10 Daily Ways to Keep Stress Under Control!
Stress is a part of the modern lifestyle. For most of us it is a struggle and a juggle to keep up with kids, job, spouse, family, boss, and friends; not to mention housework, the never ending laundry, and, oh yeah, we’re supposed to have that “fun” thing too. Many of the ways to combat stress in your life may sound so basic and practical, but it is having the basic and practical solid within you that allows you to be strong and take the rougher patches in stride. Here are my Top 10 Daily Ways!
1. Make your list of priorities for the day – I recommend you do this the night before; having it written down will help you release and relax. In addition, the added benefit is that you are able to plan your day to keep it under control.
2. Keep track of your sugar and/or caffeine intakes for a week. Are you ingesting more than you thought? Well, the sweets are not going to help your body’s stress reactions; it is going to make them worse.
3. Keep a regular sleep cycle. This is important to both your physical and emotional health. The average adult needs 7.5 hours of sleep per night. Beat insomnia by going to be at the same time each night; go ahead and create a “go to bed” ritual where you specifically release the stressors of the day. Make your list for the next day before you go to bed so that you can let it go and not have it worrying you. Put away the computer/tablet/smart phone at least an hour (two is better) before going to bed. Sleep is how we regenerate and our bodies and minds need the “down time” for healing and regeneration.
4. Just What Are You Eating? The old phrase “you are what you eat” is very true. A healthy and well-balanced diet that includes fiber, green vegetables, lean proteins and fruit is important. Eating healthy keeps your body healthy and a healthy body can deal with stress better than a sick one. The body has autonomic natural responses to stress – the flight or fight reaction – that uses the body’s natural energy for what is seen as a need to protect. Eating healthy helps fight off those negative effects.
5. No is Not a Four-Letter Word: Especially for those of us who are natural givers, no sometimes seems like a word we should never use. Understanding what our boundaries and capabilities are is important. Sometimes a firm no is needed…just because someone asks a favor does not mean you have to grant it – especially if it would be to your detriment. And, if a friend cannot understand you saying no, are they really a friend indeed?
6. Perspective Is Important: Sometimes we can get too close to a situation, or we are a part of a situation and because we are too close we cannot really see what is going on in the wider perspective. Taking a step back or asking the opinion of someone who is totally outside of the situation can help us see things in a different way which allows us to understand the situation better.
7. Speak Up: While it may be a nice ego boost to do it all yourself, you do not necessarily have to. Frequently sharing the load is something that feels a little scary. It is hard to put yourself at risk and reach out. However, asking for help is more often a sign of strength than a sign a weakness! If you need help, ask for it.
8. Avoid Known Stressors: We cannot always control our environment, but many times the very thing that stresses us out the most is something that can be avoided altogether. If you cannot avoid the situation, taking it on a step at a time makes success easier to manifest. If you know driving in rush hour traffic stresses you out, join a carpool and let someone else do the driving while you chip in for the gas. Look for other ways.
9. Move It! That’s right, I said move it. Take a short walk, do some easy stretches, offer to run an errand, take the stairs down to the next floor or up to the roof. Burn off the stress and frustration by a little mild physical movement. The movement will help your body deal with some of those “fight or flight” reactions.
10. Make A Plan: A simple 10 minute distress plan can make a huge difference in your life when stress comes to call! I’ll be sharing some suggestions and ideas in my next post about how you can make a “de-stress plan” to help you push through the stressors with as little negative impact as possible…but whatever you do, have a “de-stress plan” that works for you!
Check back soon for more info on how to beat back and manage stress!
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Love Dr Nikki is a lifelong psychic, clairvoyant, and intuitive. She has helped nearly 175,000 people with her readings to date, and takes great joy in being able to share her gifts with others. Dr. Nikki is a committed spiritual professional who has dedicated her life to helping others find the true path to making their dreams reality and helping folks to achieve their greatest potential . You can visit her at www.LoveDrNikki.com
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A 10 Minute Plan for Getting the Stress Out (or at least alleviating the worst of the pain)
Here is a quick and easy way to reduce your stress levels in just 10 minutes. Some of this may seem foreign to you, but that is okay. If you are not used to doing some of the steps, give them a try…the feelings of discomfort and silliness melt away when you begin to see how much this works. This plan works better the more you practice it. Your body, mind and spirit will enjoy the stress relief this simple little plan can help you create!
The 5-Step 10 Minute De-Stress Plan
STEP 1: Breathe it Out! Find a place where you can be alone for 10 minutes. Sit in a comfortable chair with a straight back and that allows your feet to reach the ground. Focus on your breathing: close your eyes, breathe with a soft and gentle rhythm – some people find counting the intake and release helps to relax. A friend uses the simple “out goes the bad air, in goes the good air” while she does her gentle breathing – she says it keeps her from getting fixated on anything specific, which is a great hint. Do the gentle breathing for 1 minute.
STEP 2: Tense and Release! Staying in the chair, you can move from the breathing to the tense and release portion of your program. Tense and release is easy. Starting on the right side of your body, tense the muscles in your hand and forearm – hold tense for five to seven seconds and then take 10 to 15 seconds to consciously focus on those muscles and relax them. Repeat this process through major muscle groups throughout the body, first tensing, and then consciously relaxing the muscles. This should take about 4 minutes.
STEP 3: It is Time to Visualize! This is one to have fun with because it is such a simple concept. Visualize a place of contentment of peace. It may be a place you have been, a place you hope to go, a place you have only seen in pictures or even a place that only exists in your mind; what matters is this place brings a feeling of peace and wholeness. A friend that has been through some serious medical issues uses visualization to take her away a lot. She says she envisions herself at sunrise at Machu Picchu. Allow yourself to feel the peace and contentment of the place. Take about 3 minutes for your visualization.
STEP 4: Do the Elsa Thing! Yes, that is right…as Elsa tells us “Let it Go!” Use some mental imagery to help you. Envision a stream of cleansing energy pouring through and over you, that simply and completely washes your stress away. Of all the steps, this tends to take the most practice to manifest properly. If a physical action will help you, as you flick your fingers focus on releasing the stress as your fingers extend. Another is to stand and imagine drains on the bottom of your feet that allow the stress to drain away. This should take about 1 minute.
STEP 5: Stretch It Out! Do it with your eyes closed and while breathing in and out, gently stretch your muscles. Start at your core and stretch out to the extremities, take your time with it. Wriggle your toes and waggle your fingers. With your arms over your head, grasp your hands together and stretch a little. Focus on releasing the tension in your muscles and allow the aches and pains from stress to fade away. Open your eyes and take in a few breaths through your nose. Take about one minute.
So, to recap:
STEP 1: Breathe it Out! – 1 minute
STEP 2: Tense and Release! – 4 minutes
STEP 3: It is Time to Visualize! – 3 minutes
STEP 4: Do the Elsa Thing! – 1 minute
STEP 5: Stretch It Out! – 1 minute
If you practice this simple plan, you will be able to reduce your stress levels even faster and easier!
You can use this plan as written, or, better yet, you can use it as a model to customize your own personal plan. You know what helps you relax, you know what incense or essential oil you like. However, have you considered them as a plan to create a way to release the negative energies of stress and decrease its effects on you? Like with many other things, proper planning can do much to help reduce the negativity that comes with too much stress.
Watch for more articles on how to beat back the stress in your life!
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Love Dr Nikki is a lifelong psychic, clairvoyant, and intuitive. She has helped nearly 175,000 people with her readings to date, and takes great joy in being able to share her gifts with others. Dr. Nikki is a committed spiritual professional who has dedicated her life to helping others find the true path to making their dreams reality and helping folks to achieve their greatest potential . You can visit her at www.LoveDrNikki.com
