Remember how fun it was to play in the rain and mud when you were a kid? Or maybe you liked to role play as a detective or scientist on a top secret mission? You were carefree and enjoyed life moment to moment; now you’re an adult and wonder where has all the fun gone to?

Somehow we’ve lost that innocence and wonder that defined us as children and became cynical and jaded adults. How did this happen? It’s like one day we went to sleep happy-go-lucky and woke up stressed and anxious.

Fortunately, the days of innocence are not lost; we can reclaim our fun-loving selves once more by trying a few tips that guarantee a youthful spirit.

Remember how it felt to sleep in on the weekends? At least twice a month (more if you can swing it), don’t get out of bed until your belly is growling for food. There is a saying — sleep like a child, peaceful and deep – that reminds us that slumber has a rejuvenating essence.

Enjoy your favorite music again by singing at the top of your lungs and dancing until your legs hurt. It feels wonderful to release pent-up stress and energy into such a good-feeling activity.

Find your sense of humor again. Watch stand-up comedians make fun of life and join in on the laughs. Or try laughing instead of crying when life throws you a curve ball – you’ll feel better just smiling like an idiot.

Act now — don’t waste another precious minute — meet stress head-on with an immature and childish attitude!

Many have professed to the spiritual benefits of helping others in a time of need. In fact, it’s been said that there is no greater joy than making a difference in someone else’s life.

What better way to put your own stress and troubles into perspective than by volunteering your time and compassion to an issue that is important to you?

Identify a worthwhile cause that ties in with your own personality and interests. Maybe you have always had a soft spot for children or the elderly. Or perhaps you knew someone that struggled with a disease or addiction and now you feel a special bond with others in the same situation.

With natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many adults and children have been left with shattered lives and desperately need the humanity of others.

Whichever issue you choose to support, try to dedicate an hour of your time each week to it. No medication or therapy can compare to the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment you experience from performing acts of kindness for others.

The rewards don’t just end with yourself; each charitable act is making your community and the world a better place for everyone.

However, be careful not to push yourself too hard in your deeds of goodwill because you will end up adding to your stress instead of reducing it.

There is probably no greater stress reliever than stepping outside of your comfort zone to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Many of us have been falsely conditioned into believing that we must be perfect. We obsess about delivering perfect projects in the workplace, repainting the house in one week- end, and being president of the PTA at our child’s school. Yet, we wonder why we don’t feel satisfied. What’s wrong with this picture?

We mistakenly believe that the more things we can cram on to our plate, then the more successful we will appear to ourselves and others. However, this irrational thinking can only cause us stress because undoubtedly we will fail to be successful at everything.

Perfection is not normal! The beauty of the world is that all things exist in some state of imperfection; a rose is just as beautiful despite its thorns.

Why not vow to yourself today that you will stop taking on more than you can chew? Recognize that no one can possibly live stress-free while juggling a superhuman schedule. Take pleasure in doing one thing really well instead of 50 things poorly.

Be kind to yourself when you do make a mistake. Embrace the situation as an opportunity to learn instead of being ashamed that it didn’t work out the way you had planned. We would never learn anything new if we didn’t risk failure.

Finally, learn to say no more often. Think of ways to live your life more effectively without spreading yourself too thin. Start saying yes to you and no to distractions.

It’s not easy reducing stress, but give it a good try by becoming your perfectly imperfect self today.

If you are interested in experiencing the benefits of meditation, there are simple, yet effective, methods that you can try.

1) Choose a quiet location.

2) Get physically comfortable — either sitting on the floor, a chair, or lying on a bed.

3) Close your eyes and breathe naturally.

4) Be prepared to practice for 20 minutes at a time.

5) Choose a focus of concentration:

a) Breathing – concentrate on breathing in and out. You can visualize whatever images you choose with each inhale and exhale.

b) Focusing on an object – look at an object of your choice in full detail. Notice the texture, the lines, the smell, observe everything about the object.

c) Focusing on a sound – repeat a certain word or phrase. Listen and feel the sound the word makes to your body.

d) Imagery – create a mental image of a place that is peaceful and relaxing to you. Experience everything about that place – its sounds, smells, the sun’s warmth, and wind’s breeze.

6) If you find your mind wandering during the practice, gently bring it back to your area of focus.

7) When you are done, slowly and gently bring yourself back to normal awareness.

Try to practice meditation daily or at least several times a week to reap the full benefits. Some people experience benefits immediately, while others can take months to get there. Be patient with yourself.

In this day and age of technology and fast-paced activity, we can begin to feel that negative stress is a part of everyday life. Allow yourself to accept all of your human frailty and faults; life is neither perfect nor without problems.

Once you’ve mastered the art of meditation, you will be able to transport yourself back to these feelings of peace and relaxation, with a simple breathing exercise or special word, when the stressors of daily life threaten to overwhelm you.