12 Ways to Relax, Relate and Release

Read tips on how to keep your mind and soul in check.

Give Yourself a Reward - Set milestones and reward yourself when you meet them. A week without smoking? Treat yourself to a fancy dinner. Tobacco free for a month? Splurge on a massage. (Photo: Gary John Norman/Getty Images)

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January Is National Mental Wellness Month! - Focusing on your mental wellness is just as important as working out and eating right. Remember: Our mental wellness impacts how we think, feel and handle stress. Read tips on how to keep your mind and soul in check. —Kellee Terrell (@kelleent) (Photo: Gary John Norman/Getty Images)

Getting My Om On! - Recently, I went to Cali to visit a friend and we went to yoga twice when I was there. I felt more calm and relaxed than I had been in a really long time. Thankfully my new gym offers yoga classes. No gym membership? No problem. Try taking classes in your living room online via Hulu or On Demand. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Yoga/Meditation - Yoga and meditation, which both require heavy breathing, can help reduce tension and relieve stress, thanks to extra oxygen coming into your body. Even better: Meditation is free and can be done anywhere!(Photo: Getty Images)

Cutting 500 Calories - So let’s start with the basic. If you want to lose a pound a week, each week you have to slash 500 calories a day from your diet, i.e. 3,500 a week. The easiest way is to slash 250 calories in your diet and burn 250 calories with exercise.  (Photo: Paul Bradbury / Getty Images)

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Exercise - Working out can release endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel good and can seriously improve your mood. So go for a run, take a Zumba class or hit the elliptical. Just get moving in order to stay emotionally balanced. (Photo: Paul Bradbury / Getty Images)

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Donate Your Way - You can find a volunteer opportunity or charity that fits your interests through United Way and Just Give. To make sure your charity of choice is making the best use of donors' funds, run a quick search through Charity Navigator to make sure they'll be using your money responsibly. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Kindness - It’s actually scientifically proven that being kind to others makes you feel better. So whether it’s being nicer to your friends and family, giving up your seat on the train or volunteering at a homeless shelter, these acts of kindness can give you a brighter look on life.  (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Connect With Your Friends - When you are down, hanging with your friends (the ones who do not cause drama) can make you feel so much better. Remember: Staying connected makes you feel less isolated. Set up a time to hang with your boys or your girls and let loose. (Photo: Rolf Bruderer via Blend Images LLC/Getty Images)

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Writing in a Journal - Jotting down your feelings in a journal is a great way to get in touch with your feelings. Not to mention, journaling gives you a space to let everything out. Keeping your emotions inside is not good for the soul. (Photo: Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

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Social Media - It helped in the Arab Spring uprisings. It made Beyonce’s cropped 'do a national topic of discussion. It's clear: Social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram are helping to dictate domestic and international trends faster than ever. Seventy percent of men and 74 percent of women in America use social media. How would you connect with your pseudo friends without it?(Photo: Courtesy of Facebook and Twitter)

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Stop Fighting on Social Media - While Twitter, Facebook and Instagram can be great places to connect and laugh, they can also be stressors if you feel overwhelmed by the drama or you feel the need to jump in and debate on certain topics. Stepping away from your computer and smart phone can do wonders for your state of mind. (Photo: Courtesy of Facebook and Twitter) 

Don't Forget to Laugh - Life is pretty serious and can be daunting, but make sure that you find the time to smell the roses when you can. Pop in a Kevin Hart DVD, have a game night with your family or have dinner with friends. As they say, laughter really is the best medicine.  (Photo: Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

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Don't Forget to Laugh - Life is pretty serious and can be daunting, but make sure that you find the time to smell the roses when you can. Pop in a Kevin Hart DVD, have a game night with your family or have dinner with friends. As they say, laughter really is the best medicine.  (Photo: Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

The Best Years of Our Lives - Are you a glass half full or half empty kind of gal or guy? The answer — and your political affiliation — may color how one looks to the future. In a Gallup poll released Jan. 2, 50 percent of Americans said that the country's best years are behind us. But 69 percent of Democrats and 43 percent of Republicans said they have yet to come. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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The Glass Is Half Full - Having a positive attitude is really important to maintain your mental wellness. Now this doesn’t mean you can never be down or depressed. But the key to having a positive outlook on life is having faith that things will improve and by not viewing everything through a negative lens. (Photo: Andrew Unangst/Getty IMages)

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Block Out the Haters - At times, it feels like we live in a “crabs in a barrel” society. People in your life may not want to see you succeed or do better than them. But that is their issue, not yours. Do not internalize their hating and begin to doubt yourself and your goals. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you, unconditionally. (Photo: DRB Images; LLC/Getty Images)

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Sleep on Your Back - Slumbering on your side or stomach may be good for preserving your hair, but it’s hell on your face. Why? Pressing it into a pillow all night can cause fine lines. Seriously — turn over. (Photo: Stuart O'Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Get Your ZZZs - Sleep is important for so many reasons, including your mental health. Getting your zzzs gives your body a chance to rest and heal, especially after a long and stressful day. Try to get eight hours of sleep a night. (Photo: Stuart O'Sullivan/Getty Images)

Remember It’s Not About You - Do what you do because you want to, not because you expect thanks. So don’t be upset if she doesn’t call in response to your voicemail message, or mention you in her remarks at the homegoing service.(Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)

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Get Your Praise On - Whether you are Christian, Muslim or Buddhist, being connected to a higher power can most definitely improve your state of mind and how you view the world around you.  (Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)

Psychologists - Psychologists may find a new home in Canada or Australia. Both nations are looking for immigrants in this profession. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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Consider Seeing a Therapist - There are times when you might need professional help or need to join a support group to work through your issues. Remember: There is no shame in seeing a therapist or asking for help. Don't sit and suffer in silence. (Photo: Andrea Morini/Getty Images)

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