Super Eco

Photo credit: LDCross, flickr

Time out. Take a chill pill. All that stuff on your mind? Leave it at the door. It's not going anywhere. Read the headlines lately? Too often they're scary, depressing, frightening, or sad. You don't need that, and Super Eco has the antidote. Here's how to de-stress, unwind, and chill out:

1. Take a break from news. What you don't know won't affect you. Detox from the nightly news (how is this supposed to let you sleep, anyway?). All those headlines will still be there without you to read them. The earth still rotates on its axis and the sun still comes up in the morning.

2. Have a cuppa. A nice cup of herbal tea is just the thing and can help support your health. Mint teas are refreshing; chamomile will help you sleep. Check our how-to on choosing fair trade teas for inspiration.

3. Meditate. It's not that hard. Best tip? Stop trying to quiet your monkey mind; the idea is not to try to empty your mind by banishing thoughts, but instead to flow with what's there. Have a thought, notice it, and return to noticing your breath. A regular meditation practice does wonders for the soul.

4. Play. Take a cue from your kids and do something fun every day. Get a hula hoop. Shoot Nerf darts at people. Have a pillow fight. You'll decrease stress hormones and live longer. (More time to play, wheee!)

5. Unplug. Turn off the cell phone. Close the laptop. Don't answer the phone. Turn off the TV. Go outside (remember that place?) and sit in the sun awhile. Just sit. No need to do anything.

What's your favorite de-stress tip?