TIPS AND TRICKS

Stressed Out? Imagine a Raisin

That’s right, a raisin. It sounds out there, but the raisin imagination exercise is a five-minute mindfulness technique that helps de-stress you by making you stay in the moment. It goes like this: Sit in a quiet spot and close your eyes. Imagine holding a raisin in your hand, and really imagine it. Think about the weight of the raisin in your palm, the texture of it against your skin, and the smell of it. Imagine placing the raisin in your mouth, thinking of the taste of it, the feeling as you chew it. Says Claire Barber, a certified mental health consultant. “This exercise will help you relax by having you focus on the here-and-now instead of focusing on the stresses you’ve been experiencing throughout the day.”

These 22 exercises are designed to help you fight stress in five minutes or less.