by lotusstressrelief

Stress is often blamed by many to be the robber of energy; however, stress can often be the perception we place on events. For many, stress occurs when we place a negative perception on a future event. When you are feeling stress, learn to use it as an indicator of how you are interpreting the events that are happening around you. Learn to make those reactions friends of yours rather than enemies. Begin to accept the conditions that you choose to not only react to but also sometimes choose to over-react to. Practice one of the following yourself when you feel engulfed by emotion:

1. Is my response reasonable and appropriate?
2. Do you want to invest my energy this way?
3. Is someone from the past “telling” you to react this way?
4. Practice shutting down your tapes from the past.
5. Is anyone else encouraging you to react this way?
6. Does the person who is encouraging have the courage to respond to the event honestly? Why are surrendering your power to someone else?

All stress isn’t negative. Positive stress helps to keep us focused and energized to act as a motivator for us. Negative stress drains our energy.

Make lists of things that give you energy and those things that sap your energies. On those things that sap your energy, ask yourself if anything is happening positively by your energy being drained.

Set daily habits to deal with stress:

1. Play each and every day!
2. Take short breaks in task that feel will never end.
3. Set 2-3 priorities each day rather then 15-20. I once saw 3 filing trays that were labeled: today—tomorrow—and maybe never.
4. Develop triggers to relax—maybe when you enter your car, get a drink of water, every time you look at your watch, or while waiting at a red light.

Stress is one of the 16 main topics I will be posting about. Leo Babauta at Zen Habits has these 20 Ways to Eliminate Stress From Your Life:

1. Identify your stressors.
2. Eliminate unnessary commitments.
3. Proscrastination.
4. Disorganization. late.
5. Controlling.
6. Multitasking.
7. Eliminate energy drains.
8. Avoid difficult people.
9. Simplify life.
10. Unschedule.
11. Slow down.
12. Help others.
13. Relax throughout the day.
14. Quit work.
15. Simplify your to-do list.
16. Exercise.
17. Eat healthy.
18. Be grateful.
19. Zen-like environment.

1.  Casa Family Day–

Have dinner together no matter what several times a week. Dinner or breakfast or lunch, sit around the table and focus on the conversation. Learn how to listen actively. To learn more—read “The Importance of Family Dinners IV” by CASA (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University).

2.  Married With Luggage–

The Resolution Retreat:

How to set up a Resolution Retreat

1. Find a space away from your regular life to clear out distractions. I like thinking outside, but the cold rain of Seattle in January made that impossible.  We chose to go to a local hotel and use their meeting room (you can usually negotiate this if you also stay overnight in the hotel or use their restaurant for meals, especially on a day when it is likely to be available – like January 1).
2. Have an agenda and stick to it. We started with a review of last year – what went well and what didn’t – to put us in a the right frame of mind.  Then we talked about our personal goals, our goals as a couple, and then worked on the business goals of Married with Luggage and MWL Development.  From those goals (3-5 for each), we worked out action plans for each.  It sounds like a lot of work – and it was – but we left the day feeling like we really had a roadmap for accomplishing what we wanted in 2010.
3. Celebrate your hard work. Our retreat took an entire day, and we rewarded ourselves with a nice dinner and a night in a boutique hotel.  But you could just as easily take a long walk together, prepare a meal together, or head out for some entertainment like a movie or concert.  It just helps to let your brain relax after all that work.

By Vince Alongi

These books are incorporated in our Changemaker Library. All of the books used are the choices of Changemaker without solicitation from any author or publisher. We include the title of the book, the author, the ISBN number, and an Amazon link if you choose to order the books yourself.

The following books are about stress reduction:

Complete Guide to Pilates, Yoga, Meditation Stress Relief

Parragon Publishing

ISBN 1-4542-216-5

Amazon link

Essential Stretch: Gentle Movements for Stress Relief, Flexibility and Overall Well-Being

Michelle LeMay

ISBN 0-399-52893

Amazon link

The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook

Martha Davis, Elizabeth Eshelman, Matthew McKay

ISBN 1-57224-214-0

Amazon link

Stand Like Mountain Flow Like Water

Brian Luke Seaward

ISBN 1-55874-462-2

Amazon link

Stress Control for Peace of Mind

Linda Wasmer Andrews

ISBN 0-7607-6468-9

Amazon link

Stress: 63 Ways to Relieve Tension and Stay Healthy

Charles Inlander and Cynthia Moran

ISBN 0-8027-7505-5

Amazon link

by Scarleth White

The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook

Martha Davis, Elizabeth Eshelman, Matthew McKay

ISBN 1-57224-214-0

Amazon link

“Stress is an everyday fact of life. You can’t avoid it. Stress is any change that you must adapt to, ranging from the negative extreme of actual physical danger to the exhilaration of falling in love or achieving some long-desired success. In between, day-to-day living confronts even the most well-managed life with a continuous stream of potentially stressful experiences. Not all stress is bad. In fact, stress is not only desirable but also essential to life. Whether the stress you experience is the result of major life changes or the cumulative effect of minor everyday hassles, it is how you respond to these experiences that determines the impact stress will have on your life.”

Contents

1) How You React to Stress

2) Body Awareness

3) Breathing

4) Progressive Relaxation

5) Meditation

6) Visualization

7) Applied Relaxation Training

Self-Hypnosis

9) Autogenics

10) Brief Combination Techniques

11) Recording Your Own Relaxation Tape

12) Refuting Irrational Ideas

13) Thought Stopping

14) Worry Control

15) Coping Skills Training

16) Goal Setting and Time Management

17) Assertiveness Training

18) Job Stress management

19) Nutrition

20) Exercise

21) When It Doesn’t Come Easy—Getting Unstuck

Linda Wasmer Andrews

ISBN 0-7607-6468-9

Amazon link

From the introduction: Yellow lights and red flags

Physical signs-headaches-backaches-tight neck and shoulders-jaw pain-heartburn-stomachaches-loss of menstrual periods-lack of sexual desire-constant fatigue-frequent colds

Mental signs-difficulty concentrating-forgetfulness-pessimism-constant worrying-indecisiveness

Emotional signs-irritability-hostility-anger-depression-hopelessness-boredom-loneliness-anxiety-restlessness-panic attacks

Behavioral signs-substance abuse-chain smoking-eating too little or too much-sleeping too little or too much-impatient behavior-temper outbursts-crying-constant rushing-failure to get things done-frequent accidents

Social signs-social isolation-lack of intimacy-conflicts at home or at work-loss of friends-intolerance of others

Spiritual signs-apathy-joylessness-job burnout-feelings of emptiness-loss of direction in life

Please note-Many stress symptoms can also be caused partly or wholly by treatable medical conditions. Be sure to get a checkup by your doctor.

The table of contents:

1. Self-Test
2. How to Stress Less
3. The Seven Tactics
4. Breathing and Meditation
5. Mental Approaches
6. Eastern Methods
7. Yoga Methods
8. Exercise and Massage
9. Relaxing Pleasures

10.Coping Strategies

11.Stress Control Exercises

Resources

Index

Stress Control for Peace of Mind is easy to use as the book base is a spiral binding. Also many small thoughts, ideas and suggestions are given on most pages. The photographs showing the exercise processions, massage,

and meditation are very helpful.