Much like the mood-enhancing effects of relaxation, Joe Pera's jokes seep in quietly, improve your mood, and make you smile without realizing when or how they did. His subtlety evokes a sense of discovery, of finding humor in the mundane and joy in the ordinary. Check him out, consider a second fridge, and kick back.

The American Institute of Stress—which offers 18 Quick Ways To Relax Instantly, According To Science—often cites the Yerkes-Dodson Law, which illustrates the relationship between stress and performance. Yerkes-Dodson suggests an optimal stress level promotes peak performance, but performance diminishes beyond that point. On a side note, the mere existence of the American Institute of Stress and the name “Yerkes-Dodson” stresses me out.

I wish there were a book called The Art of Chilling Out for Men. Sadly, there isn’t. But there is a book called The Art of Chilling Out for Women. Sadly, I’m not a woman. Maybe I’ll check it out anyway.

Have you stopped by the Chillout Lounge lately?

Ever heard of "natural fractals"? They're like nature's own repeat patterns, and guess what? Our brains love them! Our minds say, Ahh, that's neat and tidy and feels relaxing to look at. Take this aloe vera plant, for example – it's rockin' the fractal look. And it's not alone! Pine cones, shells, snowflakes, and loads more have the same hypnotic vibe.

Relaxing is cool, but… telling someone to relax? Not cool.