Stress Busters
I recently came across this information in Woman’s Day and thought it was worth sharing. The winter months often create more stress due to the shorter days and cold weather that keep one indoors. If you don’t like chanting mantras or breathing deeply, give some of the following a try.
1. Listen to slow music. It can lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
2. Give yourself a time out. Close a door and clear your mind for at least 5 minutes.
3. Burn a scented candle. Lavender, lemon or mango contain linalool, a naturally occurring fragrance that reduces the activity of genes normally elevated in stressful situations, according to Japanese researchers.
4. Laugh. It temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, and when they drop, you feel relaxed, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. YouTube has a ton of things that will make you LOL.
5. Lend a hand. It doesn’t have to be huge. Little things work fine.
6. Walk. It is stress fighting and if you walk with a friend it will improve your mood by creating a greater production of endorphins.
7. Listen up. A recent study found that when people gave emotional support to others, they felt less stressed themselves. Let yourself become a sounding board for a friend who needs to vent.
8. Chew a piece of sugarless gum. It may lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, according to an Australian study.
9. Distract yourself. Play some word games, or solitaire. Games reduce stress by diverting attention away from what is bothering you.
10. Loosen up, literally. Restrictive clothes, especially if they put pressure on your stomach, cause your muscles to tighten, which in turn makes you tense. I don’t know about you but a strapless bra can send my mood right to Hades. I could be smiling on the outside, but the only thing going through my mind is, I can’t wait to go home and take this *&^% thing off. Confession – I have never made it home, it comes off in the car.
Thank you for these simple reminders. We often rush through our days without taking a moment to breathe. Love the suggestions and I’ll be certain to incorporate them into my hectic days.
I took time out this evening to read your webite and I loved it. As I was moved by so many of the wonderful articles, I became inspired to write something.
Most people look to their parents, as someone they aspire to be like or to look up to. For me it’s different. I’m deeply inspired by my daughter. She’s an amazing woman…a loving mother, wonderful wife and a great daughter. She made a good life for herself. Moved to a different state – started over with her family, while including many new friends along the way and never forgetting the ones she left behind.
She was determined to make her own path, to make her own decisions and to change direction. Only by the grace of God she turned out to be the person she is today.
Children are suppose to learn from their parents…I learned from her. She taught me the meaning of love, patience and forgiveness. She makes me see the importance of keeping in touch with the ones we love.
In closing, I want to thank her for who she is and who she has become.
Your loving Mother…
CC
Okay! I cried!! What a wonderful message to your daughter and I couldn’t agree with you more! She is an inspiration to those she meets, a loving friend and a very dedicated parent. It’s not often that you meet someone who is true to their word- she is.
Although a lot of the credit goes to her for the woman she became and equal amount is due to you for the loving role model you continue to be.Thank you for the daughter that we all love.