instagram, or browse Pinterest to improve your attitude and recharge your batteries.

Read on for more de-stress tips

Has the word “energy” disappeared from your vocabulary? Whether you have infants, toddlers, or school-age children, keeping up with the kids on limited sleep can be seriously exhausting. To kiss that constantly drained feeling goodbye, give these six energy-boosting strategies recommended by Circle of Moms members a whirl.

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Life can be chaotic and stressful, making taking the time to de-stress almost impossible — especially when in the moment. Instead of carrying that pressure and anxiety around all day (and night!), here are a few ways to bust that stress in seconds. From the latest and greatest apps to quick tips, click through for a collection of tension tamers that will have you breathing easier in no time.

• Look up: When feeling overstressed, look up. Moving the head and neck upward causes an intake of breath, which instantly calms you. While looking up, stretch the neck and take three deep breaths. Slowing breathing sends a tranquil message to the brain and allows you a moment to de-stress.
• Calming scent: Inhaling a soothing scent when feeling overwhelmed helps ground and reduce stress. Fragrances like lavender, ylang ylang, and bergamot are great for changing moods. Spritz your office or room with a lavender air freshener, light a bergamot candle, or give your face a light spray of ylang ylang water.

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When you're happy, your smile comes out in full force. But did you know it also works the other way around — smiling can actually make you feel better?

One study published in Psychological Science found smiling after a stressful task resulted in a bigger reduction of heart rate and a faster physiological stress recovery in participants, reports the Wall Street Journal. Perhaps after a hard day's work, practicing a smile is a good way to uplift your mood.

On the other hand, Debbie Downers be warned: research found frowning resulted in higher remission rates in people who were depressed. Your facial expression may play a big role in your mood, so be mindful of your smiles and frowns.

When you're dealing with someone who's really taxing you at work, the best thing you can do for yourself is to ignore them.

According to a study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, ignoring nasty people is the most effective way of quieting them rather than talking to them or trying to persuade them. Not only does it work better, but you'll also suffer less negative effects from dealing with them. The people in the study who engaged in discussions with offensive people did poorly on aptitude tests compared to the people who just ignored the nastiness. Of course, it's different in every situation, but for the most part, trying not to react to an obnoxious person may be healthier than stewing in anger.

Everyone needs a day off just to recuperate and refresh themselves. Take a break from work and all the real world responsibilities that come with being an adult by giving yourself permission to take a mental health day. Here are some suggestions for activities to do on your personal day:

• Take a nap: Taking naps can do wonders for your health and you'll notice the effects on your day off. It'll increase your alertness, improve your memory, and improve your performance and mood. To top it all off, you'll feel extremely relaxed and in the perfect mindset for your day off.
• Get a massage: Massages are also very beneficial for your mental health. Studies have shown that it has positive effects on the mood and can soothe anxiety.
• Acupuncture: Making an appointment with your acupuncturist is a good way of taking care of your mind. Perhaps your qi channels are blocked or unbalanced, which can greatly affect your stress levels.
• Read a novel: Reading an escapist book, be it young adult, fantasy, romance, and more, can take you into a different world and give you the opportunity to leave everything behind you for just a few hours. Don't feel guilty.

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“I was wondering if anyone has noticed a correlation between their level of stress and the way they have handled their child?" writes Circle of Moms member Haley H. "For instance being short fused on bad days, etc.?”

Absolutely! I think parents are just plain worn out! Many parents, especially in this economy, are working hard, feeling stressed, and can’t make adjustments to how many hours a week they work. They arrive home frustrated, angry, sad, and tired. They wonder, “What happened to the life I planned to live? Parents ask me all the time, “How do I stop dumping my stress all over my kids?”

Keep reading for parenting expert Sharon Silver's advice.