Little joys that soothe stress

Seems like the sunniest season of the year should be when we're feeling our brightest. Yet research in published in the journal The Lancet suggests that as temperatures climb, stress can increase, leaving us feeling anxious, blue and irritable. To the rescue: simple pleasures that bring on calm.

- ANN GREEN

Swinging calms frazzled nerves

Have you ever noticed how rocking in a hammock, on a porch swing or even on the grandkids' swing set instantly makes you feel more relaxed? A preliminary Chinese study on animals suggests that an hour of rocking after a stressful event may lower stress hormones by nearly a third. Experts explain that the gentle movement signals the brain that everything is okay in your environment, helping deactivate stress circuits and chasing away lingering “stress hangovers.”

Sunlight brightens mood