Too Serious? How to Relax.

Research says that people who take things a lot more seriously than the average person is more likely to develop heart conditions. In today’s world, it really is a bit difficult to treat life as if it’s simple but believe it or not – it is. If you have often been teased by your colleagues to lighten up and you do not know exactly what they mean, here are a few tips that could put your frown upside down.

Tip #1: Laugh to your heart’s content.

No, you will not look like an idiot in front of your friends if you start chuckling over some Family Guy joke. No, your children will not lose their respect for you if you laugh and joke around. Laughter is probably the easiest and most widely available form of relaxation but it is often taken for granted. Laugh when your boss cracks a joke about you. Laugh when you made a small error that could easily be corrected. Laugh not just at other people but with other people. You will soon realize that laughter is like a friend magnet – the easier you give it, the more people will accept you.

Tip #2: Think before you act

So, your officemate has an idea that opposes yours. Now what? Should you engage in an hour long debate on how your idea is the better idea? If this is your normal response, why don’t you stop and analyze the situation before you act. For all you know, you could easily merge your ideas and come up with a mutual decision. Is your daughter watching too much Teen Mom? Don’t sit down beside her, turn the TV off, and give her a lecture about it. Instead, sit down beside her and watch the show. Think of all the things gone wrong and discuss it with her later on so she would understand.

Tip #3: Breathe in and breathe out

When confronted by a situation that you have no control over, breathe in and breathe out. Reacting to stress is often the reason why people take things too seriously. Instead of jumping the gun, take a breather and count to twenty. This is often enough time for your head to clear up the stress fogging your mind.

Tip #4: Interact and be open

Instead of worrying about what people are thinking about you, find out about it by talking to people. Do not jump to conclusions and avoid people because of hearsays and hunches. Know the people around you and study their personalities. This way, you know that when someone jokes about your balding hair, they don’t actually mean it as an insult.

Sarah Ryan is a social media advocate at CreditDonkey. When she's not busy helping families compare low interest credit card rates, she reads blogs to relax. Remember that life might seem long but it is actually too short to live. If you want to live a happier, healthier, and more socially active life, learn to take things lightly some of the time. Right now you have two options on how you want to spend your time – by living life or letting life leave you.