Visualize calm

It sounds New Age y, but at least one study, done at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, has found that its highly effective in reducing stress. Dr. Cooper recommends imagining youre in a hot shower and a wave of relaxation is washing your stress down the drain. Gerald Epstein, M.D., the New York City author of Healing Visualizations Bantam Doubleday Dell Press, 1989, suggests the following routine Close your eyes, take three long, slow breaths, and spend a few seconds picturing a relaxing scene, such as walking in a meadow, kneeling by a brook, or lying on the beach. Focus on the detailsthe sights, the sounds, the smells.