At Innsbrook, we are all about relaxing. There are so many things to do while you’re here – activities to bring families and friends closer together. But there’s also plenty of quiet time. Plenty of sipping coffee on your dock as you contemplate the mysteries of nature, the meaning of life, or whether the Cardinals will make the playoffs next season.

Innsbrook is a strictly stress-free zone. Property owners check their troubles at the gate when they return to Innsbrook. It’s a place where people come to get unplugged and savor the simple things in life.

Photo by Jim Swierkosz

If you don’t have a place at Innsbrook, or you do and you’re home in the St. Louis area during the week – you may need some tips to help you relax. Jackie Ruka, founder of the Get Happy Zone, offers this list of scientifically proven strategies to help you do just that. (Or, just feel your blood pressure lower and your stress slip away as you take in these peaceful scenes captured by Innsbrook property owners.)

Savor Ordinary Events. Study participants who took the time to do this “showed significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression,” psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky noted. Reflecting back on moments of your day, even those you might ordinarily hurry through, is a worthwhile effort.

Photo by Steve Serniak

Have Meaningful Goals. As humans, we thrive on having a purpose, but what is purpose if there is no meaning behind it? People who strive for something significant, whether it’s learning a new craft or raising moral children, are far happier than those who don’t have strong dreams or aspirations.

Avoid Comparisons. Focusing on your own personal achievements instead of making comparisons to others will better impact your happiness and self-esteem, according to Lyubomirsky, which leads to greater life satisfaction.

Photo by Jenny Jacquin

Make Friends and Treasure Family. This may seem like a no-brainer, but we need relationships. And, the more genuine the better. Sometimes we underestimate the importance of such connections.

Fake it Until You Make It. Happy people see possibilities, opportunities, and success. When they think of the future, they are optimistic, and when they review the past, they tend to savor the high points. This may take some practice, so try to smile even when you don’t feel like it.

Photo by Carol Kappel

Keep a Gratitude Journal. When you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, you can either become a time bomb waiting to go off or you can recalibrate. An excellent tool for detoxing and redirecting your thoughts is with a gratitude journal. Those who write in a journal on a weekly basis are healthier, more optimistic, and more likely to achieve personal goals, according to author Robert Emmons.

Get Moving. According to a Duke University study, exercise may be as effective as medication in treating even major depression. Exercise releases endorphins, the feel-good hormone.

Photo by Bob Jordan

Serve Others. This is often referred to as a “helper’s high.” According to ethicist and researcher Stephen Post, helping a neighbor, volunteering, and donating goods and services results in more health benefits than exercising or quitting smoking.

If all that fails, fear not – for another weekend is always just around the corner, and Innsbrook awaits.