Frazzled that you’ve got too much to do and not enough time to do it? Feeling the stress rise up and choke your breath away? If you need quick relief, here are some easy hacks that can help beat back stress.

Lie on the Ground and Stare Up at The Sky – This is an easy stress fix. Look for a grassy area, find an empty spot, and lie down. Cradle your head in your hands if that feels more comfortable. Stare up at the sky, watching the clouds move across your field of vision. If it’s nighttime, lose your thoughts gazing at the stars. Your problems will drift away in no time. There’s something about the vastness of space that makes even the most pressing worries seem trivial.

Sing Your Heart Out – This might best be accomplished in the shower, but any place you can find where you’ll be undisturbed – like a path in the park – will do. Belt out your favorite song or one that you remember the lyrics to. The process of breathing oxygen in and exhaling with the notes you sing will help lower your blood pressure and tamp down your stress level. In addition, research shows that the reverberation of the sound of your voice helps you relax.

Try Aromatherapy – A few drops of essential oils, such as lavender, on your wrist or the back of your neck can work wonders to ease stress. Buy a vial or two in an aromatherapy shop, Aveda, Whole Foods or other store where they sell such items. It’s an inexpensive way to have a stress-buster always handy.

Indulge in a 5-Minute Chair Massage – While you may not have time for a 50-minute body massage, almost everyone has five minutes they can spare for a relaxing chair massage. The massage therapist will ease out the tension and stress in your temples, neck and upper back and you’ll walk away feeling great relief.

Refresh with an Ice-Cold Glass of Lemonade – Who doesn’t instantly recall lazy summer days at picnics and family outings with refreshing glasses of ice-cold lemonade? Transport yourself back in time by sipping some delicious lemonade right now. Savor the sweet tanginess and feel your stress disappear.

Visit the Pet Store – If your errands or route take you near a pet store, take 10 minutes and pay a visit. Watching the puppies and kittens frolic in their cages, eager for someone to take them home, is an instant stress reliever. You don’t have to actually buy an animal to get this benefit. It’s just so cute watching them, you’re bound to smile. Stress? What stress?

Take the Kids to the Zoo – This remedy requires a little more time, but it’s so worth it. Feel like a kid yourself again by taking the family to the zoo. Even a petting zoo will work wonders to banish stress.

Get 15-Minutes of Shut-Eye – It’s amazing what a short nap can do to revitalize and refresh. If there’s a couch or two chairs you can place together in a quiet spot at work, or you can recline slightly in your car or other area, allocate 15 minutes for a little nap.

Use a Cold Gel Pad on Your Eyes – Maybe you don’t have a lot of time, but you do have access to a cold gel pad or ice pack you can place over your eyes. Do this for about 10 minutes and you’re going to feel amazing afterward.

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