An Easy Way To Soothe Stress
Hey, listen up. It’s time to relax, chill out, and release those pent-up physical, mental and emotional tensions. When dealing with everyday stress and the probability of stress build-up, NOW is always the right time to be proactive; to beat stress before it beats you.
Think of stress as a silent enemy. It can sneak up on you at any time and get you down before you even realize what’s happening. More often than not stress is accompanied by it’s close companion: higher levels of anxiety.
So, what do you do?
You take action, that’s what. Your very first line of defence is to establish a habit of performing a regular relaxation routine. Getting into a deep state of relaxation induces calmness to soothe your body, your mind and your emotions.
And what is a state of calmness?
It’s the exact opposite of stress and anxiety. As a matter of fact, you could call it the antidote to stress and anxiety.
Start using this antidote. Take time out at least twice every day to do the relaxation routine outlined below. Regard this as your quality time; a time for you and you alone. Start thinking calm, feeling calm, and being calm.
Relaxation Routine
1. Lie down, or sit in a comfortable armchair or recliner.
2. Take a deep breath and hold it for about five seconds. Release that breath slowly, and imagine all feelings of stress and tension leaving your body as you release the air. When the air has left your lungs, hold your breath once again for about five seconds before breathing in. As you breathe in imagine your body and mind filling with calmness.
3. Repeat this cycle of breathing a number of times until your breathing falls in a nice long, slow gentle rhythm. Allow a comfortable pause at the end of each inhalation and exhalation.
4. As you maintain the relaxing rhythm of your breathing, bring your attention to the top of your head. Imagine that all the tiny muscles in your scalp are being soothed and massaged by warm invisible hands.
5. Feel the warm hands massaging around your ears and down along the back of your neck to the tops of your shoulders.
6. Now bring your attention to your forehead. Feel those invisible fingers smoothing away any wrinkles that may be in your forehead.
7. Next, focus on your eyes. Imagine the warm fingers gentle massaging all around your eyes. Feel the relaxing warmth from the fingers spreading throughout your eyes; feel your eyes relaxing and letting go of all tensions.
8. Think of the soothing hands massaging the rest of your face. Notice how your lower jaw relaxes and notice how this cosy, warm feeling of relaxation spreads into your tongue.
9. Check your breathing once again to make sure it’s rhythm is long and slow.
10. Now bring your attention to the invisible hands and imagine them massaging and loosening your shoulders and shoulder blades. Imagine what it would be like if waves of relaxation were flowing down along your arms and into your fingertips.
11. Those massaging hands now work on your back. They soothe and loosen the muscles on either side of your spine, and then stroke smoothly down along the vertebrae.
12. Imagine what it would be like to feel a state of deep relaxation seeping downwards into your legs and feet. Imagine how all the muscles in your legs and feet would go loose and limp.
13. Allow feelings of deep relaxation and calmness to immerse your body and your mind.
14. Feel yourself drifting deeper and deeper into pleasurable feelings of calmness and tranquility.
Source: http://www.articlecube.com
Michael Connolly, D.H.P., is a retired Hypnotherapist and Psychoanalyst. Through study, practice and teaching over a period of three decades, he has also accumulated a broad knowledge of parapsychology and metaphysics. Author's Website. - No More Stress. - Copyright (c) Michael Connolly 2008.
Stress Relief - Ten Easy Ways
Sometimes we don't just need stress relief, but fast and easy relief. A complicated relaxation technique or elaborate meditative practice would be just one more thing to be anxious about. Here are ten much simpler solutions. Try them out, and keep in mind which ones work best for you, so you can use them regularly.
1. Deep breathing. Try six or seven deep breaths through your nose, with your eyes closed. Pay attention only to your breathing while doing this. This is "mini-meditation," and possibly one the most effective of these stress relief techniques.
2. Interrupt you normal routines. Talk to the crazy lady in the park, or eat your lunch outside. Doing anything that breaks you out of your habitual patterns can often relieve stress.
3. Give someone a hug. Of course, giving a hug means getting one, and as long as it's from somebody you don't mind hugging, this can immediately reduce your level of stress.
4. Watch your mind. Notice mental irritants lurking just below the surface and resolve them. Make the call that's on your mind, put things on a list so you can drop them, and generally let go of non-essential thoughts. Practice this mindfulness exercise, and it may become one of your favorite stress relief techniques.
5. Take a hot shower. This relaxes your muscles, and any break from more stressful activities can help too. Some find that an alternating hot and cold shower is even more relaxing, but be careful with this one if you have a weak heart..
6. Put on some relaxing music. Have your favorite relaxation CDs in the car, in your office, or wherever you'll need them most.
7. Laugh at something. Experience shows that this helps you relax, right? Find the person who knows all the best jokes, or look for something funny in front of you.
8. Take a walk. Walking is one of the best stress relief techniques if you have at least ten minutes. It is even better if you can find a pretty place to walk.
9. Get out of the room for a while. Sometimes the things in the room or related to the room are triggering your stressful thoughts. Try getting out for a little while.
10. Have a cup of chamomile tea. Chamomile seems to have a calming effect on the nerves, although any hot tea without caffeine may help relieve stress.
Of course, it might be nice if you can change yourself, so you're naturally more relaxed all of the time. That may be possible, but what the thought of the work involved just creates more anxiety? Then you might have to take it slow. Why not start with one or two of the fast and easy stress relief techniques above?
About the Author: Steve Gillman writes on many topics including brainpower, weight loss, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. Learn more and get FREE e-courses at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com
Source: http://www.easyarticles.com
