Stress has been called 'the plague of our time'. More than ever before stress relief seems to be in great demand and especially for people in stressful jobs or careers. It would be more appropriate to ask which jobs or careers are not stress related and you would probably be able to count the number on one hand. As a self help tool for handling stressful situations in your everyday life, I'll give you 5 simple methods for instantly relieving stress that has worked great for me. I really hope these methods can be useful for you as well.
Remove stress with relaxation
If you are stressed, sit down at the most comfortable place you can find, close your eyes and say to your self slowly:
"I am calm. Absolutely calm. I feel relaxed. My hands are heavy. I'm calm and relaxed. My arms are heavy and relaxed. My arms and my legs are relaxed and heavy. My torso is relaxed, calm and feels heavy. My shoulders and neck are heavy and relaxed. My entire body is calm, relaxed and heavy. I feel great, relaxed and calm. I feel warmth spreading from my stomach to all parts of my body. My entire body is calm, relaxed, heavy and warm. I feel good and I’m totally relieved from stress. "
Continue having this feeling of being totally relaxed and stress less for as long as you can or want. When you decide to finish this down-stressing session, take a deep breath and stretch out your arms in a short and energetic movement. How do you feel now? Practice this exercise every time you feel stressed.
Sit down and look at the Sea
If you are stressed and need to relax go to the harbor, the nearest beach or any place close to the sea, or a lake if you live in the inland. Just sit there and feel it, smell it, hear it. Don't think so much, just sense. Do you feel relaxed? Keep on until you feel the stress has left you.
Take a Walk
If you are stressed leave your home or office and take a thirty minute walk. Just walk don't talk to anybody. Try to relax while you walk. Instead of thinking or focusing on your current problems, try to sense your environments like smell, sound impressions and what you see as well as your inner feelings; heart beat, your feet touching the ground and the movements of your arms. Do you feel relaxed now? After half an hour your stressful feelings should have disappeared.
Listen to Music
If you are stressed sit or lie down, walk or do whatever you want, while you are listening to music. Don't listen to heavy rock and similar music, this might invoke even more stress. Relaxing with a Nat King Cole ballad or two, some slow pace smooth Jazz, the Adagietto movement of Gustav Mahlers 5th symphony or Mozart's Grand Partita for wind instruments are all great. Do you feel more relaxed? Is your stressfulness leaving you? It should.
Laugh, laugh and laugh
If you are stressed, call or visit friends that you have had much fun with. Talk with them about funny things you have done in the past and as they the youngsters say, “Get your laugh on”. Do all you can to provoke good and healthy laughter as it is very relaxing and dissolves the away the stress. Read a joke magazine, watch a comedy DVD or video or listen to a funny audio. If you have kids around you, play a crazy and childish game with them, they love it and everybody will relax. The point is, laugh and your stress will disappear and you'll feel relaxed.
Source: www.isnare.com
Showing posts with label relax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relax. Show all posts
Friday, January 26, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
15 Easy Ways To Relax At Work
Do you have a sore back and stiff neck after only a few hours at work? Does the rush to meet deadlines, constant talking on the phone or finishing off reports seem to wear you down hour by hour? Then maybe it's time to relax for a few moments over the course of each day.
If done right, even a minute of not thinking about work can help you loosen up in the long run. And if you don't think you have time for a five-minute break, you may just be working too hard.
Here are 15 quick, easy tips that will hopefully rest your nerves, up your productivity and postpone the onset of ulcers.
1- Massage your temples
Think of it as massaging your brain, in a manner of speaking. Take your eyes off the computer screen, focus on something down the hall (this helps to ease the muscles that move your eyeballs) and try to relax your whole body. Breathe, and try to forget what you were just working on, even if only for a moment.
2- Listen to music
Whether it's something soothing that mellows you out or something hard and heavy, music is great for a quick escape. Try using headphones at your desk or sitting in your car during a break so you can have the tunes all to yourself. The more engaging it is for you, the more it will release your tension from work.
3- Change settings
Don't let your cubicle turn you into Milton from Office Space . Change your scenery a little bit by reading something standing up, or doing some work in the conference room. You'd be surprised how much even the slightest shift in spatial surroundings will positively affect your composure.
4- Stretch
That's right, stretch. And I'm not simply referring to the "lean back in your chair," yawning, "boy I could sure use another cup of coffee" kind of stretching. Get out of your chair, find a little floor space, and work it like you were on the track team. Touch your toes, flex your calves, make little circles with your arms. The muscles of the body are interconnected so the more you stretch, the more the whole body relaxes.
5- Take a walk
It's best to get outside for some fresh air, but if limitations keep you indoors, even a stroll around the office will help you break the monotonous routine. Focus on moving parts of your leg and arm muscles that have been stationary all day. Even climbing a flight of stairs can do the trick.
6- Exercise
Go to the gym, take a bike ride, go for a jog, or play catch outside with a co-worker. There's no doubt that one of the best contrasts for draining mental exertion is physical exertion. Upping your heart rate a little will get your blood flowing more quickly. Obviously, this one takes more than a few minutes -- so don't blame me if you Stairmaster yourself through a staff meeting.
7- Do something personal
Reply to an e-mail, return a personal phone call, or even handwrite a letter. Reminding yourself that you actually have a life beyond your cubicle is a nice reaffirmation. Also, thinking about a relationship or a fun event can provide a nice mental diversion, even if you only do so for a moment.
8- Have a cup of tea
As the world's second most popular beverage (the first is water), tea has to be good for you, right? Try the caffeine-free variety, unless you're a coffee addict, in which case you might need your little jolt. Tea helps digestion and is great for relaxation.
9- Eat something
A light snack is a nice sensory change from mental grunt work. Something with protein is best, as it is less likely to make you crave more snacks later in the day. Be forewarned that if you eat too much, you'll end up like a lion after it devours its wildebeest -- lazy!
10- Have a drink
Don't get carried away and don't make a habit of it, but a glass of wine or beer with lunch, or a splash of Baileys Irish Cream in your coffee during a break might be just what you need. Sometimes a slight glaze over your tense mood will help you relax and work more efficiently and calmly.
11- Read a comic strip
Anything that gives you a little intellectual stimulation outside of your usual professional mind-set is a good distraction. You'd be surprised how much a five-minute read will help alleviate stress and momentarily erase the nagging thoughts in your head between nine and five.
12- Plan your weekend
Looking ahead to the weekend, or better yet your vacation time, can easily cheer you up. But don't get carried away, otherwise you'll end up despising your workday even more. Take a minute or two to imagine the beach or snuggling under the covers on Sunday morning and before you know it, you'll actually be doing it.
13- Freshen up
Take a trip to a secluded bathroom, roll up your sleeves, wash your hands, and splash some water onto your face. Get some cold water on your temples and on the back of your neck. Aside from being refreshing, cold water on the skin can awaken your senses.
14- Do something creative
Draw a cartoon, paint a little picture, take a photo, write a poem. This will remind you that your brain is capable of tasks other than the ones you repeat all day.
15- Run an errand
Go to the bank or the post office and do something for yourself. You can even pretend that the power drill at the hardware store or the new boxed set at the record shop is, for a few minutes anyway, more important than work.
If done right, even a minute of not thinking about work can help you loosen up in the long run. And if you don't think you have time for a five-minute break, you may just be working too hard.
Here are 15 quick, easy tips that will hopefully rest your nerves, up your productivity and postpone the onset of ulcers.
1- Massage your temples
Think of it as massaging your brain, in a manner of speaking. Take your eyes off the computer screen, focus on something down the hall (this helps to ease the muscles that move your eyeballs) and try to relax your whole body. Breathe, and try to forget what you were just working on, even if only for a moment.
2- Listen to music
Whether it's something soothing that mellows you out or something hard and heavy, music is great for a quick escape. Try using headphones at your desk or sitting in your car during a break so you can have the tunes all to yourself. The more engaging it is for you, the more it will release your tension from work.
3- Change settings
Don't let your cubicle turn you into Milton from Office Space . Change your scenery a little bit by reading something standing up, or doing some work in the conference room. You'd be surprised how much even the slightest shift in spatial surroundings will positively affect your composure.
4- Stretch
That's right, stretch. And I'm not simply referring to the "lean back in your chair," yawning, "boy I could sure use another cup of coffee" kind of stretching. Get out of your chair, find a little floor space, and work it like you were on the track team. Touch your toes, flex your calves, make little circles with your arms. The muscles of the body are interconnected so the more you stretch, the more the whole body relaxes.
5- Take a walk
It's best to get outside for some fresh air, but if limitations keep you indoors, even a stroll around the office will help you break the monotonous routine. Focus on moving parts of your leg and arm muscles that have been stationary all day. Even climbing a flight of stairs can do the trick.
6- Exercise
Go to the gym, take a bike ride, go for a jog, or play catch outside with a co-worker. There's no doubt that one of the best contrasts for draining mental exertion is physical exertion. Upping your heart rate a little will get your blood flowing more quickly. Obviously, this one takes more than a few minutes -- so don't blame me if you Stairmaster yourself through a staff meeting.
7- Do something personal
Reply to an e-mail, return a personal phone call, or even handwrite a letter. Reminding yourself that you actually have a life beyond your cubicle is a nice reaffirmation. Also, thinking about a relationship or a fun event can provide a nice mental diversion, even if you only do so for a moment.
8- Have a cup of tea
As the world's second most popular beverage (the first is water), tea has to be good for you, right? Try the caffeine-free variety, unless you're a coffee addict, in which case you might need your little jolt. Tea helps digestion and is great for relaxation.
9- Eat something
A light snack is a nice sensory change from mental grunt work. Something with protein is best, as it is less likely to make you crave more snacks later in the day. Be forewarned that if you eat too much, you'll end up like a lion after it devours its wildebeest -- lazy!
10- Have a drink
Don't get carried away and don't make a habit of it, but a glass of wine or beer with lunch, or a splash of Baileys Irish Cream in your coffee during a break might be just what you need. Sometimes a slight glaze over your tense mood will help you relax and work more efficiently and calmly.
11- Read a comic strip
Anything that gives you a little intellectual stimulation outside of your usual professional mind-set is a good distraction. You'd be surprised how much a five-minute read will help alleviate stress and momentarily erase the nagging thoughts in your head between nine and five.
12- Plan your weekend
Looking ahead to the weekend, or better yet your vacation time, can easily cheer you up. But don't get carried away, otherwise you'll end up despising your workday even more. Take a minute or two to imagine the beach or snuggling under the covers on Sunday morning and before you know it, you'll actually be doing it.
13- Freshen up
Take a trip to a secluded bathroom, roll up your sleeves, wash your hands, and splash some water onto your face. Get some cold water on your temples and on the back of your neck. Aside from being refreshing, cold water on the skin can awaken your senses.
14- Do something creative
Draw a cartoon, paint a little picture, take a photo, write a poem. This will remind you that your brain is capable of tasks other than the ones you repeat all day.
15- Run an errand
Go to the bank or the post office and do something for yourself. You can even pretend that the power drill at the hardware store or the new boxed set at the record shop is, for a few minutes anyway, more important than work.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
10 Ways to Destroy Stress and Anxiety
Let’s face it. Wouldn’t you like a life with the peace of mind that comes from knowing how to find stress relief? Is it as easy as just finding ways to relax?
Here are my best Lori Prokop Tips on how can you get rid of stress and anxiety and have peace of mind? Here’s how.
1) Down Easy. When you feel your muscles tightening from stress and anxiety, make a choice to relax. Years ago at one of my first speaking events I found stress relief from a seasoned member of the stage crew who said, “Lori Prokop, here’s how I relax.” This is what he told me to get rid of my stress and anxiety.
Imagine yourself as a rubber band stretched tightly. Relax and just let go. You will see how quickly the rubber band finds its own stress relief and comes back into its normal shape. Upon your direction, your muscles and body do the same thing and find their stress relief.
2) Breathe. I find when I feel stress and anxiety, I breathe shallowly. When I am at events, and especially if I am feeling stress and anxiety, people remind me, “Lori Prokop, you need to find stress relief and peace of mind. Breathe!”
Here is the Lori Prokop Peace of Mind Technique. I’m not saying that I, Lori Prokop, invented it. I am saying it is one of the ways I use to relax and get rid of stress and anxiety.
To find peace of mind imagine being surrounded with pure air. Breathe peace in. Breathe stress and anxiety out. Notice how much more pure and unique the peaceful air smells. Breathe in peace again. Breathe out stress and anxiety. Repeat as desired.
3) One-Minute Peace of Mind. At times the world can be moving so fast we forget to relax, take a break and find stress relief. Many people who experience stress and anxiety have a challenge with slowing down and finding peace of mind for any length of time.
If this is you, start with the Lori Prokop One-Minute Peace of Mind Technique.
Just stand still for one minute. Look at something beautiful or read a quote for one minute. Spread these through your day and see how many minutes of stress relief you can accumulate.
4) Lori Prokop One-Minute Relax. Here is quick stress relief and one of many great ways to relax.
To get rid of stress and anxiety, sit for a moment or longer if you choose. Relax and extend your feet on the floor in front of you and feel the stress and anxiety leave your body.
For maximum stress relief, place your head back on the headrest. Raise your arms in front of you. Then permit them to gently fall towards and rest on the top of your thighs. Feel the stress relief and peace of mind.
5) Mind Trip. Right now for peace of mind, picture the most pleasurable place you have ever been or seen. Multiple times each day, return in your mind to this place and experience the healing peace of mind feelings. When I do this, I imagine a beautiful lake with a sign saying, “Welcome, Lori Prokop.” Instantly I have peace of mind and stress relief.
6) Peace. Melt away stress and anxiety by imagining what peace of mind feels like. Feel peace flowing through your mind and body. For stress relief, I say to myself, “Lori Prokop, I am peace. I feel my body moving from stress and anxiety to relaxation.” You can do the same and feel peace of mind.
7) Remove. Every morning and evening remove thoughts of stress and anxiety. See these thoughts flowing out and peace of mind flowing in.
8) Say. A spiritual healer once said to me, “Lori Prokop, words heal, especially words such as relax, tranquility, peacefulness, restfulness, serenity.” Pick words that relax you. Repeat them throughout your day.
9) Time. Here is one of the top Lori Prokop Ways to Relax. Each day spend 10 minutes in quite. Use this to empty your mind, as best you can, of thoughts or stress and anxiety. If you find it challenging to experience peace of mind for 10 minutes, then try one minute each hour of the day. If you find it challenge to find peace of mind at all then use this time to read a book with a healing message.
10) Three. For maximum stress relief, upon rising in the morning and turning in for the evening, I say three times to myself, “Lori Prokop, 100% pure love and light is with me, guiding me and helping me.” Try doing the same.
There you have 10 ways to relax and melt away stress and anxiety. So go ahead and use these Top10 Lori Prokop Stress Relief and Peace of Mind Techniques right now.
Here are my best Lori Prokop Tips on how can you get rid of stress and anxiety and have peace of mind? Here’s how.
1) Down Easy. When you feel your muscles tightening from stress and anxiety, make a choice to relax. Years ago at one of my first speaking events I found stress relief from a seasoned member of the stage crew who said, “Lori Prokop, here’s how I relax.” This is what he told me to get rid of my stress and anxiety.
Imagine yourself as a rubber band stretched tightly. Relax and just let go. You will see how quickly the rubber band finds its own stress relief and comes back into its normal shape. Upon your direction, your muscles and body do the same thing and find their stress relief.
2) Breathe. I find when I feel stress and anxiety, I breathe shallowly. When I am at events, and especially if I am feeling stress and anxiety, people remind me, “Lori Prokop, you need to find stress relief and peace of mind. Breathe!”
Here is the Lori Prokop Peace of Mind Technique. I’m not saying that I, Lori Prokop, invented it. I am saying it is one of the ways I use to relax and get rid of stress and anxiety.
To find peace of mind imagine being surrounded with pure air. Breathe peace in. Breathe stress and anxiety out. Notice how much more pure and unique the peaceful air smells. Breathe in peace again. Breathe out stress and anxiety. Repeat as desired.
3) One-Minute Peace of Mind. At times the world can be moving so fast we forget to relax, take a break and find stress relief. Many people who experience stress and anxiety have a challenge with slowing down and finding peace of mind for any length of time.
If this is you, start with the Lori Prokop One-Minute Peace of Mind Technique.
Just stand still for one minute. Look at something beautiful or read a quote for one minute. Spread these through your day and see how many minutes of stress relief you can accumulate.
4) Lori Prokop One-Minute Relax. Here is quick stress relief and one of many great ways to relax.
To get rid of stress and anxiety, sit for a moment or longer if you choose. Relax and extend your feet on the floor in front of you and feel the stress and anxiety leave your body.
For maximum stress relief, place your head back on the headrest. Raise your arms in front of you. Then permit them to gently fall towards and rest on the top of your thighs. Feel the stress relief and peace of mind.
5) Mind Trip. Right now for peace of mind, picture the most pleasurable place you have ever been or seen. Multiple times each day, return in your mind to this place and experience the healing peace of mind feelings. When I do this, I imagine a beautiful lake with a sign saying, “Welcome, Lori Prokop.” Instantly I have peace of mind and stress relief.
6) Peace. Melt away stress and anxiety by imagining what peace of mind feels like. Feel peace flowing through your mind and body. For stress relief, I say to myself, “Lori Prokop, I am peace. I feel my body moving from stress and anxiety to relaxation.” You can do the same and feel peace of mind.
7) Remove. Every morning and evening remove thoughts of stress and anxiety. See these thoughts flowing out and peace of mind flowing in.
8) Say. A spiritual healer once said to me, “Lori Prokop, words heal, especially words such as relax, tranquility, peacefulness, restfulness, serenity.” Pick words that relax you. Repeat them throughout your day.
9) Time. Here is one of the top Lori Prokop Ways to Relax. Each day spend 10 minutes in quite. Use this to empty your mind, as best you can, of thoughts or stress and anxiety. If you find it challenging to experience peace of mind for 10 minutes, then try one minute each hour of the day. If you find it challenge to find peace of mind at all then use this time to read a book with a healing message.
10) Three. For maximum stress relief, upon rising in the morning and turning in for the evening, I say three times to myself, “Lori Prokop, 100% pure love and light is with me, guiding me and helping me.” Try doing the same.
There you have 10 ways to relax and melt away stress and anxiety. So go ahead and use these Top10 Lori Prokop Stress Relief and Peace of Mind Techniques right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)