Managing Stress
- Some stress is good for us. It increases productivity, so don’t rule it out altogether – find your optimum level.
- The body love the stress of exercise and releases hundreds of beneficial hormones as a result.
- Desensitize yourself to excessive levels of stress with instant relaxation, imagery training, activity of any kind and writing out an action plan.
- Instant relaxation is a quick, simple exercise that you can do whenever you can to conquer stress in a few minutes:
- close your eyes
- lower your shoulders
- halve your breathing rate
- count to five breathing in and to five breathing out
- think of black velvet
- Simple breathing techniques can relieve stress. Learn yoga breathing.
- Exercise itself relieves stress but it also increases your resistance to stress, so walk briskly when you can, climb stairs and incorporate some formal exercise into your life every day if you can. It needn’t be excessive – 30 minutes of walking is enough.
- Stress relieving aromatherapy includes oil of Clary sage and lavender – a couple of drops on a handkerchief or pillow and in the bath.
- Learn biofeedback to keep your heart rate and blood pressure down when you feel stress taking its toll.
- Learn deep muscle and deep mental relaxation techniques. Then you can control stress.
- Massage will relieve the muscle tension, aches and pains that result from stress, so incorporate sessions into your life.
