TRY THESE EASY STRESS BUSTERS

One of the biggest reasons we all eat too much, drink too much, or indulge in other bad habits is that these activities distract us, and so make us feel temporarily better when we are down or stressed out. Short term these unhealthy activities may help, but long term they create more problems. So here are other activities which are proven to help improve our mood and make us more stress resistant. When feeling down or overwhelmed instead of indulging your usual bad habits, stop, take a breath and ask yourself if it would help to instead:

Exercise - Getting physically active relaxes your body, and a relaxed body leads to a relaxed mind. When you relax your mind it lowers your feelings of stress. Exercise also improves focus and increases energy.

Sleep – Too little sleep makes us more easily thrown off course emotionally, more hungry and more grouchy!

Light – Get outside or near another natural light sources every day (with sunscreen)– it is good for you and improves mood.

Healthy Food/Water – Getting balanced meals and enough hydration make a big difference in your mood, energy level, and alertness.

Time Doing “Nothing” – How long has it been since you just stopped and watched the clouds, a squirrel running around, a bird flying? Do you notice how it quiets your mind and lets you relax? Just let yourself “be” for a while?

Finding and Pursuing Your Interests – If you have something you enjoy doing, you are less likely to revert to bad habits out of boredom, stress, or sadness. Next time you want to indulge a bad habit, try to start an activity you enjoy doing instead.

Finding something that smells peaceful and relaxing to you. Good smells make our bodies feel calmer and happier and it is easier to let go of negative emotions.

Finding something that sounds peaceful and relaxing to you. Soothing sounds lift your mood and allow you to let go of tension.

Taking deep breaths to clear your mind and slow your heart. If you concentrate on breathing for even a few minutes, you will feel more calm, alert and focused.

Positive Touch -play with your pet, hug your children, take a walk holding hands with a loved one, get or give a massage, go dancing. Mutual and appropriate positive touch releases stress and increases feelings of well-being.

Laughter – Laughter is truly one of the best ways to release stress! It clears your system. Try Laugh Yoga or other programs to get your laugh muscle back in shape!

Cleaning Your Space – if your living space is cluttered and messy you feel tired or overwhelmed. When you get more organized, you feel more in charge of your life.

Getting support from friends also trying to reduce stress in healthy ways. Doing it together makes it more fun and gives you someone to bounce ideas off of, discuss challenges with, and create solutions with.

These are just a few suggestions of ways to avoid the bad habits that come from our stressful lifestyles. Check out the resources listed below for specific concerns.

Cinda Hocking, LMSW

Internal Energy Plus Consultant and Lifestyle Counselor

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Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS website:
http://www.internalenergyplus.com
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS FORUM:
http://theinternalenergyplusforum.blogspot.com
Please visit THE NATIONAL NETWORKER:
http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH

Are you or your family having health problems and related concerns such as low energy, poor sleep, and high stress? You may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number and variety of lifestyle changes suggested by experts and those that promise to help you feel better and be happier. There is a lot of information to wade through and choose from, but don’t give up! There is a simple trick to navigating through the options and picking the right strategies for you. The trick is to integrate your choices so you have strategies that work with your “whole” self, not just one of your “parts”.

When you are preparing to create a healthier lifestyle, remember that all of the techniques to get you there focus on one of three areas: the nutritional methods, the psychological strategies, or the physical actions needed. Each area provides important tools for building better health, but they need to be integrated with tools from the other two areas to build something that facilitates a strong, lasting structure. Think of it like you are creating a stronger building. Each area is an important part of the structure: nutrition is the foundation, physical action the walls and frame, and the psychological strategies are the rooms/interior details. It takes attention to all of these to say you truly have a strong house! Remember that using techniques to improve just one of these area is a good start, however making at least one SMALL change in each area will make a BIG difference in your sense of health and well being. Here are some basic questions you can answer to start building better health:

Nutritional – What can you do today, starting right now and going forward, to improve your health through nutrition? Is there something you can add, subtract, or change in your daily habits?

Psychological – What can you do today, starting right now and going forward, to improve your ability to create more happiness in your life? Is there a practice, an activity, or focus you can add, subtract, or change in your daily habits?

Physical – What can you do today, starting right now and going forward, to improve your health through physical activity? Is there a practice or activity you can add, subtract, or change in your daily habits?

If you need to learn more about one or more of these areas so you can develop your tools for better health, check out the resources on this website, and visit us on our Internal Energy Plus Yahoo discussion group listed below.

Cinda Hocking, LMSW
http://cindahocking.blogspot.com

Ann Arbor, MI

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Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS website:
http://www.internalenergyplus.com
Please visit the INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS FORUM:
http://theinternalenergyplusforum.blogspot.com
Please visit THE NATIONAL NETWORKER:
http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com