How Stressed Out Are You?Written by Marla Sloane
Stress, America’s #1 health problem, is a leading cause of major illness. Heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression are just some of harmful effects of stress. Research has shown that releasing stress and learning how to relax promotes a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.Take this quiz and see how you rate on your stress level! 1. I make time for myself every day. 2. I have a tendency to take on other people’s responsibilities. 3. I say “no” without feeling guilty. 4. I get impatient quickly with delays or changes. 5. While waiting for elevator, I press button more than once. 6. I am able to relax and unwind easily at end of day. 7. I laugh everyday. 8. I feel guilty when I just do nothing. 9. I feel “beaten up” sometimes at end of day. 10. I get disappointed in others often. 11. I have a hard time falling asleep at night. 12. I often forget to wear my watch. Results: If you answered yes to these questions. 1. Yes- You are creating an environment where you can release stress and stay in balance. Keep up good work! 2. Yes-You are doing too much, and are spreading yourself too thin. It would be a good idea to stay responsible for your work load, and revaluate why you are willing to take on other people’s responsibilities. 3.Yes- If you can say no and be okay with that; you are doing much better than most. By saying no, and not feeling guilty, you are setting your boundaries. You are also eliminating added stress. Kudos for you! 4. Yes- Becoming impatient and irritable quickly is a big sign that you are feeling a large amount of stress. When you are under stress, you react more rapidly than if you were relaxed. Take note of this, and observe how you react next time you are faced with an unexpected setback or change. 5. Yes- If you push elevator button more than once, chances are you are a type-A personality. You could have a tendency to live you life in a rushed and stressful way. Slow down…remember pushing button more than once isn’t going to make elevator go any faster. You have to learn to let go and chill. 6. Yes- If you can relax and unwind at end of day, you are dealing with stress management in a great way. Being able to relax is a sign that you are not bringing your work home with you, and you are putting your priorities in order. This is GREAT! 7. Yes- Laughter is one best ways to release stress, and staying in balance. Finding laugher in day is an excellent stress buster! 8. Yes- Feeling guilty when you are doing nothing is an indicator that you are living a lifestyle that is rushed, hurried, and stressful. Break yourself of that habit fast, and make it a priority to do nothing, and feel good about it. Your health depends on it! 9. Yes- Feeling “beaten up” at end of day means you are working way too hard. You can lighten up your work load, delegate your work, or get better organized to eliminate that feeling of heaviness. 10. Yes- When you are easily disappointed in others this means that you are expecting too much from wrong people. You are living in stress! Chances are you are doing too much for others too. Set your boundaries, and choose who you trust wisely. 11. Yes- Insomnia is a side effect of stress, Your mind is racing because it is conditioned to be working 24/7. It’s time to learn how to relax, set your boundaries, and keep your life in balance. 12. Yes- If you can get through day without your watch, you have conquered need to control your time. You can manage your time well.
| | 3 Easy Ways to Reduce StressWritten by Marla Sloane
Stress, America’s #1 health problem, is a leading cause of major illness. In fact, heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression are just some of harmful effects of stress. Research has shown that releasing stress and learning how to relax promotes a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.Here are 3 easy ways to reduce your stress fast. 1. Breathe Deeply Take 3 slow deep breaths. Taking breath from your diaphragm, through your nose, holding for about 2 seconds and then slowly exhaling through your mouth. Why slow deep breaths? Because when we are under stress, we tense up, constricting oxygen to our body. Taking slow deep breaths brings oxygen throughout our body resulting in feeling centered and releasing stress. Giving your body much needed oxygen will release tension and stress fast. 2. Meditate The purpose of meditation is to relax and to release stress. Meditation allows body to relax and permits a means to release "chatter" in your mind. It is important for you to know that there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Meditation is simply a form of concentration and focus; it is a process that quiets mind. Since much of our negative stress is caused by our own thoughts, this is an especially useful method. Here are steps for a popular, quick, and easy guided mediation: 1. Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes. 2. Take 3 deep breaths. 3. Visualize all stress in your mind and body as a cloud of gray smoke. Allow this cloud to be released through crown of your head. Imagine gray cloud floating into sky and disappearing. Feel weight of stress being releasing out of your body and into cloud. Allow your shoulders to drop and continue until you have no more gray smoke or for about 10 minutes. 4. Imagine a healing white light that has surrounded your body. Feel warmth of this light and allow it to infiltrate your body. Slowly open your eyes. 3. Try Hypnosis This technique involves sitting comfortably with your eyes closed while listening to suggestions. Hypnosis is relaxation, focus, and suggestion. Using these three elements your mind and body will enter into a deeply relaxed state that gives you an overall sense of well being and tranquility. Hypnosis is one of oldest and most natural modes of healing dating back to 1000 B.C. In 1958 American Medical Association approved therapeutic use of hypnosis. This brought mainstream recognition that hypnotherapy was a valid and legitimate form of healing. During this time hypnotherapy was respected and accepted in America.
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