Stress Tips For Stress Free Living

1. Get up 15 minutes earlier
2. Prepare for the morning the night before
3. Avoid tight fitting clothes
4. Avoid relying on chemical aids
5. Set appointments ahead
6. Don’t rely on your memory … write it down
7. Practice preventive maintenance
8. Make duplicate keys
9. Say “no” more often
10. 10. Set priorities in your life

Controlling Breathing
 The first rapid relaxation routine involves   breathing in and out nine times in three  series of three breaths.

 In the first series of three breaths, inhale   deeply and, as you exhale slowly, say quietly  or think to yourself, “Calm body.” Repeat   three times.

 In the second series of three breaths, inhale   deeply and, as you exhale, say quietly or   think to yourself, “Calm mind.”

 In the final series of three breaths, inhale   deeply and, as you exhale, say (and do)   “Smile.”

Stress Management –Your Holidays Can Be More Enjoyable Without Spending One Extra Dime!

Much of our holiday stress is self induced. The perfect toy, a new set of bargain priced outdoor lights to make you the envy of the neighborhood.  The jewelers tell us, won’t really be complete unless that special woman or man receives the gift that lasts forever (and takes nearly as long to pay off).  Tear jerking commercials remind us just how important it is to buy the name brand cards if we really want to communicate our true feelings for loved ones during the holiday season.

It is no wonder holiday stress has reached epidemic proportions.  We receive message after message telling us just how important every single thing we buy and do is with respect to having a good holiday season.  We constantly look for a way to capture that elusive sense of holiday satisfaction—often with a wad of cash or a credit card.

There’s nothing wrong with spending within your means to have an enjoyable holiday.  It is, after all, a time of giving and a time of celebration and some level of cost is probably inevitable.  However, there are ways to increase your enjoyment of the holidays without spending one extra dime.

One great piece of holiday wisdom is the simple reminder to “think about ideas and people instead of things.”  Even the most free-spending Christmas shopper, when asked, will tell you that the holidays are a time to reflect on the messages of the season and to spend time with loved ones.  The spirit of the holidays can be  clearly communicated by a simple hug or a quality conversation.

Too often, we use things as our means of expression instead of using ourselves.  By retaining a focus on people and ideas instead of things, we find can begin to really communicate the message of love that underlies everyone’s understanding of the holidays.  A hug, a conversation or a walk around the block with a loved one doesn’t cost a dime and can be the best way to build holiday cheer, pleasant memories, and an appreciation of the holidays.

Volunteering your time and energy to a charitable cause can increase your appreciation of the holidays and allows you to truly embody the spirit of giving that underpins the season.  This simple act of kindness can be truly transformative not only for those who benefit from the gift but also for those who are willing to volunteer.

If you want another strand of Christmas lights and they fit into your budget, go ahead.  Feel free to pick up that great toy for your child and the expensive knick-knack for your spouse.  But remember that there are a few things you can do that won’t cost you a anything and can really increase the quality of your holiday season.  Remember to think about people and ideas—instead of things.

7 Tips To Relieve Stress

It seems like you hear it all the time from nearly every one you know – “I’m SO stressed out!”  There’s plenty of pressures to be had today causing stress and anxiety. Most people are unprepared to deal with stressors that trigger feelings that can make us sick.  Literally, sick.

Stress is far more dangerous than we thought. You’ve probably heard that it can raise your blood pressure, increasing the likelihood of a stroke in the distant future, but recently a health insurance brochure claimed that 90 percent of visits to a primary care physician were stress-related disorders.

Health Psychology magazine reports that chronic stress can interfere with the normal function of the body’s immune system. And studies have proven that stressed individuals have an increased vulnerability to catching an illness and are more susceptible to allergic, autoimmune, or cardiovascular diseases.

Doctors agree that during chronic stress, the functions of the body that are nonessential to survival, such as the digestive and immune systems, shut down. This is why people get sick.

Stress often prompts people to respond in unhealthy ways such as smoking, drinking alcohol, eating poorly, or becoming physically inactive. This damages the body in addition to the wear and tear of the stress itself.
Although there is no definitive answer to any of the stressor you may experience listed are a seven coping mechanisms that may support your ability to manage stress.

7 Tips

1. Know how to relax and log to of tension
2. Eat right and exercise often
3. Get enough sleep
4. Become more organized
5. Know the difference between what truly important and what is not and don’t worry about the unimportant things
6. Know what’s important and live according to your own values
7. Have a good sense of humor

Stress is a part of daily life.  It’s how we react to it that makes all the difference in maintaining our health and well-being.  Pressures occur throughout life and those pressures cause stress.  You need to realize that you will never completely get rid of stress in your life, but you can learn coping techniques to turn that stress into a healthier situation.

If you found this information let me know.  Leave a comment in the section below this sentence.

Here’s a few quick stress relief tips to decrease depression

Is there a relationship between stress and depression – you betcha there is.  Everybody’s stressed out these days. If you don’t do something about it can eventually lead to depression.  When you feel depressed, you just want to lie on the sofa while the television drones on in the background. You aren’t really watching anything that takes too much energy.

The last thing you want to do is get outside – but that’s exactly what you need to do.  The challenge of depression is working against what you feel inclined to do. Yet if you get moving, you’ll find surprising relief from the stress and depression that seems to choke you.

Exercise is an absolute necessity  to regaining a sense of self-control.  It helps you focus on something other then the situation that’s causing you to feel stressed and depressed. It also provides a better night’s sleep, which helps your immune system rally against your stress factors.

When your stressed to the point of depression don’t place too many demands on yourself. You’ll only  feel overwhelmed.  So you have to start with simple, specific steps, such as:

• Begin with basic self-care. Set your alarm clock and get out of bed without lying there thinking about it. Then go directly to take a shower and get dressed in clean clothes. No pajamas – real clothes.
• Set a place with real dishes at the table for your breakfast. Even if you only eat a bagel and drink juice, don’t do it standing up in the kitchen. Sit down and eat as if you were in a restaurant. And if you have good china, use it.
• Choose one activity outside the house to complete before lunch. That might be something as simple as walking around the block or going outside to water the flowers.
• Drive to a nearby mall or large discount store. Start at one end and walk up and down every aisle. When you get to the other side, start aisle-walking again until you’re back where you started. Then you can go back and look at anything that seemed interesting. Something is bound to catch your eye and get the focus off the situation.  The key is to get moving.
• Go to a park in the late afternoon. Find the swing set and swing. It’s amazing how this activity makes you feel like a child who is happy to be outdoors.
• If you’re going to watch television watch something funny.  For one of my clients  it was watching the old classic “I Love Lucy”.  She had  seem all the episodes many times so they don’t require concentration but will still get her  to smile

Exercise to relieve stress and depression doesn’t have to mean marathon training or aerobics. You don’t even have to go to the gym unless you’re ready to go. Even simple activities will make a big difference in your mood.

When you realize that nothing in life is permanent and that the storm you’re caught up in right now will eventually pass, you’ll take a big step towards reducing stress and depression. And combine this with tips and techniques above you’ll have an effective strategy to help the situation pass quickly.

I hope this made you think about how you handle stress and depression.  Let me know how you’re going to use this information in your life by leaving a comment.  See the link underneath this sentence.