Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Soothe Away Your Stress Part 1

This article from Good Housekeeping is full of different ways to relieve stress...Try some of them and see if you can find something that works. We are all different when it comes to what helps us unwind, but we all need a good way to do it. I'll post 5 at a time to keep the blogs at a decent length. I hope every can find a good way to relax and decompress!

Ways to Beat Stress
by: Kate Hanley

Take a Mental Vacation:
When you need to deflate stress, treat yourself to a vacation that’s all in your head: Close your eyes and imagine a relaxing place, such as a beach, a mountain view, or a cozy room. Notice everything you can about your spot. What can you see and smell? The more vivid a picture you paint in your mind, the more your body will respond to the invitation to relax.

Walking Meditation:
Turn down the speed on your life with walking meditation. For 20 paces, walk as slowly as you can, feeling every inch of your feet as they move, hearing your breath flow through your lungs, and noticing all the smells and sounds around you. This simple practice helps you remember that every step we take is a little miracle.

Bring Out Your Inner Radiance:
According to Ayurveda, the ancient tradition of medicine from India, a facial massage promotes health and brings out your inner radiance. Using your middle fingers, rub these points on your face in a clockwise direction for 20-30 seconds each: middle of the chin, corners of the mouth, middle of the area between your upper lip and nose, outer edges of both nostrils, center of the cheek bones, temples, and the space between the eyebrows.


Feel Rested Without a Nap:
Welcome summer with some conscious restoration: Find a quiet place to lie on the floor or in the grass with your eyes closed. Breathe slowly and feel your body sink into the ground as you let go of your tension. Concentrate on one part of your body at a time, making sure each muscle is limp and loose. Starting with the top of your head, work your way down through your body silently repeating, "the top of my head is relaxed," "my jaw is relaxed," "my neck is relaxed." Work all the way to your toes. When done, roll to your side and slowly come back up to sitting.

Swallow Truth Serum:
Declare your independence from hiding your true feelings by choosing one day this week to pretend that you've swallowed truth serum. The goal isn't to drop bombshells ("I've always hated you in black"), but to be honest in loving way. For example, "I'd love to meet for dinner this weekend, but I am tired and need to rest. Let's pick another time." It's incredibly liberating and is a quick way to reduce your stress levels.


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