Brandon 28 EASY STRESS BUSTERS
January 8th 2008 05:25
1. Breathe! When we are stressed our breathing becomes shallow, creating more acid in the body, which in turn gives us more stress (as well as ulcers and sore tummies). Take a few deep breaths, filling up your stomach and then expanding out your chest, and then exhale the opposite: through the chest first and then the stomach. You’ll feel better straight away.
2. Make a decision: Most insomnia and worry that causes stress is from decisions that need to be made. If you have different options for your problem, decide on one course of action and see how it feels. If it feels good to have made that decision, go with it and stop worrying. If it doesn’t feel good, keep going down your list of options until it does. Remember that your heart (truth) will be more honest than your head (ego)!
3. Stop negative mind chatter: Most stress is an illusion caused by worry and anxiety that isn’t real. If your brain won’t shut up and keeps telling you you’re not good enough, you’re going to get in trouble, you’re a loser etc etc, the best thing you can do is to ignore it and think about something else. Even bullies will go away after a while if they’re ignored! Think about all the good things about yourself, your job, your income, your lifestyle, and nip that negative self talk out as soon as you notice it. This cuts down a hell of a lot of unnecessary stress.
4. Make sure you get enough sleep, and also enough rest and relaxation. Take some time out and just hang.
5. Speaking of just hanging out, while you’re there, why not try some meditation? It helps you relax, and eases the brain of all that chatter it has to put up with all day. Use a guided tape if it helps, or otherwise close your eyes, sit comfortably, and focus on your breathing. Every time thoughts come in, just gently turn your attention back to the in-and-out of your breath. Aaahhh.
6. If you need a little extra stress relief, take up a regular yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong class. These exercises help bring your awareness to your body, and help calm the mind.
7. Check out a child or an animal for ten minutes. They tend to just play, have fun and laugh. And they don't stress. An easy and cheap lesson in stress management...
8. And remember, don’t sweat the small stuff. When you look at what you're doing when you're stressed - is it really that mind-blowing? Really end-of-the-world stuff? Grab a healthy dose of perspective and realise that everything's gonna be OK, no matter what you do. You're never wrong, because we're just humans playing this game on earth for a while, and it's supposed to be fun! So do what you wanna do and be who you wanna be, and let go of all the worry. It'll only make you old and bitter!
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Comment by Tracy
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Tracy
Comment by StressRelief
Richard Carlson wrote a best seller called "Dont Sweat The Small Stuff" Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that, upon closer examination, aren't really that big a deal..We focus on little problems and concerns and blow them way out of proportion.
I'm sure we have a copy of this book at work which I will take the time to read.