Stress Less - 12 Solutions For Reducing Chronic Stress
In this modern day we are quick to judge stress as the monster that sneaks into our lives and kills every good thing we've ever known or wished for in our relationships, our jobs, our finances, and our health.
Realistically, stress is a stimulant that gives you a real feeling of aliveness.
When you're under stress, your brain emits cortisol--an anti-inflammatory steroid hormone.
Your immune system needs the right amount of cortisol to do its job.
Chronic stress produces continuous cortisol and antibodies for all dangers--real and imagined--which can lead to all sorts of nasty health issues.
So what causes overstress in your body? Your emotions and attitude toward life are a real indication of whether your body views stress as beneficial or detrimental, and it then creates the effect accordingly.
As Buddha said, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
" With this in mind, the following is a list of practical suggestions for reducing chronic stress and anxiety.
1.
Stay in the present moment Einstein said, "I never think of the future, it will come soon enough.
" Live and think in the present moment--the only real power of creation is in the present.
It is the only realm you are ever alive, thinking, making choices, and doing.
Too much living in the future creates anxiety and stress.
Slow down your thoughts.
Don't get too far ahead of yourself.
Take one day at a time.
2.
Keep track of your thoughts To find out what your thoughts are busy creating, keep track of your thoughts for five consecutive minutes.
What are you telling yourself? Is the world mostly friendly or mostly scary to you? Are people mostly good or mostly bad? Are you excited to get up in the mornings, or dreading your day? 3.
Replace negative thoughts with positive ones You can't have good health while fretting about bad health.
You can't be rich while complaining that the economy is horrible.
You can't have love while telling yourself you are a loser.
Catch those negative thoughts and immediately replace them with thoughts of what you want to see in your life.
Spend no time thinking about what you believe to be "lacking" because this only attracts more evidence of "lacking" in your life.
Think instead of all the good already in your life and even more will come your way.
Determine who you are, then do everything in your power to be who you are.
4.
Choose a mind stopper You cannot hold in your mind a positive and negative thought at the same time.
If you are having trouble stopping your mind from thinking negatively, think of a word you can use as a mind stopper.
An example might be the word angel.
When you're on a negative roll and can't seem to stop, think "angel" and immediately all negative thinking stops.
You are then free to consciously choose your next positive thought about who you are and what your life is about.
5.
Laugh Laugh a lot! Rent funny movies.
Read funny books.
Stay away from naysayers.
Laughter helps strengthen your body's immune system by lowering the levels of stress hormones and by increasing its ability to use oxygen.
6.
Stop thinking so much Can you shut your thoughts off? Can you stop thinking when you want to? It is important for your sanity to spend some time each day alone in silence not thinking anything at all.
Your best ideas and inspiration come to you in the silence.
Do whatever it takes to quiet your mind.
Here are some ideas: meditate, journal, concentrate on your breathing, do yoga, run, walk, brush your pet, bake cookies, garden, appreciate all in your life, stare at a burning candle, or a campfire, or lake water, or a crystal.
Think of a blank, white sheet of paper and expand the paper to cover your whole inner vision.
Or ask yourself this question: I wonder what my next thought will be? This question often shuts off the chatterbox that is your mind so you are free to enjoy the silence.
7.
) Drink water Drink at least six to ten eight-ounce glasses every day (which is the amount of water scientists believe we lose through breathing, waste elimination, coughing, and so on).
Your body is around 78 percent water and your brain is about 85 percent water--not 85 percent soda pop or coffee.
When you feel particularly stressed, perhaps in the heat of a major argument with a co-worker, stop everything and take time out for a cool glass of water.
This helps alleviate dehydration which is a major source of physical stress and unclear, agitated thinking.
Thirst is your body's way of letting you know that you are already dehydrated.
Drink water to prevent thirst.
8.
) Say no to obligation Obligation is the feeling of guilt.
It's the feeling that you have to do something--not want to, but have to.
Obligation is not the same thing as responsibility.
It's impossible to fit enjoyment into your life when you have it so filled up with obligation.
The kindest, most liberating thing you can do for yourself is to live joyfully without obligation.
9.
)Let go of the story So many of us have these little movie-like stories playing in our heads.
The theme of the story is revenge and how you're going to get back at someone who hurt you.
For hours, if not days, you mentally practice what you're going to say or do the next time you see this person.
Let go of the story, because this type of thinking only hurts you.
It makes you sick in mind and body.
10.
) Prioritize Make a list of the things that must get done, then do the things that are the most critical first.
Do only one thing at a time and do it completely, then move to the next thing on the list.
This frees up mental space and eliminates guilt, anxiety, nervousness, and worry which are all major stress producers.
11.
) Surround yourself with the right color Colors can agitate or soothe, energize or drain the psyche.
Know what colors make you feel energized and also the ones that relax you, then integrate them into every aspect of your environment: your clothing, your home, and your personal work space.
12.
) Celebrate all successes Most of us spend so much time adding up our mistakes and almost no time thinking about our successes.
Our thinking is very much backward in this regard.
Remember, what you think about brings more of the same.
Keep your successes foremost in mind by celebrating them.
Go out to eat when you attain a goal, or buy that special "reward" when you cross a critical item off your to-do list.
Get rid of the pity parties and throw yourself a real celebration for each accomplishment that honors you and your dreams.
Copyright 2007 - Mary M.
Bauer.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Realistically, stress is a stimulant that gives you a real feeling of aliveness.
When you're under stress, your brain emits cortisol--an anti-inflammatory steroid hormone.
Your immune system needs the right amount of cortisol to do its job.
Chronic stress produces continuous cortisol and antibodies for all dangers--real and imagined--which can lead to all sorts of nasty health issues.
So what causes overstress in your body? Your emotions and attitude toward life are a real indication of whether your body views stress as beneficial or detrimental, and it then creates the effect accordingly.
As Buddha said, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
" With this in mind, the following is a list of practical suggestions for reducing chronic stress and anxiety.
1.
Stay in the present moment Einstein said, "I never think of the future, it will come soon enough.
" Live and think in the present moment--the only real power of creation is in the present.
It is the only realm you are ever alive, thinking, making choices, and doing.
Too much living in the future creates anxiety and stress.
Slow down your thoughts.
Don't get too far ahead of yourself.
Take one day at a time.
2.
Keep track of your thoughts To find out what your thoughts are busy creating, keep track of your thoughts for five consecutive minutes.
What are you telling yourself? Is the world mostly friendly or mostly scary to you? Are people mostly good or mostly bad? Are you excited to get up in the mornings, or dreading your day? 3.
Replace negative thoughts with positive ones You can't have good health while fretting about bad health.
You can't be rich while complaining that the economy is horrible.
You can't have love while telling yourself you are a loser.
Catch those negative thoughts and immediately replace them with thoughts of what you want to see in your life.
Spend no time thinking about what you believe to be "lacking" because this only attracts more evidence of "lacking" in your life.
Think instead of all the good already in your life and even more will come your way.
Determine who you are, then do everything in your power to be who you are.
4.
Choose a mind stopper You cannot hold in your mind a positive and negative thought at the same time.
If you are having trouble stopping your mind from thinking negatively, think of a word you can use as a mind stopper.
An example might be the word angel.
When you're on a negative roll and can't seem to stop, think "angel" and immediately all negative thinking stops.
You are then free to consciously choose your next positive thought about who you are and what your life is about.
5.
Laugh Laugh a lot! Rent funny movies.
Read funny books.
Stay away from naysayers.
Laughter helps strengthen your body's immune system by lowering the levels of stress hormones and by increasing its ability to use oxygen.
6.
Stop thinking so much Can you shut your thoughts off? Can you stop thinking when you want to? It is important for your sanity to spend some time each day alone in silence not thinking anything at all.
Your best ideas and inspiration come to you in the silence.
Do whatever it takes to quiet your mind.
Here are some ideas: meditate, journal, concentrate on your breathing, do yoga, run, walk, brush your pet, bake cookies, garden, appreciate all in your life, stare at a burning candle, or a campfire, or lake water, or a crystal.
Think of a blank, white sheet of paper and expand the paper to cover your whole inner vision.
Or ask yourself this question: I wonder what my next thought will be? This question often shuts off the chatterbox that is your mind so you are free to enjoy the silence.
7.
) Drink water Drink at least six to ten eight-ounce glasses every day (which is the amount of water scientists believe we lose through breathing, waste elimination, coughing, and so on).
Your body is around 78 percent water and your brain is about 85 percent water--not 85 percent soda pop or coffee.
When you feel particularly stressed, perhaps in the heat of a major argument with a co-worker, stop everything and take time out for a cool glass of water.
This helps alleviate dehydration which is a major source of physical stress and unclear, agitated thinking.
Thirst is your body's way of letting you know that you are already dehydrated.
Drink water to prevent thirst.
8.
) Say no to obligation Obligation is the feeling of guilt.
It's the feeling that you have to do something--not want to, but have to.
Obligation is not the same thing as responsibility.
It's impossible to fit enjoyment into your life when you have it so filled up with obligation.
The kindest, most liberating thing you can do for yourself is to live joyfully without obligation.
9.
)Let go of the story So many of us have these little movie-like stories playing in our heads.
The theme of the story is revenge and how you're going to get back at someone who hurt you.
For hours, if not days, you mentally practice what you're going to say or do the next time you see this person.
Let go of the story, because this type of thinking only hurts you.
It makes you sick in mind and body.
10.
) Prioritize Make a list of the things that must get done, then do the things that are the most critical first.
Do only one thing at a time and do it completely, then move to the next thing on the list.
This frees up mental space and eliminates guilt, anxiety, nervousness, and worry which are all major stress producers.
11.
) Surround yourself with the right color Colors can agitate or soothe, energize or drain the psyche.
Know what colors make you feel energized and also the ones that relax you, then integrate them into every aspect of your environment: your clothing, your home, and your personal work space.
12.
) Celebrate all successes Most of us spend so much time adding up our mistakes and almost no time thinking about our successes.
Our thinking is very much backward in this regard.
Remember, what you think about brings more of the same.
Keep your successes foremost in mind by celebrating them.
Go out to eat when you attain a goal, or buy that special "reward" when you cross a critical item off your to-do list.
Get rid of the pity parties and throw yourself a real celebration for each accomplishment that honors you and your dreams.
Copyright 2007 - Mary M.
Bauer.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.