Home Archives for Relaxation
February 29, 2012 1 Comment

Relaxation? It Could be Just a Few Notes Away!

Relaxing Classical Music

If  relaxation is on your mind, it’s time to take action.  Relaxing isn’t just enjoyable, it’s healthful.  Just about everyone wants more relaxation in their life, but few actually do anything about it.  Equally baffling is the fact that so many people think you have to go away on a vacation to relax – as though relaxation were buried treasure that you have to leave home to find.

It’s just alarming to hear people talk about how stressed they are – then hear them say, “If I can just hang on for 3 more months, then I can take a vacation.”

Wouldn’t it be better to find ways to incorporate relaxation into your daily life? At home, in the car, and even at the office?  Relaxation techniques can help keep you stress free and feeling like you’re on a vacation more than just once a year.

One of my favorite relaxation techniques is one of the easiest.  I simply listen to Classical Music.  I have  a great classical music cd collection, but classical music is readily available on YouTube as well.

The The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe, shown at the top, is the PERFECT classical music collection for relaxation. At less than $8.00, this beautiful collection features the works of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and many others.  (You can hear samples of this truly one of a kind music when you click the link.)

While I often listen to classical music at home (I prefer opening my windows and listening to the songbird’s choir), I always listen to it in the car. I have noticed that when classical music is playing, you tend to get less annoyed with other drivers, the length of stop lights, etc. It’s almost as though classical music casts a relaxing spell over you.  However, it does so without making you sleepy!   It keeps you alert and relaxed at the same time.  If they could bottle the effects of classical music, someone would make a fortune.

Click through one of the links above and begin your own classical music collection. Trust me, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without classical music as the soundtrack of your life.

Filed Under: Relaxation Tagged:
October 17, 2011 Leave a Comment

Unplug Yourself! Relax, Recharge, and Refresh Your Body and Mind

Magnolia

Less than zero. That’s how much I know about electronics. My skills pretty much lie in knowing how to turn things on and turn them off when I’m through.  At least I can handle a task that experts say is good for conserving energy. They say we should unplug appliances when they aren’t in use.

I can do that.

I thought about this today when I made myself  like one of these appliances and unplugged myself. I was at the computer in my home office, working like a mad woman, when I took a look around.  Remnants of a long weekend were everywhere. One husband and a houseful of young people had left a house looking like it’d hosted a long party. Which it pretty much had. A three day party.

Anyway, I decided to get up – trading online for offline – for an hour. About 30 minutes later, it struck me: Unplugging is something most of us don’t do nearly often enough.  By unplugging, of course, I mean getting up from the computer and not taking any part of it with you (Twitter, Facebook, e-mail notifications, etc.).

Unplugging.

When we unplug, we put ourselves into a whole other world for a while. A peaceful place that has no problem with being still or quiet.  The internet, social media, information overload – these things are wonderful and certainly have a billion benefits.  However, they haven’t an inkling of what it means to be peaceful and are less “still” and less “quiet” than a hyperactive two year old.  When we stay plugged into the online world, we aren’t still or quiet either. We’re constantly looking for updates – forever on duty, afraid that we’re sure to miss something.

We don’t realize it, at the time, of course. In fact, sometimes this process can be relaxing in itself.

However, there’s a lot to be said for unplugging (completely unplugging) and basking in the state of complete quiet and stillness.  It’s a beautiful, wonderful thing and most of us keep it at arms length far too often.  I have no doubt that being constantly switched ON is as bad for us as it is the appliances and technology we rely on.

When my hour was up, and the timer let me know that it was time to get back to work, I turned the timer off and we struck a deal: I’d take 30 more minutes and enjoy an Agatha Christie mystery and neither of us would feel the least bit guilty about it.  I sat on the sofa in a house that was so quiet I could almost hear my cat sleep, and read and relaxed for about 2o minutes.  I spent the last 1o minutes visiting with and petting my outside cats – something we all enjoyed.

When I plugged myself back in and picked up where I left off, I realized something kind of unexpected:  I worked faster and more efficiently with zero distractions.  It’s as though I recharged myself just in time!

I strongly recommend unplugging yourself each day – completely. Don’t cheat!  Leave the online world and the social circle completely behind and enjoy yourself and the world around you.  It’s great for the mind and the spirit – you’ll find yourself so relaxed and recharged that you’ll look forward to the same experience the next day.  And the next, and the next…

If you have kids, it’d be a great idea to make them unplug each day as well.

By the way, bath time, suppertime, and bedtime don’t count! You have to unplug yourself at other times as well.  That’s the whole idea, you see – unplug and do nothing but enjoy the peace and quiet. So many people don’t even recognize peace and quiet anymore.

Some ways to make the world stand still while you’re unplugged:

  • Read a book
  • Photograph flowers, trees, and other wonders in nature
  • Work a crossword puzzle
  • Spend time with your pet
  • Take a slow walk around the yard
  • Play solitaire
  • Try a new recipe
  • Sit and do absolutely nothing but soak in the quiet

I’d love to see more people realize just how relaxing, enjoyable, and healing absolute stillness and quiet are.  Try it, you’ll be singing its praises with me!

Make each still moment count double!
~ Joi

Filed Under: Relaxation Tagged: , ,
July 19, 2011 Leave a Comment

The Number One Way to Head Stress Off at the Pass

Holy Mole Comic Strip

When we commit to action, to actually doing something rather than feeling trapped by events, the stress in our life becomes manageable. – Greg Anderson

Stress is one of those dreaded things in life that, when it bites, feels as if it has a billion and one teeth. We find ourselves at its mercy, searching for ways to forcibly remove its teeth from our backside. We listen to Classical music, practice our favorite yoga poses, chant every relaxing affirmation we can remember, drink green tea, pet the cat, spray the room with lavender, take deep breaths, rub smooth stones… sometimes all at once.  It can be done. Trust me, I raised three daughters – who were all in their teens at once.

Ohm… Ohm… Ohm…..

In addition to the raising of the three, I also work from home full-time in our web publishing business. You know the drill.  When you’re in business for yourself, it’s all on you. Your success, your failure, your outcome, your bottom line – they’re all in your hands.  And the hands they’re in only add up to two, even though the work is more suited for about 8 hands.  Throw being a wife and mother on top of working from home – and then sprinkle it with an ecomony that’s hell bent on making paupers of us all and, you guessed it…

Ohm…. Ohm… Ohm…. where’s the lavender?…. I need more green tea… Bach or Beethoven?…. Somebody bring me the cat!!!

Throughout my life, however – yes, even when the three were in their teens – I’ve learned that the best way to really handle stress when it shows up on your doorstep isn’t to hide in another room.  The smartest thing isn’t to pull the drapes and try to hide, as though it’s with Jehovah’s Witness.  You can’t see me, I must not be home. Hop on your bike and ride away.

The funny thing about stress is this: It doesn’t hop on its bike and ride away. It also doesn’t fall for your “I’m not home” trick.  Stress knows you’re there and it’s not leaving until it sinks its teeth in.

As odd as it may seem, when stress steps onto your doorstep, the wisest thing to do is open the door before it even has a chance to knock. Get the jump on him and catch him off guard. Like all bullies, stress wants to feel as though it has the upper hand and the last say. These are its life sources, so to speak, and if you keep giving them to it, stress will see no reason to leave.

Meet Stress Head On!

One of my favorite ways to relax and unwind is to take my coffee or tea into the front yard, sit in a favorite lawn chair, and watch butterflies in our flower bed and birds at our bird feeders. I sit with our outside cats as our inside cat sits at the window, glaring out.  The cats apparently think it’s relaxing to watch birds, too, they never take their eyes off of them.

A few days ago, I was having a crazy bad day – one in which everything didn’t just go wrong, it went bizarrely wrong.  Needless to say, I practically ran to the front yard. Unfortunately, the stress was right on my heels and sat in a chair adjacent to mine. It occurred to me that I couldn’t outrun the stressors and there was no where to hide. As I watched a couple of gorgeous white doves (and wondered how dove hunters could live with themselves), I realized that the only way to DITCH the stressors was to DEFEAT the stressors.  So I said adieu to the doves, cardinals, cats, butterflies, and squirrels, grabbed my iced tea, and came back to the computer.

Within an hour I had all the things that were looming over me “knocked out” and returned to the front yard. This time I came alone and the only thing in the adjacent chair was my cat Hannah.

Ask yourself what things cause you the most stress. Money? Work? Feeling overwhelmed? Chores? Make no mistake about it, your stressor will come to you as soon as you ask for it. It’s waiting just around the corner. Always is. Now, summon up all of the common sense and intellect you have at your disposal and come up with ways to prevent the situations in which these particular stressors present themselves.

When you do so, you will have met stress at the door, stopped it in its steps, and slammed the door in its face.  Read the quote at the top again… never mind, I’ll bring it to you – When we commit to action, to actually doing something rather than feeling trapped by events, the stress in our life becomes manageable. – Greg Anderson

Now put that in your green tea and sip it!

Make each moment count double,

~ Joi

The adorable comic strip at the top of the post is the Holy Mole strip by Rick Hotton. To see more of this entertaining, inspirational, and one-of-a-kind comic strip see Holy Mole on Self Help Daily.

Filed Under: Relaxation, Stress, Tough Love! Tagged: , ,
November 18, 2010 3 Comments

Relaxation 101: Quiet the Mind and Steady the Nerves

It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts. -  K.T. Jong

Yesterday afternoon, I noticed something as I walked through my kitchen.  It wasn’t necessarily the smell of soup on the stove (although it did smell good!) or the sight of my beautiful cat Alexa intently watching birds from her window perch.

What struck me was the noise – or I should say the LACK of noise. My family members work different hours of the day and night, and during the day (from 9 am to 3 pm) everyone besides me and Alexa are either sleeping, at work, or in class.  I work from home and, during my work hours, I don’t play music or watch tv.  On my lunch break, I pop in an episode of I Love Lucy, Friends,  The Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith (or another favorite classic sitcom) – but it comes out the minute the last bite has been eaten.

It was during this “Quiet Zone” that I walked through the house and couldn’t help noticing how different quiet seems.  Throughout a typical day, we all encounter so much clatter and racket that I think it becomes normal.  The television, the traffic, the radio, videos online, text dings, phone rings, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the noise police.  I love sounds of life!  And, around 3:00 each day, I’m pretty much craving them.

However, I’m also a huge fan of periods of absolute quiet.  When I drive, I almost never play the radio anymore.  I often like to drive along with my thoughts to keep me company – they’re excellent companions, I never know what to expect from them next.

And that’s the point.

If we fill our ears… and, thereby, our minds…. up with noise all day, how will we ever hear ourselves think.  When will we find the opportunity to squeeze an original thought in?

Our world is one noisy place. But get this:  According to a news report, science has found a way to achieve absolute silence.  Silence that even surpasses the silence in our home form 9 – 3.   Scientists have shown off the blueprint for an acoustic cloak, which could make objects impervious to sound waves. The technology, outlined in the New Journal of Physics, could be used to build sound-proof homes, advanced concert halls, or stealth warships.  I guess the last example are of little use if they aren’t sneaky.

We’d all do well to find our own “acoustic cloak” – and not JUST when we’re trying to write, think, study, or concentrate.  Granted, these times require peace and quiet – but you’d be surprised how therapeutic absolute quiet is when you enjoy it “for no reason at all.”

Start carving out “acoustic cloak” moments of your own during the day. Plan for them in the same way you’d plan to exercise. Below are some suggestions for these delicious time outs:

  • While driving to and from work. Leave the radio off and ride along with your thoughts.
  • Before, during, and after your shower or bath.  Try to keep your mind as still and quiet as possible.
  • Take a nice quiet walk outdoors.  The music nature makes can’t be beat by any instrument man invents.
  • Sit and stare out the window in absolute silence – just like a cat!

If you set aside time during the day to QUIET and STEADY your mind and nerves, you’ll feel refreshed and invigorated for the rest of the day.  Who knows, you might even hear a great idea in your head that you’d been drowning out.

People are always looking for ways to relax, ways to unwind, and ways to get rid of anxiety.  The first step is to simply bring more quiet to your world.  Too much stimulation of the senses can leave you feeling overwhelmed and out of sorts.  One of the simplest, yet most powerful, things you can do is to simply bring more quietness to your world.

A word of warning, however:  Don’t become a noise police, expecting everyone around you to tiptoe or turn their entertainment down.  If you find one area of your home too noisy, be considerate and simply move to another.   You simply can’t expect everyone to seek peace and quiet at the exact same time everyday… unless, the individual you spend most of your time with is a goldfish!

Make each quiet moment count double,
~ Joi

Filed Under: Anxiety, Relaxation, Stress Tagged: , ,
August 26, 2010 3 Comments

RelaxZen Relaxation Beverages: Yes, Please

RelaxZen Relaxation Beverages, remember the name.  If there’s any justice in the world, the name will soon be as well-known as Slim-Fast, Vitamin Water, and a slew of Energy Drinks.

A few days ago, I received a box of RelaxZen Relaxation Beverages – one for use in the daytime and one for use at nighttime.  Believe me, the nighttime one needs to be enjoyed only at nighttime – well within reach of a comfy pillow and your favorite blanket.

Both drinks that I tested taste delicious – very, very, very good. I’d drink them even if they didn’t have the wonderful relaxing qualities they possess. The day formula really seems to help you focus and promotes clarity and a sense of purpose. As someone who spends long hours working in her home office, these are attributes I greatly appreciate.

As for the equally delicious and even more relaxing nighttime formula, it helps lull you off to a very peaceful and beautiful night’s sleep. If the day has been far too busy and stressful for your liking, the nighttime RelaxZen just helps it melt away… naturally. It has a wonderful berry flavor that I’m pretty wild about.

About RelaxZen Relaxation Beverages:
Our first two products address two distinct needs. The first, RelaxZen DAY, is formulated with the highest quality ingredients to relax you, yet keep you focused and on-task during your day. Each ingredient was carefully chosen with our busy, multi-tasking consumer in mind. Many other relaxation shots can make you feel drowsy, sleepy, and emotionally distant; however, RelaxZen DAY can ease everyday anxiety and stress while allowing you to stay at the top of your game. RelaxZen NIGHT, was crafted to allow people to fall asleep quickly and wake up refreshed and ready to tackle their day. By incorporating melatonin and valerian root extract into the product along with B-vitamins, we created the perfect remedy for people who are often too anxious to easily fall asleep.

Together, our products address the increasingly hectic lifestyle everyone faces daily. We are confident that you will find them as beneficial and enticing as we do. – From RelaxZen Shots.com

If you visit RelaxZen’s website, you’ll be able to read a great deal about their beverages -  including ingredients and so forth.  If you’d like to try RelaxZen for yourself (and I’d highly recommend it – just be sure you don’t try the nighttime shot while driving, working, exercising, or on a date!), you can find RelaxZen Beverages as Walgreen’s, 7 Eleven, King’s, Foodtown, and other stores named on the website.

Relaxation is a beautiful, beautiful thing!

Filed Under: Brain Food, Relaxation Tagged:
August 19, 2010 1 Comment

What Your Brain Craves on the Weekend


Weekend sleepyheads, rejoice! When you turn off the alarm on the weekend, you’re actually doing something very healthy for your brain.

Scientists have discovered that getting a little extra sleep on the weekend provides an essential boost to brain power for the coming week. It makes sense, if you think about it. Getting plenty of rest restores your body and mind from the week you just had – PLUS it does more: It rejuvenates you for the upcoming week, allowing you to outwit, out perform, and outlast everyone around you!

The study shows that even just sleeping in late for one of the weekend days is enough to replenish the brain and boost energy, alertness and attention span. However, if you’re one of those people who actually put in more than 40 hours of work each week, you need to catch up with more sleep on the weekend.

You’ve just received permission to sleep in on Saturday and Sunday!

Dr David Dinges, chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of Pennsylvania, who led the study, said: “The additional hour or two of sleep in the morning after a period of chronic partial sleep loss has genuine benefits for continued recovery of behavioural alertness. The bottom line is that adequate recovery is important for coping with the effects of chronic sleep restriction on the brain.”

The study was published in the latest issue of the journal Sleep. It comes after a separate study published in the same journal found that the optimum amount of sleep is seven hours per night.

The findings contradict the received wisdom that eight hours’ sleep provide the best start to the day.

The study of more than 30,000 adults found that cardiovascular disease – which includes heart attacks, strokes and angina attacks – is twice as high among those sleeping less than five hours a day, compared with those getting seven hours.

Those who slept nine hours or more also had a markedly increased risk.

Something else to keep in mind when it comes to optimum mental and emotional health: When you have recently gone through a stressful event (the loss of a loved one, an illness, relationship trouble, extra stress at work, etc…) – you actually need more sleep. Unfortunately people often skimp on sleep during stressful times in their lives. Big mistake!

When we suffer stress, we need to give our bodies and minds time to heal. Sleep will bring this healing about like nothing else. It’ll also give us the rejuvenation we need to face the world with our A game in check.

Filed Under: Relaxation Tagged: , ,
July 8, 2010 2 Comments

Relaxation 101: You Don’t Find Quiet Time, You Make Quiet Time

Televisions, phones, video games, radios.

Alarm clocks, traffic, voices, construction.

Dryers, washing machines, dish washers.

Our inner voice reciting our to do list on a repeat cycle….

Our days are filled with noise, aren’t they?  Absolutely filled.  It’s a wonder that we don’t spend more money on Tylenol and Ibuprofen.   I guess the real wonder is the fact that we kind of become accustomed to all of the buzzing, ringing, banging, clicks, and whistles.

Truth be told, most of us don’t even realize how noisy life is until we find a quiet place to serve as a comparison.

Now, I’m many things, but I’m not one of those people who would teach or preach seeking solace and quiet throughout the day.  I don’t think recluses are the way to go and I’m pretty sure you don’t want to become a hermit.  So, take a deep breath, I’m not on the verge of hitting you with a “Sell your televisions, turn off your phones… let’s go to Zen-ville together….”

Yeah, about that….  No thanks. Clicks and whistles serve a purpose – they let us know we’re alive and remind us that we’re vital.  I think of noise as life’s beating pulse.

However, I am saying this:  For at least a few minutes a day, it’s beneficial (maybe even necessary) to put a muffler on the pulsating noise.  Think of it as a mini little retreat from the hustle and bustle.

Like I said, I love noise and business.  When my home is filled with my husband, baseball games on tv, the dryer running, my cats singing for their supper, kids playing video games in one room, kids watching Discovery Channel in another room, and still more kids cooking funnel cakes in the kitchen…. I’m as happy as a person has a right to be.

It makes me feel alive!

However, I think I’m able to appreciate all of that more (and keep myself centered and sane) when I’m able to wedge in a few minutes that I consider a Quiet Retreat.    It’s as simple as going in my front yard and petting my outside cats while watching/listening to birds.  Sometimes one of my daughters join me and we retreat together.

Last night, the birds put on an excellent performance for me and my youngest daughter, Stephany. Goldfinches, hummingbirds, cardinals, and sparrows provided the only audio and it was beautiful.

After about 10 minutes, we threw on our tennis shoes and took a walk – the retreat was over and it seemed to revive and re-energize us.  Retreats do that for a body, mind, and spirit.  They’re like a cool, fresh drink of water when you need it most.

If you’ve been feeling a little stressed (or even if you feel just dandy!), I promise that a mini Quiet Retreat each day will revive you.  It’ll make you appreciate the pulse of the day more and will provide the balance that your psyche might just be craving!  Find quiet time and relax even if it’s just sitting in your yard for 10 minutes each day.  It’s vital for mental fitness and I think you’ll find that you’ll cope with stress and anxiety better.

Make each moment count double (especially if it’s a quiet one),
Joi

Filed Under: Relaxation, Stress Tagged: , ,
April 28, 2010 2 Comments

Relax, Max! How to Keep Stress From Breaking Your Heart

Everyday Health recently ran a great article on Heart Health: Preventing Heart Disease. There was, of course, the “expected” (yet golden) advice:

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Eat more fiber
  • Get at least 10,000 steps in daily
  • Get at least 30 minutes of exercise 6 days a week
  • Have a great night’s sleep

As someone utterly fascinated with the mind-body connection and someone who firmly believes that the two influence one another greater than we’ll ever truly realize, I wasn’t terribly surprised to find the following advice:  Relax!

Stephen Sinatra, MD, a cardiologist and assistant clinical professor at the University of Connecticut had this to say in Everyday Health’s article, “People who see the world optimistically — who see the cup as half-full — [typically] do not get heart disease, as opposed to people who are more pessimistic, who worry all the time, who live in fear — these are the people who have hormonal responses that lead to heart disease.”

If that doesn’t spell it out, I don’t think it can be spelled.

Finding ways to relax and unwind aren’t just necessary for our emotional and mental well-being, health, and happiness – they’re pivotal to our physical health as well.  Our heart doesn’t want any more stress or upheavals in our lives any more than our brains do!

People who tend to stress and mentally grind about things know who they are. Truth be told, they want very much to relax but often don’t know where to start.  There isn’t a deep, mysterious secret to learning how to relax. On the other hand, it isn’t as easy as opening a can of Diet Coke either.  Those of us who were born in a sort of zen state and have never seen any reason to leave it tend to forget that sometimes.  We’re like, “Relax, man, just relax.”

Easier said by some than done by others.  We’re all wired differently, after all.  What’s more, isn’t it a good thing we are?!  I can’t imagine a world filled with zen-bots any more than I can imagine a world filled with stress-n-steins. Either arrangement would make me want to hide in the attic.

When all’s said and done, however, those who tend to stress out, worry, fret, and get their drawers twisted on a regular basis MUST find a way to deal with life differently – otherwise, it’ll deal with them in a completely unacceptable way.  To the tune of heart disease.

Below are a few steps to consider if you’re one of the many, many, many people who are looking for more relaxation.

  1. Remind yourself, as often as needed, that this is life and unexpected things are going to happen. Disappointments, broken appliances, flat tires, arguments, rude co-workers, bad colds, burned meatloaf – and so on – are going to happen.   I’ve never understood why people flip their lids over things that can be fixed.  Save the lid flipping for those things that can’t.  I remember one particularly fun month when my vehicle, our oldest daughter’s vehicle, and our middle daughter’s vehicle ALL needed trips to the mechanic.  My husband never batted an eye.  I thought, “Wow. He’s handling this all amazingly well…”  Then I overheard him telling one of our girls, in a matter-of-fact way:  “It can be fixed.  Not a big deal.”  A perfect lesson:  If something can be fixed, why stress?  Save that for things that can’t be fixed, replaced, or done without.
  2. Don’t expect life to be fair. No one ever said it would be.  Sometimes bad things happen to good people and sometimes good things happen to bad people.  Sometimes your college professor will be wrong and you’ll be right – you’ll know it the whole time you’re staring at the B- on your paper.   Sometimes you’ll try a new exotic recipe that you’re excited about and your spouse won’t even take a second bite!  That’s life and no one said it’d be fair.  You aren’t in it alone – and life isn’t singling you out.  No pity parties allowed.
  3. You know the old saying that starts out, “All work and no play…”  The 2010 version would be, “All work and no play invites stress over to stay.” If your mind is on work and/or making money for the majority of your waking hours, you need to reevaluate.  There’s more to life than money and work!  Take time and make time for enjoyment.  Sit down and watch an NBA or MLB game.  I’m a huge baseball fan and can think of few things more relaxing than kicking back on the couch with a snack and watching a baseball game.  I’m there – body, mind, and soul – from the first pitch to the last.   For those few hours, nothing needs to be done or taken care of…. except maybe a few appeals to the umpire regarding his inconsistent strike zone.  Have a wide one or have a narrow one – just be consistent.  No accordion strike zones when my Cardinals are playing, thank you very much.  As a sidebar, following sports can be a great mental workout – keeping up with names, numbers, teams, managers, averages, wins, losses, divisions, and so forth, is a fun way to stay mentally active and a great way to challenge yourself.  A few days  ago, I grabbed pen and paper to see if I could name all of the National League teams and all of the American League teams.  I did really, really well – I just put the Marlins in the wrong league and totally forgot about the Lions.  Sorry, Detroit.
  4. Take up Birdwatching. Seriously.  Grab a few bird feeders, a bird bath, and even a house or two.  Fill the feeders with seed and the bird bath with fresh, clean water.  If your completely into it like we are, you could even plant a flower bed nearby to make your feathered friends Garden of Eden even lovelier.  I promise you, when you watch these peaceful, feisty little feathered beauties, your stress level will hit rock bottom and your relaxation level will soar.  If you tend to stress and being tightly wound has become a way of life for you, I’m literally begging you to take up birdwatching.  You’ll feel better instantly. Call it your feathered tonic.
  5. Watch the Food Network. This is another great way to unwind and relax. When you come in from work, turn on the Food Network and chill.  Few things are more peaceful than sitting back and watching a cooking show.  Pick a few favorites and watch them regularly.
  6. Enjoy your favorite hobbies and create new ones. Some of my favorite hobbies are cooking, walking, gardening, birdwatching, reading, watching movies & sports, and learning new things.  Learning new things seems like an odd hobby, but I simply LOVE to research and learn about history, new places, animals, nutrition, and so on.  I also want to get back into crafts.  I used to sew, make pillows, and once started to take up quilting.  I would love very much to get back in touch with my creative and crafty side.  I also want to get back into cake decorating.  I used to make some real works of art (such as doll cakes when our girls were smaller – of course, they’d still love them muchly!)  If there are any hobbies or interests that peak your interest, head off to the craft section at your favorite department store – or a Hobby Lobby if you have one of those amazing stores – and have at it!
  7. If you enjoy golf, tennis, softball, or bowling – go for it. Also, if there’s one of these sports you’d like to learn – why not start this month?  The beautiful thing about sports is that you’re multi-tasking in a wonderfully healthy way – you’re relieving stress, unwinding, getting fresh air, AND getting heart-healthy exercise.  I’ll feel a little guilty while you’re outside doing all of that and I’m inside watching baseball, sewing, and planning my next extraordinary cake.  A little guilty… happy, but a little guilty.
  8. Take up yoga.  Whether you’re male or female, 10 or 70 – yoga is amazingly relaxing.  After 30 minutes of yoga, you feel almost like you’ve gotten a full body massage.  Now tell me that wouldn’t feel sensational!
  9. Take a walk. Very often, a nice 10 minute walk is all that’s needed to unwind and relax.  If 10 minutes doesn’t do the trick, keep going!
  10. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. A lack of sleep (even if you shortchange yourself an hour or two) can make even the most relaxed, even-tempered person in the world a crank and a bundle of nerves.

If you do just one thing today (and it’s Wednesday, so we all know 1 is actually a reasonable number) – make it this:  Make up your mind to make your health and happiness a priority.  Your heart’s health should be one of the most important things to you.  It determines whether you live or not!  I can’t see something being any more important than that.  Find ways to relax and unwind and do so on a regular basis.  You HAVE to include some time in your day (each and every day) for total, complete relaxation.

Now off to to the store with you – the birdseed (and a more relaxed future)  is waiting.

Make each relaxing moment count double,
~ Joi

By the way… have you met my new favorite word yet? – Gambaru! Click the link and prepare to fall in love with the word as much as I have.

Filed Under: Must Reads, Relaxation, Stress Tagged: , , ,
December 22, 2009 3 Comments

Self Help Tips for Stress Relief

Stress is a common problem encountered daily, but it is not always bad. Stress often occurs when you take on too many tasks at once or you are preparing for something you are not used to doing. Your body responds as if it senses danger and produces cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are good in small amounts because they allow you to overcome certain obstacles in life. During a stressful situation, your body may produce excessive amounts of these hormones and it can have a negative effect on your body. Small amounts of cortisol and adrenaline are helpful for helping you through certain situations. For example, these hormones can help you react quickly if you are in a dangerous situation.

Some of the negative effects of stress include an upset stomach, back pain, insomnia, or headaches. Too much stress can also affect your immune system resulting in difficulty fighting disease. It may cause you to become moody, tense, or depressed, and this can have a negative effect on your relationships.

Because of these problems, it is important to learn proper stress management techniques. There are several changes you can make that can help you feel much better.

Don’t take on more than you can handle. By accepting a reasonable workload, you place less pressure on yourself and should be able to meet your deadline without any added frustrations.

Meditation is an excellent method of relaxation and this can help calm your body and mind. Meditation has many positive effects on the body such as helping clear the mind of any negative thoughts.

Another method of stress relief is to see things from a different perspective. With a different viewpoint, you may see the positive in an otherwise bad situation. This also allows you to have a more positive outlook on life, which can lead to many health benefits.

If you are suffering from stress, it is important to relax and find out what is causing this problem. After figuring out the cause, you can begin making changes to reduce the negative effects of your stress.

Filed Under: Positive Affirmations, Relaxation, Stress Tagged: , , , ,
December 20, 2009 1 Comment

Relaxation 101: Why You Need this Sound Spa Machine!

I don’t have to remind you of the benefits of relaxation or the dangers of stress.  You know how essential relaxation is to your physical and emotional health.  Stress wreaks havoc on every part of our bodies.  It’s imperative, then, that we find ways to totally and completely relax – as often as possible.

Experts recommend that we spend at least 15 minutes each day completely still and relaxed.  Sometimes it’s difficult to shut off the day and shut out the world.  That’s when I especially love my wonderful little sound machine.  The HoMedics SS-2000 Sound Spa Relaxation Sound Machine with 6 Nature Sounds, Silver is one of my favorite relaxation tools of all time. It’s right up there with hot green tea and bath time!

Product Features

  • 6 Nature sounds, ocean, summer night, rain, rain forest, waterfall and heart beat.
  • 15, 30 and 60 second auto off timer
  • Battery or adaptor operated (adaptor included)
  • Natural sleep aid
  • Great for the baby’s room

My favorite settings are Summer night, rain and rain Forest (the sound of rain and the sound birds alway takes me to another level of calmness). The waterfall and ocean are also nothing short of amazing. I believe the ocean is my husband’s favorite. I’ve found him sprawled across the bed after a long day of work listening to the waves crashing on the shore quite a few times.

I often use my sound machine when  I’m taking a bath – well out of reach of wet hands, of course.  The illusion of taking a bath in the rain, in the middle of a rain forest, or even in the yard on a summer evening is all that’s needed to melt away the day’s demands.  By the time the bath is over, I’m so relaxed I almost have noodle legs.

The heartbeat setting is pretty much one I leave untouched. However, it’s a setting that new parents – whether they’re the parents of a human, a kitten, or a puppy – swear by this setting for restless babies. They feel stress, too, after all!

As of today (December 20, 2009), if you jump over to HoMedics SS-2000 Sound Spa Relaxation Sound Machine with 6 Nature Sounds, Silver and place your order, you can have one of these sound machines delivered by Tuesday, December 22, just in time for Christmas. Simply choose One-Day Shipping at checkout.

Whether you have one in mind for a gift for someone else – or a treat for yourself, this could be the smartest $20 you’ve spent in ages.

Make each relaxing moment count!
~ Joi

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