Stress less and smile more.

I was thinking in a way to relate two topics that I like to talk with you about: stress and smile. Luckily, I found out a small article from Catherine Ryan (from Kivitv.com) when she gives 5 instants way to stress less and smile more. Here they are:

• Take it outside: do some physical activities.
• Find time for tea: a few cups of tea may make you more resilient to stress, according to research from the University College of London.
• Pop a piece of gum: this is a classic but it always work.
• Indulge in dark chocolate: there are proofs of chocolate's joy-boosting benefits.
• Stop and smell the flowers: Japanese scientists found that when people inhaled a scent compound common in flowers, herbs and spices, their systems kept functioning normally in spite of the stress.

If you are able to follow these little advices, then you will be a little less stress and, hopefully, you will smile more. And talking of smiles, I would like to remind you some of the benefits that smiles has for our health. Helpguide.org offers the physical health benefits of laughter, the mental health benefits and the social benefits, which are: Physical benefits of laughter

• Boosts immunity
• Lowers stress hormones
• Decreases pain
• Relaxes your muscles
• Prevents heart disease

Mental health benefits of laughter

• Adds joy and zest to life
• Eases anxiety and fear
• Relieves stress
• Improves mood
• Enhances resilience

Social benefits of laughter

• Strengthens relationships
• Attracts others to us
• Enhances teamwork
• Helps defuse conflicto
• Promotes group bonding

And to convince you more about the way in which laugh and smile can improve your health and make you feel less stress, Mark Stibich (in About.com: Longevity) gives others  reasons to smile. I hope they convince you: 1-      Smiling makes us attractive. 2-      Smiling changes our mood. 3-      Smiling is contagious. 4-      Smiling relieve stress. 5-      Smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin 6-      Smiling makes you seem successful 7-      Smiling lifts the face and makes you look younger 8-      Smiling helps you stay positive I’m sure now you have enough reasons to start smiling and hopefully, reduce your stress. By Patricia Rivero.