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Take a Relaxing Vacation

March 28, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Have you been on a vacation lately? If you have not, it may be time to go on one. Say that it is for your health because it really is.

When finances get tight, the first thing we do is cut our our vacation. That is understandable since vacations for a family cost a lot of money. But, we also are sacrificing the time that helps us relax from the stresses of our job.

Everyone needs a break from work. All work and no play makes Jack and Jill very ill. Stress from work has an impact on every area of our lives. People who “take their work home with them” never stop stressing. Their families get to share in that stress when it spills over into their lives.

If the stress is at home, then it seems to never end. Stay at home moms and people who work at home have no way to get away from work or family responsibilities. The escape route leads to the same place where they work. It seems like a win-win to work at home but it can also become a prison when there is nowhere to run to for a break. [Read more...]

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10 Natural Ways to Reduce Stress

March 25, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Stress is something that affects everyone. Stress does serve a purpose and there’s even such a thing as good stress. However, when you feel like your stress is getting out of hand, the best thing you can do for your body is to look for natural stress relievers.

Here are some techniques you can use to reduce your stress level:

1. Practice yoga and meditation. Yoga and meditation are ancient arts that have been proven to work. They can be practiced separately or together. When you connect the mind, body, and spirit in a healthy, peaceful fashion you feel more relaxed and rejuvenated.

2. Enjoy the benefits of green tea. Green tea is a natural herb that you can drink or take in capsule form. It’s loaded with beneficial antioxidants to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle. It’s a natural stress reliever and helps boost metabolism to energize you. It may even help with weight loss.

3. Go for a walk. Many people think that going for a walk is only good for your physical fitness. However, walking can benefit you spiritually and mentally as well. Staying even moderately active increases oxygen levels in your brain, which also improves your mental state. Plus, a 20-minute walk gives your mind a chance to reflect and rejuvenate. [Read more...]

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Workplace Stress

March 21, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

We hear a lot about workplace stresses, but mostly that they occur. Most of our waking hours are spent working with people we may or may not like. For our sanity and health, learning to handle workplace stresses is crucial.

We’ve all heard the word “postal” before. It doesn’t just refer to the mail carrier. Workplace stress led to shootings and the first place everyone remembers hearing about it was in the post office. A person who is ill equipped to deal with the stresses in their life can snap under the pressure. The result could be an illness in the body or an outward show of aggression.

For a while, all you heard about were office shootings. Someone was fired and then returned to take out the head boss. It happened too frequently and people became gun-shy. They allowed troublesome employees to stay on for the simple fact that they didn’t want to become a shooting victim. But, that added to the stress. [Read more...]

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How To Use Scented Candles To Relax and Reduce Stress

March 18, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Candles are something most everyone has around their homes scented and unscented. Candles are inexpensive and a great way to relax the mind and body. You don’t even have to do anything but set some around and light them.

How burning scents around the house guides you to relaxation:

Using candles around the house can relieve much stress and help you to relax after a long hard day. I know, sometimes not all of us just have time to practice meditating yoga or sitting in the hot tub. We are all just to busy at times, so light those candles and make good use of them. You can buy your candles almost anywhere these days even at the grocery store without spending an arm and leg for them. When buying your candles it doesn’t matter the size or color but the light colors are most effective. Dark candles will stimulate your mind and you might not be able to get the full of affect of relaxation from them. Scented candles work the best but if you have a problem with the scented ones unscented will work.

The scents of lavender and how it helps you to relax:

Lavender scent is the best when used for relaxation but choose whatever one you prefer. In fact, after studies were conducted it showed that lavender oils help those who used the scents achieve relaxation.

You can relax a couple different ways with candles besides just lighting them and decorating your home. In fact, if you use your creative mind you will find many ways to use candles as relaxation guides.

Another way to learn how to relax with candles is to go to a dark room. Light up two or three candles even all the same scent and colors. Breathe deep, slow, and stare at the flame. Start at the bottom of the wick while staring and watch the color changes. While watching, the color changes be meditating at the same time by thinking about something soft and gentle. You will soon notice how much more you feel relaxed than you did when you turned off the light.

Writing relax vertically to relax:

Another way to relax with candles is to write the word relax all around it vertically. While it is burning, meditate on each letter one at a time. As one letter burns off change your thought to something different. Keep your thinking positive, soft and gentle.

Candles and water relaxing the body and mind:

Water and candles go good together. Place a candle in a bowl and anchor it down with colorful rocks or crystals. Add water around the candle base. When the candle is lit turn off the lights and watch the water turn colors. It is so peaceful in the dark room watching the water change while your mind is think happy thoughts.

A fun way to create a relaxation monument to enjoy after a long stressful day is to make up a basket of spa items and set them in the bathroom. Make it look nice and pretty so, it will be inviting you every time you go near it. Gather up some candles, bath salts, and body lotions; massage oils all in your favorite color and scent.

Add meditations CD to it so you can meditate while in the bathtub. You’ll hardly be able to wait to get in there and relax before going to bed and sleeping will be much more restful afterwards. Burn candles each day around your home and you will have a relaxing feeling as you enter each room.

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Relationship Stresses

March 14, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Anyone who has ever been in a relationship can tell you that they are hard work. This doesn’t just include romantic relationships but also relationships with friends, coworkers, and family members. We all have to have relationships of some kind in our lives, so learning to keep them as stress free as possible is necessary.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Familiarity breeds contempt”? It’s true. We take for granted that those close to us will love us forever so we abuse them when we feel bad. It sounds harsh but it is the reality of what happens.

Here’s a scenario. A husband comes home from work. He has been belittled by his boss all day and when he hits the door, he begins to shout orders to his kids and his wife. All of that pent-up frustration with his boss ends up all over his family. Needless to say, everyone develops stress as a result of the work relationship. [Read more...]

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10 Natural Ways to Reduce Anxiety

March 11, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Anxiety can take over your life without you really knowing it. It’s important to stay in touch with your inner self to maintain balance and notice when there might be a problem.

If your anxiety is severe or causes you to panic, be sure to see a health professional. However, for day-to-day anxiety, there are natural ways you can reduce anxiety by yourself.

Here are some herbs, tips, and techniques you can use to alleviate your anxiety:

1. Passionflower. Passionflower is a popular herb that has been known to help reduce anxiety. For many, passionflower is as effective as some prescription drugs. It also helps with insomnia since anxiety and insomnia often go hand in hand.

2. Self-Hypnosis. Hypnosis can be a great way to relax and get in touch with your subconscious. Self-hypnosis enables you to perform techniques on yourself instead of requiring someone else’s assistance. [Read more...]

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10 Foods That Fight Stress

March 7, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

It’s easy to forget the importance of everything we put into our bodies. While you can’t always eat a completely balanced diet, you can reduce your stress levels simply by choosing stress-fighting foods.

Since everyone is different, some stress-relieving foods might work for you while others may not. Your best bet will be to try them all and then incorporate the ones that work for you into your regular diet.

Here are some foods that can help alleviate your stress:

1. Green Leafy Vegetables. Leafy greens contain a lot of magnesium. Magnesium is an important mineral that has the power to relax muscles.

2. Fish Oil. Fish oil contains essential fatty acids that help with serotonin uptake in the brain. Serotonin makes you feel good mentally and enables your brain to better cope with stress. You can get your fish oil from certain kinds of fish, such as salmon, or from supplements. [Read more...]

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7 Ways to Reduce Stress in Your Home

March 4, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Does this picture describe your happy home? The baby’s crying while you hurriedly put the fast food on the table, the dog is throwing up on the floor, the hubby’s got the TV on full-blast, and your teenager just angrily slammed the door on his way out.

Unfortunately, it’s a typical scene for many of us. However, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. There are, in fact, things you can do to ease this stress and create a more harmonious environment so that you and your family can look forward to coming home!

Although some degree of stress is inherent as you deal with the varying phases of your family members, if you strive to uphold a core set of values and go with the flow, you can maintain a happy and healthy home.

Here are some specific ways you can reduce the stress at home:

1. Get organized. Life can quickly become chaotic when you don’t maintain organization. An organized home runs smoothly, while an unorganized home leads to stress and lost time. [Read more...]

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