Grounded Girl
I found another truly surprising way to relax and let the cares of the day ease away in my own backyard. Never a gardener or even much of an outdoors person, I found myself married to Mr. Green Thumb. With his expertise and patience, we grew a garden filled with vegetables. Now, even in winter, I pull weeds, bending and stretching, and breathe fresh air. Once again, with these somewhat mindless, repetitive tasks, my whole body and mind seem to relax. Life is good.
Laughing Girl
Perhaps the easiest way to shake off stress is to watch a Monty Python movie, listen to Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion, or pick up a book that makes me laugh out loud. (Authors Clyde Edgerton and Carl Hiaasen are excellent at this.) Laughter usually cures what ails me if nothing else works. I save up jokes to tell my coworkers, who, thankfully, do the same for me. And if all else fails, I'll catch a rerun of Seinfeld. That cracks me up every time.
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HEALTHY BENEFITS
Research proves that engaging in enjoyable activities can help you live longer.
Spending more time outdoors can help you fight off depression.
Laughing boosts your immune system by increasing white blood cell production.
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This article is from the January 2006 issue of Southern Living.
