Five Weird Things That Can Make You Less Stressed

We're in the dog days of Winter, and nothing stresses me out more than being stuck at home in the cold. The bills from Christmas are coming in. The kids are stuck inside. I need something to relieve all this stress from my life. Here's what I found.

Here are five weird things that can make you feel less stressed . . .

1. Washing the dishes. A 2014 study found that people who practiced being mindful while washing dishes like by smelling the soap and feeling the water temperature felt more inspired and less nervous after they were done.
2. De-cluttering your home. Research suggests that having a cluttered house can cause increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol throughout the day.
3. Sniffing your partner's laundry. A study last year in the "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology" found that just smelling your significant other's clothes can make you feel calmer.
4. Exercising in a group. According to a study in the "Journal of the American Osteopathic Association", exercising with a group reduced stress about 25% better than working out alone.
5. Dwelling on your failures. In a study last year, researchers found that writing about previous failures helped people to be less stressed when they encountered another difficult situation later on.