As I write this, my daughter is grumping in the next room about tomorrow's English test, my husband is scouring my desk for the phone bill that's gone missing, the bathroom faucet is audibly leaking, and my computer is insisting that I have mail, I have mail, I have mail. It is, in other words, a normal day in a normal American household, where most things are shared -- including the stress.
"Research shows that children mirror our stress," says Kathleen Hall, founder of the Stress Institute and author of "A Life in Balance." And these days, what with tighter-than-ever schedules, growing school pressures, and exposure to media of every kind 24/7, kids can end up nearly as anxiety-ridden as grown-ups.
Hoping to find some creative and proven stress-busting strategies, we turned to our readers, who happen to be some of the coolest (and most cool-headed) families we know. Read on to discover their brilliantly simple ideas for restoring calm in a stressed-out world.
1. Head Outdoors
"Find a green space and walk," advises Carolyn Lis of Frisco, Texas. That's how she and her 7-year-old son, Jonathan, engage in what she calls "walking meditation." "I'm always amazed at how cluttered my mind is as I start our walk, and how, after about ten minutes, I hear the birds singing and begin smelling the musty scent of the forest." Researchers are starting to unravel the science behind the stress-busting power of the great outdoors. "The human brain coevolved with nature, so without even being aware of it, we respond to nature in an instinctual way, using our senses differently, breathing differently," explains Melinda Pruett-Jones, executive director of the Chicago Wilderness consortium. The Kaahanui family of Waimanalo, Hawaii, have discovered an easy method of harnessing this natural high. "When our family gets stressed out from being cooped up in the house," says mom Amanda, "we go outside and fly our kites."
2. Make Time for People and Pets
Simply spending time with friends or animals has the power to whittle away stress. The Pirocchis of Oxford, Pennsylvania, get together with neighbors every other week to share a meal and conversation. "We play catch-up and discuss problems and solutions, which helps ease everyday pressures," says Gina Pirocchi.
And for the Snow family of Iuka, Illinois, stress takes wing when they let their pet birds, Sugar and Kiwi, out of their cages and work on teaching them a new trick or two. The Black family of Provo, Utah, make the most of their people time by helping others. On free Saturdays, for example, they gather the clan and spend the day raking, mowing, and weed whacking for neighbors who need a hand. "There's no better way to forget your own stress," says mom Gerberta, "than by serving someone else." It's a phenomenon that author Kathleen Hall refers to as helper's high."Your body actually produces endorphins when you help others."
