Stress Less: For Inner and Outer Beauty

A life filled with beauty from the inside out begins with eating healthfully, and adding exercise to your daily routine. You'll also need to decrease your stress--an inevitable factor in life that detracts from your beautiful appearance and ruins your calm demeanor. Here are a few ways to de-stress your life.

1. Create a relaxing room at home.

It doesn't have to be a room per se, but maybe a space in your bedroom--the key is to have an areas in your home that is devoted solely to relaxing. You may want to add a comfortable chair or daybed, put a dimmer on the lights, or have candles burning--whatever it is that you enjoy and find relaxing. The key is not to have too many outside stimuli. Forget the cell phone, laptop; this is a time to unwind and clear your mind of distractions and stressors.

2. Meditate.

Meditation is a great way to relax, especially if you are under a lot of stress. Sit or lay down on the floor. Take deep breaths and focus on slowing your breathing down becoming one with your body. Meditating for as little as 10 minutes a day is enough to have beneficial effect on your stress level.

3. Get a Massage.

This is my favorite thing to do. Having a great massage is a great way to free yourself of tension, and adding aromatherapy oils such as chamomile or lavendar can be particularly beneficial.


4. Take a Hot Bath.

Heat relaxes muscles--and taking a long hot bath can be soothing to the mind as well. Stock up on your favorite bath salts and soaps, get a bath pillow and decorate the room with candles.

5. Take a Vacation.

Even when you have a day off, it's hard to relax when you're surrounded by all the usual stressors--piles of bills, home repair jobs that need to be done, shopping to do, and all the other obligations of daily life. Whether you prefer a no-frills campout or a luxury hotel, whatever you find rejuvenating . If you can possibly swing it, just get away to relax.