Coping With Stress

Aromatherapy Massage Soothes And Banishes Stress

2011-12-27T05:16:00.001-08:00

One pleasant way to deal with daily stress and fatigue is to massage it away. For thousands of years, holistic therapies such as aromatherapy massage have been used as a way to refresh and recharge the senses.

A daily massage with scented oil can help dissolve accumulated stress and toxins. The benefits to be expected from this calming daily ritual include:

• Increased circulation, especially to nerve endings

• Toning of the muscles and the whole physiology

• Calming for the nerves

• Lubrication of the joints

• Increased mental alertness

• Improved elimination of impurities from the body

• Softer, smoother skin

• Increased levels of stamina through the day

• Better, deeper sleep at night.

A favorite scented oil used for aromatherapy massage combines olive oil and orange blossom. Olive oil is well known for its healing properties, both when taken internally and used to lubricate the outer body, while orange blossom oil is a scent that has been used as a stress reliever for years.

Together, olive oil and orange blossom offer luxurious skin conditioning with the added benefit of soothing stress-reduction.

Described as a delicacy for the skin, combinations of these oils such as those found in the Olive Oil and Orange Blossom Collection by Caswell-Massey offer benefits to the mind, body and soul.

The collection includes a body oil in this scent that can be used as a massage oil but can also be used to maintain healthy skin tone on a daily basis.

You can extend the benefits of the aromatherapy by using other products that contain the scents. These products might include a bath and shower gel, a moisturizing bath oil, a cleansing bar, body butter, moisturizing oil that can also be used as a leave-in conditioner, and scented candles. Even applying a scented lip balm can offer a way to de-stress.

Geopathic Stress

2011-12-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

Perhaps one for the biggest hidden dangers today is Geopathic Stress. You can't see it, taste it, smell it, feel it or hear it; yet it surrounds us all. Geopathic stress itself comes in two primary types, natural and unnatural. It is basically the energetic fields that are emanated from various sources.
Natural forms of EMF include lay lines, underwater sources, energy vortex's and negative Feng Shui lines. These have always been around us and recognized by many cultures, in particular the chinese and the celts. Dowsing has been the most common way to identify these energy fields and has been used around the world in various forms for many centuries.

There have been many studies carried out linking these natural geopathic stress fields to illness, and in particular cancer. People who developed cancer had their home checked and it was discovered that dowsers could pick up negative energy fields in areas they spent large amounts of time, often through the bed. Research was then conducted on who had previously lived there and it was found that there was a very high incidence of previous occupants dying from cancer.

It's not just cancer but a whole range of illnesses and problems that have been linked to geopathic stress. These include ME, depression, insomnia, headaches, back pain, and stress. However the past hundred years we have seen a rise in the geopathic stress due to the large amounts of electrical equipment now used.

It is estimated that the ambient EMF pollution has increased over 200 million times in the past century. This level increases to over 1 billion times in city centre's. An experiment with bumble bees showed them going crazy and attacking each other when exposed to high EMF fields, a rather scary similarity to our own culture in many ways.

I ask men 'would they put their testicles in a microwave?', and the answer is of course no. I then ask if they carry a cell phone in their trouser pocket, to which the answer is usually yes. What is the difference? Well essentially the time it takes them to cook. This is a little too close to the truth for comfort.

Cell phones emit frequencies in the micro wave range, so do microwaves, hence their name. Now agreed a microwave has a lot higher radiation level but thermal image scans on the brain have showed that it too heats up when using a mobile phone. In fact 2 minutes needs one hour for the effects to fully reduce. Think about that. It means that many people are literally 'hot headed' the whole day!

Now I know cell phones get a lot of bad press, and perhaps a little unfairly when you consider how bad cordless phones are, and worse still hairdryers. The fact of the matter is every electrical device gives off something. So take an average office worker.

First they make their toast, in a toaster. Not too bad if they are not standing too close. Then they drive to work, in a car. Cars generate huge levels of EMF's due to the metals in the tyres, moving engine parts, air conditioning, radios etc. This is the all contained in a metal cage insulated from the ground allowing it to build up. It's no wonder so many people become stressed and fatigued driving. Then they arrive at work, sit in front of a computer, emitting radiation, under fluorescent lights, emitting radiation, take a cell phone call, emitting radiation and on and on. They finally drive home, in their car, and then sit in front of their TV, emitting radiation, eating their radiated food from their microwave. And that's only a brief look.

You can use EFT and other Energy Psychology methods to clear some of the disruptions to your system caused by EMFs. Headaches from fluorescent lighting is a great example. This though, in my opinion, needs to be done on a frequent basis as your system keeps becoming re-disrupted. It is also impossible to be aware of everything affecting you all the time. We need a more practical, long term solution.

I don't want to paint a picture of doom and gloom and get you even more depressed, however a little awareness could go a long way. It is obviously impractical to give up this way of life for most people, so what to do?

Protection is the key. Minimize exposure where possible, i.e. use a normal wired in phone when possible, walk don't drive when possible etc. For the rest of life I cannot recommend BioPro highly enough. There are now many EMF neutralizers out there but none as well tested as BioPro. Mobile phone shields do not work, they cannot work or neither would the phone. However the fields can be harmonized so they no longer affect the body. On their website BioPro have thermal scan evidence of mobile phone heating the brain, then not heating the brain with the use of a BioPro harmonizing chip. There is plenty of more evidence and research on the site too for a range of products. Don't delay, act today. EMF's are not going to fix themselves.

I usually hate multilevel marketing because you feel the person selling to you has such a vested interest. However I hope as you will appreciate from my site my main focus is to educate people about what they can do for themselves. These products last for life and so may well be the best investment for yourself and loved ones in the modern age, allowing you and your family to enjoy modern technology without the dangers.

Sanity Savers for a Stress Free Environment

2011-12-27T05:14:00.000-08:00

Following are the key points, worth of noting!

Email

Only check your emails twice a day – don’t respond each time you receive an email it wastes too much time!

Set up folders for your inbox so you can ‘electronically’ file your emails when you have completed them.

Set up rules within your email so messages are automatically filed for you to read later.

Use colour coding so you can quickly glance over your inbox and see which messages are important.

When you have read an email and actioned it – delete it.

Remove yourself from ezines or electronic newsletters you don’t read.

Set up spam filters on your email.

Create an email signature with your contact information so it automatically sends your details with your email.

Leave an ‘out of office’ message if you are away from your desk for more than 24 hours.

Phone Calls

Record a voicemail to notify callers you will call back within 24 hours.

If you are busy all day, change your voicemail message to let callers know you will call them back the next day.

Include your email address in your voicemail for all phones so people can email you instead of leaving a message.

Avoid calling businesses between 10 AM – 2 PM as people are in meetings or at lunch.

Turn off your mobile phone if you are working on an important project.

Divert your desk phone to your mobile if you leave the office to avoid checking two voicemail systems.

Use the lift as your guide for turning your mobile on and off. When you are getting into a lift for a meeting, turn your phone off. When you leave the meeting to return to the foyer – turn your mobile on. This avoids the embarrassment of your phone ringing in an important meeting.

Filing

If you hate filing, allocate 15 minutes to do your filing every Friday afternoon. Whatever is left over can wait until the following Friday.

Label the outside of filing cabinets for quick reference.

File your manila folders in drawer alphabetically to help you find things quickly.

Use a label maker to keep your files tidy and easy to read.

Use coloured manila folders for different projects i.e. blue for staff, purple for projects, pink for personal etc.

Desk Management

Get rid of your in-tray – it is a holding area for paper. If you have to have one, put it out of your line of sight so you don’t get distracted looking at it all day.

Remove all unnecessary files and paper off your desk to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Keep your desk clear so you can focus on the task in front of you.

Reading

Create a reading file and every journal and ‘FYI’ document you receive, pop in the file and read once a week.

If you catch public transport to work carry your reading file with you so you can maximise your travel time.

General

Get a cleaner for your house – pay someone else so you can enjoy your weekends.

Use couriers for odd jobs instead of spending your time driving and parking.

Order groceries and fruit online and have them delivered.

Stick a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign on your letterbox to avoid rubbish.

Open your mail over a bin so you can toss what you don’t need

Read your mail with a pen and make note on each document what action is required.

Pay your bills online to avoid cues and wasting your lunch times.

Eye-Opening Facts About Stress

2011-12-27T05:12:00.001-08:00

You look at the clock. It's 1 a.m. You've been trying to sleep since 11, and you're still awake. Your mind races. Your muscles are tense. You think you'll never get any rest. Sound familiar? If so, you are one of 60 million people in the U.S. who suffer from some form of insomnia.
A recent survey by the National Sleep Foundation indicates that 58 percent of adults in America experience insomnia at least a few nights a week. Insomnia increases with age, afflicting approximately 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women.

While insomnia has many causes, many of us can't sleep because we are simply too stressed out. Stress, a major contributor to all sorts of health issues - from weight gain to heart problems - seems unavoidable in today's fast-paced world.

We may not be able to eliminate all stress from our lives, but we can minimize it. Here are some strategies:

* Make a list. Organize your next day's activities into three categories: "To Call," "To Buy, "To Do." Attach a specific time to each activity, and rest assured that you won't wake up to chaos.

* Unwind. Before you go to bed, take a timeout. Read or listen to music as you drink a cup of herbal tea or warm milk. Create a barrier of calm between your jam-packed day and your bedtime.

* Relax your body. We carry stress in our muscles, especially those of the neck and lower back. Stretching exercises can ease the tension. When you get into bed, lie flat your back for a few minutes. Tense and relax each muscle group as you work your way up from your toes to your temples.

* Try a sleep aid. Non-habit-forming aids are easy to find. The spray Insomnia, for example, is a natural alternative to prescriptions. Part of the Spray line of sublingual sprays, Insomnia helps you relax to ease you into a deep sleep. Made with natural ingredients, the spray acts gently and causes no side effects, according to its manufacturer.

Stress, A Matter Of Judgment

2011-12-27T05:11:00.001-08:00

Pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated. But excessive pressure can lead to stress, which undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill.

Stress, a matter of judgment
In becoming stressed, people must therefore make two main judgments: firstly they must feel threatened by the situation, and secondly they must doubt that their capabilities and resources are sufficient to meet the threat.
Damaging StressHow stressed someone feels depends on how much damage they think the situation can do them, and how closely their resources meet the demands of the situation. This sense of threat is rarely physical. It may, for example, involve perceived threats to our social standing, to other people’s opinions of us, to our career prospects or to our own deeply held values.

The Immune System's Response to Acute Stress
The effect on the immune system from confrontation with the bear is similar to marshaling a defensive line of soldiers to potentially critical areas.

1. The steroid hormones dampen parts of the immune system, so that infection fighters (including important white blood cells) or other immune molecules can be redistributed.

2. These immune-boosting troops are sent to the body's front lines where injury or infection is most likely, such as the skin, the bone marrow, and the lymph nodes.

The Acute Response in the Mouth and Throat
As the bear gets closer, fluids are diverted from nonessential locations, including the mouth. This causes dryness and difficulty in talking. In addition, stress can cause spasms of the throat muscles, making it difficult to swallow.

Relieve your Stress with a Stress Ball!
How they benefit you is simple. When you squeeze, the muscles not only contract in your hand, but up your arm as well. Hold the squeeze for a second or two and then release. As your muscles relax, the tension will leave your arms and hands, thereby relieving stress. It’s a great way to take out your frustration.

So what are you waiting for? Find out more about how stress ball can benefit you today!

Stress And Work Life Balance

2011-12-27T05:10:00.000-08:00

Technically stress is the adverse reaction an individual has to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them. In the workplace, the negative, damaging, effects of stress can arise at times when pressures are extreme, such as peak busy periods, but equally can be caused by continuous exposure to stressful conditions, such as being in an unsuitable job or being treated unfairly. Outside work, negative stress can be caused by major change events, such as a death in the family, but equally by continuous pressure of having a life constrained or dominated by the work situation.
Stress is personal in that stress affects individuals in different ways. In similar situations or conditions some people cope, even thrive, on the pressure, whilst others find it difficult to cope and suffer negative stress as a result. It is also personal in the sense that the amount of control that the individual has, over their workplace conditions, events, and work-life balance, will influence the amount of negative stress that they suffer from. Those individuals with greater control will tolerate and manage stress levels, or avoid them altogether, more successfully.

Work-life balance is, literally, balancing the demands, the amount of time and effort, given to work and the workplace, and that given to the individual’s domestic, personal, family, and social life. A vital factor in achieving an appropriate work-life balance is ensuring that the work element does not dominate, and-or that it is not causing damage to the individual through the effects of negative stress. It is most unusual to find people with a work-life balance that is dominated negatively by their life outside the workplace. It is almost always the workplace activity that dominates and often negatively. For professionals undertaking personal and career development activities, the positive activity of personal development must be actively managed in order to ensure that it does not have a negative effect on stress levels and cause damage to the individual’s work-life balance.

The increased awareness of the importance of managing stress and work-life balance effectively has given rise to approaches such as time management, managing stress, achieving work-life balance, managing personal development, and related approaches such as coaching and mentoring. The tools and techniques within these approaches are valuable in helping individuals to manage stress and work-life balance more successfully. All of these are worth exploring in more depth. However, here we will focus on simple, well established actions that any individual can take themselves.

There are some well established, simple to implement, approaches that will help to reduce the effects of negative stress and help to maintain an appropriate work-life balance. These include: Recognizing the symptoms that will alert you to the fact that you may be under stress. Commonly experienced symptoms are: Poor health - headaches, upset stomach, sleep problems, change in appetite, tense muscles, indigestion, exhaustion, stomach, intestinal and skin problems, and heart attacks (extreme but not uncommon in severe cases); Personal behavior - constantly worrying, irritated, feeling depressed, unable to cope and make decisions, being less creative, excessive smoking, excessive use of alcohol, not sleeping;

Unsatisfactory work situation - low job satisfaction, poor relationships with colleagues, focusing on unproductive tasks, deadlines missed, performance level falling, opportunities missed, poor appraisal outcomes, feeling de-motivated; Personal life:stopping social activities, being irritated and argumentative with family and friends, personal relationships deteriorating.

Many of these symptoms can be experienced in normal life, but become symptoms of stress when several are experienced at the same time, or when there is no obvious cause, or when one or more symptom becomes overwhelming. We need to remember, however, that whilst the symptoms often are more visible, and potentially damaging, in the workplace, they are not necessarily caused by workplace pressures. Many are, but not all and not always.

Identifying the sources in the workplace: As individuals working in a business world that is continuously changing at an ever-increasing pace, we need to be adaptable and flexible. In order to avoid negative stress we need to be aware of, prepared for, and able to manage, the impact of: time pressures; demanding deadlines; increasing complex relationships with others; peaks and troughs of too much or too little work; multiple, overlapping business or work changes; threats of redundancy or unwanted job change; pressure from senior managers; unfair or discriminatory actions of management; travel pressures; increases in performance expectations; more visible scrutiny through technology and surveillance; requirements to undertake continuous personal professional development activities.

Identifying the sources in life outside work: Outside the workplace there are regularly occurring events and pressures that are a normal part of our lives, but which can be either a source of stress, or satisfaction, or both. These include: death of friend or family member; a relationship breakdown leading to separation or divorce; personal or family member injury; moving house; taking on large financial commitments such as for a mortgage; holiday periods where personal relationships are refreshed and renewed, or put under intense pressure; giving up a habit such as smoking; the birth of a child; getting married; and so on.

Knowing what your natural response will be: Individuals adapt and adjust to external pressures in different ways, depending on their personality type. The range of types is very wide, but two broad bands of personality type have been identified. Type "A" people are described as competitive, aggressive or hasty, whilst Type "B" people behave in a passive, non-competitive, slow to react way. Type "A" people tend to pass on stress to others, Type "B" tend to internalise the effects of stress. Whilst these are established, proven categories that most people fall into, other factors, such as age, gender, health, financial situation and access to support will strongly influence the response to causes of stress, regardless of personality traits. Knowing your personality type can be helpful, but can only play a small part in managing stress successfully.

Identifying strategies and actions that will help you to cope: As we have seen, individuals react differently to stress, so each of us will need to adopt different coping strategies.

The following are well established, proven actions and strategies for managing stress and achieving work-life balance: be aware of your own weakness and strengths; understanding and accepting that certain things cannot be avoided or changed; taking action to reduce or remove the pressure; breaking down problems into smaller parts and setting targets to tackle each part in sequence; implementing personal time management techniques; replacing negative relationships with positive, supportive relationships; adopting a healthy living style; develop outside work interests, such as hobby, educational, social or sporting activity; undertaking positive professional career development activity; seeking advice and support from others, including professionals if appropriate; accepting that managing stress and work-life balance is a permanent continuous activity.

Corporate support mechanisms: Some organisations have recognised that stress and work-life balance are issues that need to be supported by corporate action. Individuals in these organisations should, where appropriate, take advantage of support mechanisms such as: Flexible working hours: allowing employees to organise working hours to accommodate important aspects of their home lives; Self managed teams:where teams work out their own hours, responding to each others’ needs; Using a buddy system:pairing with a colleague to provide cover for each other, enabling each to take time off when necessary, knowing that their buddy will take over their duties and responsibilities;

Flexible locations:working from different locations, or from home, either regularly or occasionally, to help with family responsibilities and reduce or eliminate commuting time; Special leave availability: such as paid or unpaid leave, to give time to cope with personal crises and emergencies, without using formal holiday allowance; Career breaks:for study or research sabbaticals, travel, family commitments, or voluntary work; Health programmes - offer counselling and advice, for a range of issues; Private health insurance; Fitness programmes and gymnasium membership subsidies; Childcare/eldercare facilities or subsidies:workplace nursery or subsidised places in local nurseries or nursing homes. All of these are highly valuable support opportunities, which, if available, should be taken when needed.

For most managers and specialists, in all sectors of business today it is an essential requirement, that professionals undertake courses in management development, or in specialist disciplines such as quality management, project management, accountancy, human resources, or marketing. The objective of this activity, from the individual’s point of view, is usually to obtain higher financial rewards, higher status, increased job security, and-or to increased opportunities and career choice. From the organisation’s point of view it is rightly aimed at improving the knowledge, understanding, skills, and ultimately the performance of the individual and the workforce collectively.

The impact on the individual, regardless of these contrasting objectives, is that work-life balance is affected, pressure will rise and will need to be managed to avoid this resulting in negative stress. For any individual undertaking professional development activity, especially those studying at home, in part or in full, it is essential that this is recognised as a potential source of negative stress, and that the individual builds the monitoring and control of this pressure into their development plans.

In order to manage stress and to achieve a satisfactory work-life balance, it is necessary to avoid the most common pitfalls that professionals encounter. These include: Believing that suffering from stress is a weakness, it is not, but positive, corrective action is needed to redress the situation. Allowing yourself to suffer from stress and an out of balance work-life equilibrium, when simple, easy to apply solutions are at hand, is a weakness; Keeping stress to yourself is the best approach, it is not. All the evidence shows that seeking advice and support is the key to reducing and eliminating negative stress and restoring an appropriate work-life balance; Assuming that others are to blame for your stress and the imbalance between your work and your outside work life, they may be the causes, but you are responsible for allowing the negative situation to continue; Cutting back or eliminating social, sporting, or personal interests activity is the answer to restoring a work-life balance, it is not, because these are essential positive elements necessary to achieve a healthy work-life balance and a relatively stress free life; Ignoring the warning signs, these are easy to identify, if not by you then others will see them;

Not identifying the sources of stress and reasons for imbalance, a simple analysis of your situation, perhaps with some help from a professional advisor, colleague, partner, or friend, will identify the main causes of your problems; Not looking after yourself in terms of health and happiness, if you are unhealthy, unfit, or in an unhappy relationship, or not in any relationship and are lonely and isolated, you will find it difficult to manage stress and your work-life balance effectively; Believing that there is a single solution to your negative stress and work-life imbalance problems, there is not. You need to take a holistic approach to managing your life, at work, at home, and socially. This encompasses your work, your aspirations, your personal development, your fitness, your lifestyle, your health, your relationships, your general attitude to life, everything that makes you an individual, a unique person.

This has been a first look at the links between workplace stress and work-life balance, and has been specifically aimed at those professionals who are adding to the pressures of workplace and home life by taking on professional development activities. Continuous personal professional development, for managers, professionals, and specialists, in all sectors is essential.

Even entrepreneurs and those leaving organisations to be self-employed risk being overwhelmed by workload and pressures from work-related activities. The solution to avoiding the negative effects of stress, and maintaining an appropriate work-life balance, when taking on additional personal development workload, are the same for those in organisations. You will need to be aware of the dangers, be alert to the symptoms, put in place defensive mechanisms, and then pro-actively manage your work life and personal life in a way that protects you from the dangers of negative stress and enables you to maintain a healthy and satisfying work-life balance.

Reduce stress before exams

2011-12-27T05:09:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of your term you give yourself a promise to study hard and succeed in whatever you have planned. But things just happen to distract you from doing serious tasks and you start postponing: till next day, till next weekend, till next month, year and so on.
You start getting interested in the present day only, your nearest future stops being your concern and you live happily and spend your days having fun with your friends. Every weekday you come to university and peacefully sit there, not concentrating on what your lecturer says. Suddenly a word “exam” appears in this monologue and you become very interested in it. While your tutor is talking, you feel a strange feeling tickling you in your belly and it doesn’t stop even when you have a break for lunch.

This is the first sign of getting worried. It is not a top secret that people, both tutors and students become stressed out before exam. This is a dangerous state of organism that may hurt others that are around. Here is some practical piece of advice for those who are tired of this feeling but can’t help having it.

What is the reason of stress? When thinking about exams you worry about not passing it. If you have not enough knowledge on the topic, you will fail and have to take the course again. It is the fear to fail that makes us so nervous and stressed. Having not enough knowledge is not a problem for the one who is willing to study. Start your preparation from the first class.

If you listen attentively, take notes, complete the assignments on time, you will not have to sit days and nights before exam and worry about some part of information that you’ve missed. A slight revision would be enough to refresh your memory. If you have problems with your assignment writing you can perform a custom term paper order and be a hundred percent sure that everything will be fine. You can order custom term paper that will be written on a high level with creative approach and duly completed on time. That will leave you some time for yourself and maybe your studies if it is a way you use your free time.

And here is one more thing. If you failed to do the above mentioned and still feel that horrible strain, there is one more advice. Cheating will not help you on your exam and in your future life. It is you that is cheated, not your tutors. The best way is to be honest with the examiner. Don’t lose your face when answering; you have to stay focused every second. Nobody has died of passing an exam yet and hopefully nobody will.

Teacher’s aim is to teach you, not to fail you at your exam, because students are a credit to a teacher. If you still need some time to learn and study more, do it systematically, not chaotically and everything will be alright and you’ll go home on vacation a happy person with good news to you parents.

Is Your Work Stressing You? Test Yourself

2011-12-27T05:08:00.001-08:00

All of us who are working to earn our living face some stress in our work life. Many of us face more stress than we can cope up with. But sometimes we don't realize that. The stressed life becomes a routine, and we don't bother to check if we are under more than acceptable stress. Can tests and quizzes help us find out the true state of affairs? Let us find out.
Let me talk about few quizzes that you can take to understand your work life and stress better. For example quizzes that are titled - Are you stressed? Are you a work slave? Do you believe in fun at work? Are you living a tense life? Are you burning out yourself? Are you fighting stresses in the right way? And Are you a good time manager? Will all tell us something about our mental state? How do these quizzes and tests help us?

No test or quiz can be precise. No body can tell us precisely about our mental state. It is not measurable. But a quiz raises questions. It wants us to answer many questions. That makes us think about the answers. This is like somebody interviewing us and making us think of the answer. The thought process that begins in our mind is a great tool for self-improvement. Once we realize that we might be facing more stresses or that we are nearing a burn out, we will take care.

Let us all remember that the world is going forward at a great speed. In this information age, people to people contact is getting reduced. This makes us more vulnerable. Earlier colleagues used to be more vigilant about other co-workers. Today, everyone is over loaded. Tests and quizzes are therefore a good way to self analyze and decide the course of action. Stresses are harmful. If we can use any tool that can help us, we should try. Use tests and quizzes to find out if you are stressed and try to live a long and healthy life.

If you are Stressed - Learn to Relax

2011-12-27T05:07:00.001-08:00

In modern society it is becoming far more impossible to avoid stressful situations. Too much stress can be unhealthy which is why learning to relax is so important. We all cope with stress when we go to sleep at night. While we are sleeping, our bodies become very relaxed and our heart rate, blood pressure, pulse and body temperature decrease. This allows our bodies and minds a chance to recharge allowing us to face the next day with renewed energy.
In theory, relaxation does the opposite of what stress does. It gives the body a break and helps cancel out many problems that stress may cause. Relaxation can also reduce muscle tension. Learning to relax is like learning a new skill. It takes practise to become good at it. Here are a few ideas to help you achieve it.

Breathing.
Most of us take breathing for granted, in stressful situations our breathing can go off sync and we don't even notice. This can lead to muscle tension, headaches and anxiety. Performing deep breathing exercises on a daily basis can help relieve stressful feelings.

Relax your Muscles.
Our muscles tense when we are stressed. Learn to recognise muscle tension and then learn to relieve it.

Use Imagery.
We were all great at this when we were children, imagining things all the time. Learn to use your imagination again to relieve stress. For example, imagine you're sitting on the beach and can hear the waves crashing while feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Exercise.
Exercise can have a calming effect that makes you feel, think and perform better. Yoga is an excellent relaxer. But even just going for a brisk walk can make you feel so much better.

Ways to reduce your stress.
Firstly, take stock of your life and what may cause you stress. Look to find a way you can eliminate or reduce some of the stress in your life. By reducing the problems you can reduce the symptoms of stress.

Take a look at your diet, certain things we eat can all contribute to stress. Caffeine, alcohol and sugar can cause stress, whereas fruit and vegetables can help reduce it.

Quit smoking.
Nicotine increases nervous irritability. While quitting maybe a stressful process, in the long run you'll feel better once you've quit.

Make time for recreation and enjoy yourself. Take up some new hobbies and make sure you allow enough time for these each week.

Keep a positive attitude.
Try and focus on the positive side of each situation. Looking on the bright side lightens your load. You might not like certain things in your life, but instead of letting them frustrate you, try to accept them and find a way of working around them.

Have a massage once in a while.
A massage will allow your body and mind to be intouch again. In stressful situatiuations our mind and body loose touch with one another. This contact needs to be re-established again. If you cant leave the house for whatever reason or don't have a partner to give you a massage at home try relaxing by yourself in the bedroom. Climaxing is extremly relaxing. If you are alone or single, sex toys can help you along with this.

Learn to laugh. Laughing can lower your stress levels and exercises your heart and cardiovascular system. By brightening your mood you can improve your well-being.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help. Read a book or even see a counselor to find out ways of making your life more manageable.

Stress can be a result of allowing daily irritations and frustrations to take control of your life. It doesn't have to be like that. You can anticipate difficulties, plan your time carefully, and be aware of how you react to problems. By attending to a particular problem you can create ways that put you in the driver's seat where you belong.

How To Manage Tension And Stress - 4 Useful Tips

2011-12-27T05:06:00.006-08:00

Stress has always been a part of our lives. It is but a common occurrence for people to hear someone complain of how stressful his life had been in the school, in the workplace, or even with his family. This situation happens everywhere regardless of race, nationality, status in life, or level of education attained. Stress is just there clinging to us wherever we go, and we can’t merely disregard this sad truth.
We must remember that in whatever we do, there are just some inevitable factors that cause pressure and anxiety to us. On the other hand, there are those that we can control. We must therefore be sensible enough to differentiate the two so that we do not end up wasting our time, effort, money and abilities on matters that we can’t change.

Enumerated below are some helpful advice on how to cope with tension and stress:

1. Identify what makes you anxious and uneasy. Making a list of your stressful experiences is useful. Immediately deal with the issues that you can change like waking-up late for work in the morning or beating deadlines during the last minute. Forget about the ones that you can’t influence like being stuck in a traffic jam or not getting into the elevator because there is no space left.

2. Calm down. A three-minute break would do you good. You can go to the bathroom and wash your face, sneak out to buy a candy bar, or inhale fresh air. You can also listen to relaxing music, punch a pillow, or call someone. Releasing your inner feelings to a good friend is a healthy option.

3. It will pass; it will be over before you know it. Constantly reminding yourself that the stressful event “will end sooner or later” can make you see the positive sides of things. At the same time, stabilize your emotions and think of what is the best thing to do rather than take your energy away from what needs to be done.

4. Know yourself. Ask yourself: What triggers your anxiety? If it is your job, then maybe it’s the right time for you to reconsider whether it would be best to find a less stressful job. You can also make your present job more bearable by allowing yourself to get that needed vacation or leave. Never tire yourself of thinking what can’t be changed immediately, like a new memorandum assigning you to a new work schedule that you don’t prefer. In due time, things will get better as you adjust to your work.

Eventually, you have two choices. You could change the situation or you could accept it. There’s no other way around it.

Behaviors Causing Stress

2011-12-27T05:06:00.000-08:00

Do you believe in predictions? Well, if you were educated you would know that no man or woman could predict our future. However, we all have the ability to predict our future. Sounds contradictory does it. Behaviors help us to determine how our lives will turn out. Behaviors are the manner in which we conduct our self on a daily basis. Behaviors are organisms that react to stimulus producing action and response.
Behaviors are formed when we first arrive in the world and the more we practice a certain behavior the more attached that behavior comes. How does behavior cause us stress? It depends on the person and the teachings the person endured throughout his or her lifetime, but many of us lack in development in one way or another. Since, we have religion, law, parents, teachers, siblings, employees, employers, peers and so forth playing a part in our life we often become confused since all of us have our own beliefs.

The best teacher in the world is your self. If you take the time to study, learn, listen, hear, practice good, and so forth you will have the ability to see your future is successful. You have a stress management that is surpassing any other management scheme, since no one can lead you if you choose to reject. It is good to take other people’s beliefs into consideration, however, investigating and collecting evidence that proves a fact is more beneficial than accepting everything your are taught or told.

For example, I am a logician. I take extremely complex problems and break them down to simplicity. This means I analyze each problem carefully weeding through the pile and eliminating any areas that produce negative results. I also collect and gather evidence to support my claims when I am finished, and this is a healthy practiced behaviors, since I do not lie, steal, or do anything that will cause another person harm.

As you can see from my example, my problems were minimized, since my behaviors are positive and my stress level is not controlling my life. We can review behaviors and teachers to grasp hold of a better understanding how behaviors cause stress. For example, his or her parents teach a child that speaking out of term in inappropriate. The child is punished each time he or she disobeys the parent.

We see a series of problems developing, since this teaching will tell the child during his or her development that it is not ok to speak up when someone hurts, violates, or induces other types of fears on this person. The person will go through life with the fear of punishment if he or she asserts self. How can we help this poor wrongfully taught individual find a way to reduce stress and avoid stressors? First, our parents are important people in our life that we believe in most cases that will not lie to us and believe these people have our best interest at heart. Now we see another problem, since this person will trust the parents before listening to someone else that tells him or her that they are safe and it is ok to speak your mind.

We can teach this person to practice self-talk first since self-talk is an approach that helps us to rely on self, rather than others. Self-talk is a method that tells us that we have control and that we have a right to determine what we think, feel and believe. The method teaches us to take responsibility and learn communication that is effective, since our thinking habits are in the process of change. We can also help the person by offering him or her the tool known as visual display.

Visual display is helpful since it allows us to stroll back into the past and review our learning so that we can sort through the facts and eliminate the lies. It teaches us to display a pictorial event in our mind and then role-play to see if what we were taught is true.

Think of a time in your life that you spoke up and no one hurt you or punished you for your action. Think about how many times this happened and what the consequences of your behavior led to. Practice these techniques daily to learn a new method that benefits you and your life. If you do not see prediction by now in behaviors, then you probably never will.

Child Stress Management Ideas

2011-12-27T05:03:00.001-08:00

Many children suffer from various forms of stress and in this article I give advice on how parents can help their child during these periods. Their stress can cause them to have nightmares and to lose their self-confidence. I hope you find this article interesting and beneficial.
Children who have nightmares
There are many reasons why children can start to have nightmares. I have two children, both of whom at various stages of their lives wake up crying and upset.

My young son started to have nightmares after watching the film Lord Of The Rings. He really enjoyed watching the film and wanted to watch it on a regular basis and would even re-inact the battles. The film itself is quite long and he would normally be watching it by himself as his mother and I would be busy doing other things.

I thought about why he may have started to have these type of dreams and believed it was due to this film. I then made a point of watching it with him and kept on reassuring him that the people have not actually died and that they were only acting. I even made a point of laughing at some of the more gruesome scenes and by making comments like, as if that would ever happen. This and by also only allowing him to watch the film once a week, helped to stop this period of nightmares.

Children can also develop nightmares after an illness. This can happen after having a period away from school. They may start to worry that they may have fallen behind with their work, or that they may not be able to get back into their crowd of friends. They may also fear that their best friend may have found a new best friend.

In this situation I would advise that when the child is better and before he returns to school that you re-introduce them to the work that they were studying before the illness. You can even ask the teacher to supply some of the work that the child has missed, to help them to catch up. I myself always phone up the parents of my childrens friends and invite their child round for a meal, and to play, the evening before my child is set to return to school.

Therefore when my children are ill, I always say to them not to worry about the work they may miss or about their friends as they know now how I operate etc.

Children who stress

My daughter at one point started to stress because she was not in any of the top groups in the different subjects she was taking at school. She felt like she was a failure and that we would not be proud of her. I advised her that we knew she was giving it her all at school and that as long as she continued to try her best that we would always be proud of her. After all not every child can be in these top sets.

I reminded her that she was in the netball and athletics teams and tried to make her see the positive way of thinking.

She now knows that even when she believes she is unable to perform a certain task that she should still have a go at it. When she makes an error there will always be somebody their to explain where she went wrong, which she can then learn from for the next time.

As parents it is important that we do not criticise our children too often. This can lead to them fearing failure and can lead to them not even attempting to try certain tasks.

Keep them motivated by making homework fun. Praise the child as often as possible, when they complete something well, this builds up their self-esteem. Instead of shouting at the child when they are naughty, try to talk to them as if they were an adult.

In conclusion I always try to treat my own children in a fair and relaxed manner. I want them to know that I am proud of them even if they do not achieve one hundred percent at school. If they have nightmares, I want to work out why this might be and to break whatever cycle is happening. I attempt to work out what each child is worrying about and then try to help them to find a solution.

Coping With Stress

2011-12-27T05:02:00.000-08:00

With Christmas just around the corner, many people are racking their brains trying to figure out what gifts to give to everyone. Finding the time to shop on top of all the other daily stresses we encounter just adds to our dilemma. (No, I am not going to try and sell you products here or give you gift ideas.)

Holidays bring about their own added stress with all the shopping and party going that must be done. For some it is the straw that breaks the camels back so before it arrives we must be prepared to cope with it.
Stress is an inevitable part of life. We will never be able to get rid of it completely. In fact, you wouldn’t want to get rid of it completely because, believe it or not, stress is also good for you. Stress revs up our internal engines and makes us ready to take action. The problems arise when we don’t take care of the situations at hand. This keeps our engines running but we are not going anywhere. Life is not meant to be lived as a Formula 1 Race.

Lily Tomlin once said, “Some people say life is a rat race. If we take that attitude, then even if you win, you are still a rat”.

Life doesn’t have to be a rat race. We can learn to live with stress as we learn to allow balance into our lives.

How can we cope with stress?
The first step in coping with stress is to be sure that we get enough sleep. This is the first area that people fail in. They feel that because there is so much to do they need to cut back on sleep in order to get more time in their day. This is a never-ending devil’s circle because the less sleep we have the more tired we are and the less able to cope and then the more stress we feel.

Dealing with stress does not depend on the quantity of time we have but on the quality. If we are well rested we are clear headed and able to come up with solutions to our problems. If we are overtired we will accomplish little and keep going in circles.

Try and find a balance in your sleep cycle. Go to bed the same time each night and get yourself into a routine that your body can count on.

So rule #1 Get more sleep.

Rule #2 Eat a balanced diet.
What does diet have to do with stress? Everything! Our bodies need to run as a well tuned engine. If we feed it crap you will feel like crap. You need a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables and lots of water to keep running well.

Rule #3 Stop Procrastinating
Procrastination is the biggest stress producer. If you don’t have time to tackle your problems all at once at least put aside some time each day to work on a part of the problem. Take care of it in little chunks and before you know it the problem is gone.

A Mountain is moved one stone at a time. Start moving your stones and you’ll get rid of your mountain.

Rule #4 Manage Your Time Effectively
Just like money, time also must be budgeted. You only have so many hours in a day and they must be used judiciously. Balance here is the key. Make sure to take some time to work, deal with problems and relax.

You must be sure to include relaxation time for yourself, even if it is only 15 minutes a day. Add it to your schedule and make sure you take this time for yourself. Even if you must go to your room and lock the door to get it, be sure to do it.

There are many things you can do to relax and get your mind at ease. Simple things such as a walk outside can help restore frazzled nerves and give you time to reflect on your life. Other choices would be a nice, warm bath, or a quiet spot where you can meditate.

Mediation does not have to be anything grand or complicated. Just find some quiet time and let all cares out of your mind. Think of nothing for 15 minutes. I find it easier to imagine a black screen in front of me. Every time a thought comes through my mind I remind myself that I do not want to think right now. My black screen is on. Just do nothing, think nothing, be totally at peace for 15 minutes. It will do wonders for you. After you will find that you can think much more clearly. A quiet mind brings about answers that you would never usually think of.

Lastly, the effects stress will have on you is dependant upon the way you react to it. Stress is like the bully at school who keeps coming around to taunt you. You can let him have your candy or you can stand up and do something about it. The choice is yours.

May the Christmas season bring you peace.

God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference

Coping With Holiday Stress

2011-12-27T05:01:00.000-08:00

The holidays are upon us and instead of leisurely sipping eggnog around the fireplace, we find ourselves in a frenzy trying to get all too many things done in anticipation of that one perfect, albeit elusive holiday moment.

Despite expectations, holidays are a time when many of us end up so stressed and overworked, the joy is completely lost. Nonetheless, the holidays really should be about family, friends, renewal, and even fun.
As we all know, achieving any dream is not magic, it is mostly hard work. It is worth it though, otherwise we wouldn’t go at it so hard year after year. A little bit of balance and planning can go a long way toward de-stressing the holidays and making at least some of those holiday dreams a reality. Here are some tactics to help you deal with the pressures of the holiday season.

Prioritize.

Prioritize, organize and simplify. Sit down and think about your goals. What do you really want out of the holidays? What do you need? What does your family want and need? Don’t make assumptions. Talk about it. Needs and expectations change as children grow and family networks variously shrink and expand. Disgruntled family members mean stress for all.

Budget.

Establish your budget realistically and conservatively. There is pressure from every direction to overspend during the holidays. But spending now with the knowledge you will still be paying it off this time next year can zap every bit of the joy out of the season. Be realistic and be honest. Set your budget and stick to it. Despite what advertisers want you to think, the reason for the season is not to spend as much money as possible.

Schedule your Time.

Be just as realistic about your time as you are about your money. Cooking big meals may not be practical. Use convenience foods or pre-cooked options to round out your holiday table. Don’t be afraid to ask others to pitch in. Do your shopping online instead of at the mall, and have the gifts delivered. Realistically decide which invitations you will accept and which ones you will not. Discuss priorities openly with friends and family members. Reevaluate and reduce you commitments to bring them in line with manageable reality.

Remember to Relax.

It is easy to forget your everyday good habits during holidays. The stress and frenzy of the season can quickly take its toll. None of us want to be that horrible relative who always manages to spoil the fun for everyone else. Be consciously aware of your stress and fatigue levels. Take a deep breath before you fly off the handle. Learning to keep your cool not only helps reduce the harmful effects of excess stress on your mind and body, it will also help keep stress levels down for all those around you and everybody will be more relaxed and have more fun.

Exercise.

Experts everywhere acknowledge the value of good aerobic exercise in stress reduction and well being. We all know this fact, but often forget it during holidays. Don’t. Even if it is only for a few minutes at a time, incorporate physical exercise into your day. Spend a few minutes on your exer-cycle. Take a quick walk. Take the stairs. Is there dancing at the holiday party? Join the fun. It’s good for you. Get the idea? Holiday or no, make grabbing opportunities for exercise a regular part of your everyday routine.

Watch What you Eat.

Good nutrition is for good health and every day feel-goods. It is easy to load up on junk during holidays, especially when you may not have time for real meals and then face lavish party spreads. The whole process wreaks havoc with your waistline and your health. You slow down, and your disease resistance is compromised. As a result, you can end up run down and sick right in the middle of the festivities. Despite endless yummy temptations, you do need to make certain your body is properly nourished. Grab a piece of fruit instead of dipping into that candy bowl and at the very least remember your vitamins.

Watch your Alcohol Consumption.

Food is not the only holiday temptation. Be aware of your alcohol limit and drink responsibly. A season of festivities can be draining in more than one way. Pace yourself, especially if you have a round of parties to attend. Even a couple drinks can reduce your energy level the next day, and if you have a heavy schedule, you may want to go pass on the alcohol altogether. You can count on a hangover spoiling the next day completely, and if you have plans with others, it may be more than your own day that is spoiled. Needless to say, if you are an alcoholic, holidays are not the time to skip AA meetings.

Get Adequate Rest.

Sometimes easier said than done, since the holidays can be a true frenzy. There are gifts to buy and wrap, cards to send, parties to attend, parties to throw, houses to clean, meals to cook and in the middle of all this, most of us still have jobs to do, kids to take care of and families that need our attention. Just thinking about it can make you tired, but fatigue and overwork impair judgment, and shorten tempers. It will wear you out physically and emotionally. And the lovely holiday you were working so hard to create can be dashed by hurt feelings exacerbated by stress induced snipping. Don’t be ashamed to take a nap. And don’t be ashamed to admit that you need one. Quiet relaxing moments may need to be scheduled. They are essential to your well-being and to a happy holiday season.

Practice Realistic Acceptance.

In all this welter of do’s and don’ts, realize there are some things (and people) you will never be able to change. You will be a lot calmer if you can realistically accept, what is unchangeable. Holiday get-togethers are not the place to vent over past wrongs.

Emotional Well Being.

Attend to your emotional needs. For many reasons holiday occasions often reopen old wounds. We all experience loss in our lives, and the season can make a recent divorce or death in the family seem unbearable. Take active measures to take care of yourself. Go to your place of worship. Attend to your spirituality. Although it may sound quaint today, attending a religious service can be very healing. Beyond that, talk about what bothers you. Vent your rage. If for whatever reason, you cannot talk about it to a friend or family member, get a therapist or call a telephone counseling line. There is a free one in most cities. Keeping a journal is one of the oldest forms of therapy, and it too is free. Attending to your emotional needs does not mean spilling your guts at the holiday table, it means finding a safe place for support and using it when needed.

Make Peace with Yourself.

This is not a luxury, it t is a necessity. Time-honored methods of nourishing body and soul include; prayer, yoga, meditation, Tai Chi and devotions. On a daily basis, it is one of the best things you can do to maintain both your serenity and your sanity. Even if you only have a few minutes to do it, make peace with yourself every day.

Remember, no matter what day you celebrate, the holiday season is indeed a season. Prepare to take care of yourself throughout. Schedule time to exercise and relax each day, even if it is only for a few brief moments. Be aware of other’s needs as well. Be especially aware if anyone close to you has suffered a great loss in the recent past. In many ways the holidays, which are widely heralded as times of great joy, are also times of great sorrow. That too can be overwhelming. Take deep relaxing breaths when you feel emotions rising or tempers flaring. Above all, do not take everything personally. Realize that under stress (and yes the holidays are stressful) people often say things they normally would not. Do not let them get to you and you will all feel better for it. Take care of yourself and the ones you love.

Have a peaceful stress free holiday.

A Basic Outline To Cope With Stress!

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Your ears might have heard countless number of times “do this… and get away from stress,” or, “do that…, and you will be totally relieved of stress,”turning you even more stressed out!!

…Stop scratching your head over what to be or what not to be done. I have compiled a definite set of action plan to cope with stress in life. I have tried it in the past and it really helped. In fact, I have used them time and again.

This might help you as well, simply read on.
1. Beware of your own warning signs. For, this could just be a sudden feeling of anxiety.

2. Consider what is really causing stress to you? You may be surprised to find the fact.

3. Think over what you could do to change the things. Find out how much of stress is indeed caused by you?

4. At times, due to excessive stress we fall into vicious trap of not eating properly and go to ill practices such as smoking and drinking to further worsen the situation. Instead, you should try and eat a balanced diet.

5. Eat complex carbohydrates rather than refined ones. This will really help you cope with mood swings.

6. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and keep sugar and salt intake low.

7. Drink plenty of water, it will rehydrate your body. Try to keep caffeine consumption to the minimum.

8. Avoid nicotine or any other self prescribed drug.

9. Don’t feel guilty about including a period of relaxation every day. We all need to turn off from time to time.

10. Do something that is creative and helps you relax. Say, listen music, do yoga, meditate, enjoy aromatherapy or any other stress busting exercise.

11. Learn to be more assertive and try to manage your time properly.

12. You can even consider attending a stress management training course.

13. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

These are certain steps that can truly help you cope with stress. It will work wonders for you. The choice is yours, if you wanna live with stress or acquire any of these good points to mar the stress out of your life.

5 Quick Stress Busters

2011-12-27T04:59:00.001-08:00

How do you react when your plans fall through? Do you roll with the punches? Or does anxiety keep you from enjoying life? To a great extent, our personality determines how we deal with stress in our lives, but here are 5 things to help keep your stress under control:
1.    Sleep more. It’s very common in our society to exist on less than 6 hours of sleep a night. But experts keep telling us we need at least 8 hours. Not just to rest our bodies, but to rejuvenate our minds. “Tired” and “cranky” seem to go hand in hand. Don’t use your bedroom to watch the news or finish up some work from the office. Make that room your haven, a place to relax and escape the day. Have a hot cup of tea, take a warm bath, or read a paperback to help you unwind.

2.    Have faith. Saying a short prayer in times of stress can give you a sense of calm, especially when the situation is one you really have no control over. Studies have shown that people who trust in a higher power have lower blood pressure. Being able to forgive people also can affect your blood pressure. Holding a grudge is not good for your health!

3.    Turn it off. The convenience that cell phones have added to our lives can actually be a double-edged sword. We depend on them so much it seems we can’t live without them. This increased accessibility means not only can our loved ones reach us at any time, but so can work. If your employer legitimately needs to have your cell phone number, make sure you set clear limits on when you can and cannot be reached. Your time off is yours.

4.    Take a holiday. It doesn’t have to be a fancy vacation resort. A day at the beach, or an afternoon at the park will do. Just anywhere you can be and not think about the bills, work, or whatever tensions you may have. It’s important to take time for yourself, so do it! You’ll feel better with a fresh outlook.

5.    Treat yourself. Sign up for a yoga class at your local gym or community center. The costs are nominal, and you’ll feel more relaxed after even just one session. A monthly massage or a spa treatment is also a great way to recharge. You’ll walk out feeling like a million dollar bowl of jelly.

Stress is unavoidable. But what we do about it is up to us. Experiment with these suggestions and see what works for you!