Breathe, Stretch, Shake, Let it Go!

Life can bring about some pretty amazing blessings and challenges all at the same time. The key to mastering it? Achieving and maintaining balance. We have a tendency to slow things down in our lives, but we never actually stop. We have so much to accomplish, so little time and too few hours in the day. We are constantly on the go. The tension begins to mount when we think about everything that we have to do and the stress level increases. To achieve balance and maintain the most optimal you, you must be willing to take the necessary steps to release the tension and anxiety that comes from the pressures of everyday life.

Inhale and exhale. Breathe in the positive and exhale the negative. During those moments of panic, when enough seems like too much, take a few minutes to just get in touch with your breath. Slow, deep breaths aligned with a relaxed posture can not only center your thoughts, but also encourage you to re-focus and accomplish the task at hand.

Our words have power. Every thought that enters our mind has the ability to keep us in bondage or set us free. Watch what you say to yourself. Stop the verbal self-abuse and ask yourself if you would say the same thing to a friend who made the same mistake or was going through a similar situation. The words you use to encourage others are identical to the ones you should provide for yourself.

Prioritize your needs and wants. Do you have a “to do list?” Jot down what you want to accomplish each day. When our mind is operating at a high intense capacity, even accomplishing the little things seem like huge tasks. Write it down. You will be surprised how placing those check marks next to items and crossing things off the list will give a satisfactory sense of accomplishment.

Check your expectations. Are they realistic or too ambitious for the time being? When you move from task to task with no real break time, there is a tendency of feeling overworked, under-appreciated and incompetent. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Affirm your sense of self by knowing you are being the best you at this very moment. Everything that should be happening is happening. And everything truly does happen for a reason and in its right time. Be encouraged with the tasks you have accomplished thus far and look forward to new endeavors you want to accomplish in the future. The only person you have control over is you. So start today to take responsibility of what only you can do and let go of those things, people and areas of and in your life that you cannot.

Get Your ZZZ’s

Sleep is no longer a necessity; it has somehow managed to turn into a privilege. With the fast paced lives that we lead, our enchanting dreams are often interrupted by noisy alarm clocks, restless nights and insomnia. Difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, waking too early and waking far from feeling refreshed leaves many people feeling lethargic throughout the day. Below are a few tips for getting a good night’s sleep:

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco at least 4-6 hours before bedtime.
• Engage in daily physical activity to give your body the activity and oxygen it needs to relax more and sleep longer.
• Reserve your bed for sleeping…not eating or working. Your body needs to be programmed to rest.
• Fresh air at room temperature will provide the most optimal sleeping conditions.

Relax, Relate, Release

Do you know where to turn for relief when its time for a break? If you are in need of serious pampering, look around, there’s an excellent spa facility right in your home.

• Run a bath – put in that special bath soapwhile it’s filling up.
• Light some candles throughout your home.
• Dim the lights.
• Roll a towel to put behind your head as a pillow.
• Turn on some soft music.
• Your bath should be ready, grab your bath pillow then get into the tub and…….

RELAX!

Strategies For Stress Relief

A stress free life doesn’t solve all of life’s challenges, but it sure does make the process more manageable. It is imperative that we move toward a daily routine of minimizing stress in order to maintain our longevity. Gradually and gently trying to change your habits through practice or by utilizing everyday situations will assist in placing the body in a relaxed state. This type of strategy generally works.

Strategies to Avoid

• Attempting to make everything in life stress-free.
• Focusing on every event and constantly reminding yourself to relax.
• Regularly avoiding the feeling of emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, joy, fear, etc.).

Daily Stress Reduction Tips

1. Add something beautiful to your life on a daily basis (e.g., flowers, candles, smiling more often).
2. Do some enjoyable activities whenever possible.
3. Walk, work, and eat at a relaxed pace.
4. Take a short break after meals to relax.
5. If possible, go outside at least once per day and notice the simple things such as the weather, scenery, etc.
6. During the day, whenever you remember, notice the tension in your body (jaw, neck, diaphram, shoulders, etc.). Breathe deeply and gently. Stretch and relax any tense areas.
7. If you notice your mind racing or worrying about the past or future, take a minute to breathe and focus on something in the moment such as your breath or your surroundings.
8. Take breaks during the workday to relax.
9. Wear comfortable and loose clothing when possible. Take off your shoes when you can.
10. Avoid holding in feelings day after day, instead, find a safe place to feel, express and embrace them. Perhaps begin a journal.