imma.one
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 10, 2011
- 542
- 37
We all feel stressed from time to time; it's part of
being human. And we certainly feel frustrated.
But as common as these feelings are, there are simple
things we can do to ease them, even erase them in some
cases.
Seven such gems are below.
_________________________________________________
Create a CD of Your Favorite Songs
_________________________________________________
Listening to your favorite music not only takes your mind
off of your worries but also reduces blood pressure and
a rapid heart beat.
Because music is so closely tied to memory, listening to
music brings to mind happy memories, which in turn affects
the part of the brain that regulates these and other
automatic physical responses.
So make a list of your 15 favorite songs, visit an online
music store to download each one, and create your very own
stress-busting CD.
_________________________________________________
Control Your Breathing
_________________________________________________
Stressful situations lead to short and shallow breathing,
which in turn leads to an increased heart rate and creates
feelings of tension and anxiety.
To reverse these effects and reduce your stress, completely
empty your lungs with a large sigh. Then, breathe in deeply
from your belly on up, hold your breath, and exhale slowly.
You may want to follow the 4-7-8 rule. (4-second inhale,
7-second hold, 8-second exhale.)
This simple exercise sends better oxygen content to your
cells, improving your health and ridding yourself of the
tension and stress.
_________________________________________________
Laugh
_________________________________________________
Studies by Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan have found that
laughter 'lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones,
increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function.'
It also triggers the release of endorphins, which act as
the body's natural painkillers and produce a sense of well-
being.
The lesson? Laugh! Expose yourself to humor as often as
possible through jokes, funny stories, comic strips taped
up in your office, or anything else that makes you laugh.
_________________________________________________
Make Your List
_________________________________________________
Even though you may not realize it, there are most likely
specific situations that cause stress time and again. By
putting your finger on exactly what they are, you can begin
to fix or avoid the things that constantly add stress and
tension to your life.
Get out a sheet of paper and a pencil. Begin by thinking
back to stressful times and what specific things caused
them. Then, keep the list handy for two weeks and record
the cause of any stress you experience during that period.
After two weeks, create a master list of stress causers and
spend time thinking of specific remedies for each one. The
solution may be as simple as taking a different route to
work or getting up fifteen minutes earlier to handle tasks
in the morning.
_________________________________________________
Focus on Now
_________________________________________________
Thinking about the next ten items on your list of things to
do is enough to cause anyone stress. That's why it's vital
that you focus on only one thing at a time.
Allowing only one task into your thoughts at a time - the
one thing you are involved with right now - will improve
your productivity, decrease mental mistakes, and relieve
your mind of feeling overwhelmed as well as your body of
feeling physically stressed out and drained.
_________________________________________________
Hold a Pencil between Your Teeth
_________________________________________________
A recent study at the University of California found most
people have a set of 'smile muscles' which, when activated,
send signals to your brain that you are happy. In turn,
your brain releases the chemical that register happiness.
In fact, you don't even need to personally feel happy at
the moment to create the internal response of happiness.
Simply holding a pencil between your teeth can be enough to
trick your brain into thinking you are happy and releasing
the corresponding chemicals into your system.
_________________________________________________
Wake Up with the Sun
_________________________________________________
You're sound asleep and dreaming peacefully. And then, out
of nowhere, you're shocked awake by the screeching of an
buzzing alarm. It's easy to see why such a routine can get
things started off on the wrong foot.
Instead of being startled every morning, try using natural
light to wake you up. Studies have shown that the light of
dawn alerts your body to wrap up your dreams, raises your
body temperature, and begins releasing the hormones you
need to function throughout the day.
So leave the blinds open tonight and wake up with the sun.
(Afraid of oversleeping? Keep an alarm nearby set to five
minutes after your normal wake time. This way, if the sun
doesn't do its job on day, the alarm will.)
Hope you enjoyed these simple tips!
being human. And we certainly feel frustrated.
But as common as these feelings are, there are simple
things we can do to ease them, even erase them in some
cases.
Seven such gems are below.
_________________________________________________
Create a CD of Your Favorite Songs
_________________________________________________
Listening to your favorite music not only takes your mind
off of your worries but also reduces blood pressure and
a rapid heart beat.
Because music is so closely tied to memory, listening to
music brings to mind happy memories, which in turn affects
the part of the brain that regulates these and other
automatic physical responses.
So make a list of your 15 favorite songs, visit an online
music store to download each one, and create your very own
stress-busting CD.
_________________________________________________
Control Your Breathing
_________________________________________________
Stressful situations lead to short and shallow breathing,
which in turn leads to an increased heart rate and creates
feelings of tension and anxiety.
To reverse these effects and reduce your stress, completely
empty your lungs with a large sigh. Then, breathe in deeply
from your belly on up, hold your breath, and exhale slowly.
You may want to follow the 4-7-8 rule. (4-second inhale,
7-second hold, 8-second exhale.)
This simple exercise sends better oxygen content to your
cells, improving your health and ridding yourself of the
tension and stress.
_________________________________________________
Laugh
_________________________________________________
Studies by Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan have found that
laughter 'lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones,
increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function.'
It also triggers the release of endorphins, which act as
the body's natural painkillers and produce a sense of well-
being.
The lesson? Laugh! Expose yourself to humor as often as
possible through jokes, funny stories, comic strips taped
up in your office, or anything else that makes you laugh.
_________________________________________________
Make Your List
_________________________________________________
Even though you may not realize it, there are most likely
specific situations that cause stress time and again. By
putting your finger on exactly what they are, you can begin
to fix or avoid the things that constantly add stress and
tension to your life.
Get out a sheet of paper and a pencil. Begin by thinking
back to stressful times and what specific things caused
them. Then, keep the list handy for two weeks and record
the cause of any stress you experience during that period.
After two weeks, create a master list of stress causers and
spend time thinking of specific remedies for each one. The
solution may be as simple as taking a different route to
work or getting up fifteen minutes earlier to handle tasks
in the morning.
_________________________________________________
Focus on Now
_________________________________________________
Thinking about the next ten items on your list of things to
do is enough to cause anyone stress. That's why it's vital
that you focus on only one thing at a time.
Allowing only one task into your thoughts at a time - the
one thing you are involved with right now - will improve
your productivity, decrease mental mistakes, and relieve
your mind of feeling overwhelmed as well as your body of
feeling physically stressed out and drained.
_________________________________________________
Hold a Pencil between Your Teeth
_________________________________________________
A recent study at the University of California found most
people have a set of 'smile muscles' which, when activated,
send signals to your brain that you are happy. In turn,
your brain releases the chemical that register happiness.
In fact, you don't even need to personally feel happy at
the moment to create the internal response of happiness.
Simply holding a pencil between your teeth can be enough to
trick your brain into thinking you are happy and releasing
the corresponding chemicals into your system.
_________________________________________________
Wake Up with the Sun
_________________________________________________
You're sound asleep and dreaming peacefully. And then, out
of nowhere, you're shocked awake by the screeching of an
buzzing alarm. It's easy to see why such a routine can get
things started off on the wrong foot.
Instead of being startled every morning, try using natural
light to wake you up. Studies have shown that the light of
dawn alerts your body to wrap up your dreams, raises your
body temperature, and begins releasing the hormones you
need to function throughout the day.
So leave the blinds open tonight and wake up with the sun.
(Afraid of oversleeping? Keep an alarm nearby set to five
minutes after your normal wake time. This way, if the sun
doesn't do its job on day, the alarm will.)
Hope you enjoyed these simple tips!
