Saturday, July 5, 2008

Stress Busters

Are you stressed out to the max? Do you need help managing your stress? According to a survey conducted by the American Institute of Stress, 54% of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives. Are you among these?

The best way to bust stress before it gets out of control is to manage it properly. Here are the top ten ways you can manage stress, starting now:

1. Breathe One of the easiest and best ways to manage your stress is to take control of your breathing. When your anxiety levels rise, you may notice 1C3Cyour breathing increasing. You might start taking fast, shallow breaths. Close your eyes, inhale deeply, and then exhale slowly while counting to ten.

2. Exercise Any form of exercise is conducive to stress management. Creating a regularly scheduled exercise routine can not only help you work tension out of your body, but can help to eliminate unnecessary stress as well.

3. Guided imagery and meditation Guided meditation is often perceived as weird. However, it is one of the easiest ways you can relax. These CDs contain a person who assists you in meditating by providing you with guided imagery. (It is usually about a 10-20 minute track.)

4. Laugh It has been said that laughter is the best medicineand its true! Research proves that laughter is especially good for the heart. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine say that laughter contributes to an increase of blood flow to. See a funny movie, buy a book of jokesLAUGH.

5. Take a break When was the last time you went on vacation? Everybody needs a break every now and then. Plan a nice getaway with your spouse or family. Leave work at work. Get out and have some fun, relax and reduce your stress levels.

6. Manage your time wisely One of the biggest causes of stress is poor time management. Do you often feel as though there arent enough hours in the day to do everything you need to do? Do you run from one appointment to another, sometimes even arriving late? Planning and managing your time in a more wisely manner can greatly reduce a lot of stress.

7. Loosen up Are you uptight? Do you take little time off for fun? While your time should be managed, stress can be caused by living a life that is too strictly controlled. If you find it difficult to have fun anymore, try loosening up the reigns just a bit. Take a day off; go for a stroll in the park; buy a flower and give it to a stranger.

8. Journal Journaling is nothing new, but not many people take advantage of the positive benefits journaling can have. Journaling is a good way to get things off your chest without exploding at those at you love. It helps you to put things in their proper perspective and discover things you didnt recognize about yourself before.

9. Take a daily vitamin If you dont already take a vitamin, start today. Purchase a bottle of multi-vitamins and begin the habit of taking good care of your body today. Doctors often suggest that both men and women benefit most from a pre-natal vitamin because these are power-packed with all the nutrients your body needs.

10. Start a hobby Do you have a hobby? All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy. Try something that youve always wanted to but never made the time forgolfing, knitting, swimming, reading.

If you're sick of being stressed out and feeling overwhelmed, eliminate your stress today. http://www.eliminatestress.nurturedsoul.com/

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