Counteract Stress with Relaxing Downtime

Nothing is a waist of time if it puts your brain to rest. Planning your downtime daily helps to deal with daily stress and prevents it from accumulation.

We all suffer the mid-afternoon slump: that lethargic, lack-of-motivation apathy that sets in and kicks our internal engine to idle. Instead of willing yourself to sludge through it slowly and painfully, do the opposite. Embrace it. Give yourself permission to take a 5 or 10 minute mental break.

“Frustration stems from your inner critic and only serves to make us crazed,” says Loretta LaRoche.  “Have fun. There are no tombstones that say, ‘Did everything, died anyway.’”

Examples of downtime include reading a mindless book, doing facials, taking bath, doing household chores. What is your way to putting your brain to rest and filling yourself with joy?

Reflexology For Stress Management

"Reflexology is the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hand with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body ", state Barbara and Kevin Kunz,  internationally recognized authorities in reflexology. 

Reflexology alleviates and reduces stress and burnout.

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Positive Affirmations For Change

Positive affirmations are one of my top stress management choices. I have had very impressive results in different ‘sectors’ of my life and I strongly encourage everybody to plug into this powerful stress reduction, change management and personal development technique. I use them with very good results on regular basis alongside with the meditation and visualization.

The theory about affirmations is that your whole experience depends on the thoughts that go through your head, so if you introduce specific thoughts into your head on a regular basis, you are effectively training your mind to go in the direction you want it to go. Its about Conditioning, which could be both positive or negative.  

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Visualization For Relaxation

Visualization is the technique of using your imagination to create what you want in your life.

Visualization is also a potent method of stress reduction, especially when combined with physical relaxation methods such as deep breathing.

The practice of positive thinking in the treatment of physical symptoms was popularized by Emil Coue, a French pharmacist. Coue declared that all of your thoughts become reality – you are what you think you are.

You can use visualization for relaxation and for goal setting.

I higly recommend you to get the book by Shakti Gawain, Creative Visualization. The book is a real Gem.

Learn how to use visualization for goal setting click here.

Deep Breathing For Stress Relief

Breathing is a necessity of life and we tend to take it for granted.

When a person is under stress the body becomes tense and our breathing shallow.

As a result:

1. We breathe in less oxygen and breathe out less toxic waste product carbon dioxide.
2. Our muscles ache and we feel pain especially in the neck and shoulder area.

Improper breathing contributes to anxiety, panic attacks, depression, muscle tension, tension headaches, and fatigue.

However we can do it the other way round as well - when we relax our bodies we can effectively reduce stress.

Deep breathing is a very simple but an essential stress reducer – energy builder for women.

Deep breathing for just one minute tones your entire body, increases body oxygen and relieves fatigue. It also reduces hot flashes in menopause women.

It works well in conjunction with other relaxation techniques such as progressive muscular relaxation, visualization and meditation for stress relief.

Take Action:

• Inhale through the nose slowly and deeply to count of five (Make sure that the stomach and abdomen expand but the chest does not raise up)
• Exhale through the mouth, slowly and completely, making a quite, relaxing, whooshing sound like a wind as you blow gently out. Relax your mouth, tongue and jaw; also to the count of five.
• To help quiet the mind, concentrate fully on breathing and counting through each cycle.
• Repeat five to ten times and make a habit of doing the exercise several times a day, even when not feeling stressed.

While a deep breathing exercise can be learned in some minutes and you will experience immediate stress relief, the profound effects of this exercise may be fully appreciated only after month of persistent practice.

TIP: Start practicing the deep breathing for stress reduction when NOT stressed. When in stressful situation you will be able to do it automatically in order to obtain the stress relief. When under pressure and stress you could find useful to use herbal remedies for stress relief to obtain feeling of balance and wellbeing.