Which activity targets physical relaxation to lower stress?

• A. Take action
• B. Rest in a quiet place
• C. Address little things that bother you
• D. Reduce muscle tension

Answer: (D)

Physical relaxation lowers stress by reducing the body's physical arousal. Directly reducing muscle tension targets the tangible signs of stress in the body—tight muscles, quicker heartbeat, and shallow breathing—helping the body shift toward a calmer state. Techniques that focus on loosening the muscles, sometimes paired with slow, deep breathing, send a clear signal to the nervous system to relax, making this approach the most effective for the physical side of stress reduction.

Other options can help with stress in different ways but aren’t as focused on relaxing the body. Taking action emphasizes solving problems or changing situations, which reduces stress but not through physical relaxation. Resting in a quiet place can calm the mind and body, yet it doesn’t actively release muscle tension. Addressing small annoyances targets cognitive processing of stressors rather than relaxing the body.