Health Benefits of Simple Stress Management Relief Techniques for Women and Men

If stress is part of your every day living, you are not alone. Most of us live with a certain amount of the “S” word. In fact, experiencing a little stress can be a good thing. Think about the times when being stressed out has caused you to “act” upon a project immediately instead of procrastinating. When we take action, we are on our way to completion of that project (paying a bill, confronting someone, finding a new job, practicing the piano, or finishing a new article). The action is usually followed by a feeling of “relief”. We all tend to procrastinate, either with things we don’t like to do, or because procrastinating has become a habit. Procrastination leads to stress. Listing your priorities beginning with the most important, challenge yourself to tackle 2 or 3 each day. This, alone will decrease your stress level.

Learning how to listen to your body helps in identifying stress.

I am about to introduce you to some “Simple Stress Management Relief Techniques” which are proven strategies for stress-proofing your life. You will live longer, have a healthier heart and find that you sleep better with these tips which are simple enough for anyone to follow.

A very important note: Remember to breathe deeply by using your breathing muscle, the diaphragm, as illustrated here.

The following list of symptoms are not to be used as self-diagnosis, but as a guide to raise your awareness. Be sure to see your your doctor to further identify something that could be serious.

• Anxiety
• Headache
• Loss of concentration
• Muscle Pain
• Tension
• Sleeplesness
• Lack of Motivation
• Fatigue
• Over or under-eating
• Irritatability
• Anger
• Drug or Alcohol Abuse
• Withdrawing From Being Social
• Angry Outbursts
• Upset Stomach

Stress lowers the immune system Stress is your body’s response to changes in your life. Because life involves constant change (ranging from changing locations from home to work each morning to adapting to major life changes like marriage, divorce, or death of a loved one), there is no avoiding stress. This is why our goal isn’t to eliminate all stress, but to eliminate unnecessary stress.

Most of us, do not even realize when we are stressed. Stress can affect our health and well-being. Every so often through out the day, it's a good idea to do a self awareness body check.

 Meditation conjures up different images for each of us.  Actually, to meditate, simply means being able to dwell on something to the point that you are oblivious to outside distractions and time.  " To be at peace requires us to be intimate with our sorrows, anger, loss, struggles, desires, pleasures, joys and happiness" - Jack Kornfield

Sit silently and listen eagerly.  Wait expectantly.  Focus on God's (universe) goodness and majesty. Expect change. Breathly deeply and your heart is changed, and peace follows.

 I love to be alone.  I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. ~ Henry  David Thoreau

Creating a place of your own can be done in an office, garden, deck, or a spare room.  In the spring,  summer and early fall, mine is on the large wooden deck.  I have bright cushions on the furniture, a small fountain, potted plants and herbs in cheery colors.  An ecco-friendly outdoor rug ties it all together.  A market umbrella provides shade on bright sunny days.  A stack of my favorite books and some fresh organic fruit and nuts are placed next to an ice-cold water pitcher.  There's a CD player next to my favorite chair when I want to listen to music.  My music is inspiring and uplifting.

I can daydream, laugh, cry or just sit peacefully.  Wherever your sanctuary is, it is not a place for working.  It's a happy, secure retreat where you can be alone ro ponder, think, get inspired, discover solutions or simply bask in silence.    

These are some of my favorite ways to reduce my stress levels.

• Sing along with music
• Surround yourself with positive energy
• Take a walk with a friend
• Do some breathing exercises
• Cut back on some of your committments
• Pray
• Recite some positive affirmations
• Play music and cook something wonderful
• Learn to say no to demands on your time
• Take a mini-nap
• Keep a gratitude journal
• Take a beautiful bike ride
• Soak in a luxurious bath
• Indulge in a massage
• Walk your dog
• Cuddle
• Dance to your favorite music
• Grab a nice warm hug (my favorite)
• Laughter - (I recommend reading this funny hub by Habee)

Think about some things you really like to do and add them to this list. For example, if you enjoy sipping on a nice hot cup of tea, add "make a pot of tea". Teatime provides resful moments to ponder lifes journey and bring us closer to ourselves. The celebration of tea is an innocent pleasure that restores our spirits.

My grandma rarely suffered from stress. I remember one summer morning, walking hand in hand with her, through the forest near her home. As we created our own path through the beautiful trees and babbling brooks, I listened to her stories about family and life. She once told me, "If you keep yourself busy, counting all your blessings, you won't find time to be sad." For someone who had little schooling, I found that statement to be profound.

I refer to counting my blessings as "instant pleasure". I use my morning walk as a time to count all my blessings. By starting with the simple things like eyes that see, nutritious food to eat, the personality of each tree which waves to me with happy branches, my legs that make my walk possible - I continue right up to the end of my walk counting each blessing.  What a great way to "kick-start" my day.