Get healthier the fun way!

Channeling your inner child with activities you enjoyed as a youngster is a guaranteed good time. Plus, it improves your body and mind.

- GABRIELLE LICHTERMAN

Dial down stress on a swing set

If you notice tension climbing, kick up your feet on a backyard swing. Stress will melt away in less than 5 minutes, according to research out of India. Credit goes to a curious brain quirk when you move your body back and forth: The motion activates the vestibular system, which helps regulate balance. This, in turn, quiets key stress centers in the body, triggering soothing calm. No swing set nearby? A porch swing, glider or rocking chair works just as well.

OR VISIT A VIRTUAL ARCADE Firing up a game of Pac-Man, Frogger or Tetris can erase stress fast. Italian researchers say that immersing yourself in the action, sounds and sights of arcade favorites (which you can play free at CrazyGames.com) takes your mind off your worries, relaxing you.

Coloring eases aches

Adult coloring books filled with intricate patterns are on trend. And Korean scientists found that folks who fill in these designs while lounging outside experience significant drops in chronic joint and muscle pain. Coloring in symmetrical shapes while soaking in nature's beauty encourages a meditative state, which makes discomfort less noticeable. the fun way!

Lower your blood pressure by flying a kite