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July 2, 2012 Leave a Comment

When You Feel Overwhelmed…

Feeling Overwhelmed

We all have moments when we feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Times when we are surrounded on all sides by uncompleted (often not even started!) tasks, unmet goals, and relentless to do lists.  When the only thing we see around us are things waiting to be done, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.  In fact, I imagine that feeling overwhelmed is almost an epidemic in this day and time. Quite honestly, we’re all trying to DO and BE too much.  But I’m not going to climb up on that soap box… for now!

For years, I’ve talked regularly to readers of Out of Bounds as well as my self help blog regularly.  I hear from people of all ages who are dealing with subjects such as:

  • Self Confidence
  • Empty Nest Syndrome
  • Memory Loss
  • Relationship Problems
  • Anxiety
  • Shyness
  • Sadness
  • Addictions

The list continues, of course, but these have generally been the top issues.  Lately, I’d say within the last 2 years, I”m hearing from more and more people with a common theme.  I often see different versions of the same words,”I just feel so overwhelmed!”

Being overwhelmed is a hideous feeling, and one I wouldn’t wish on anyone. There’s a certain helplessness about it – and if you allow it to continue, the anxiety will grow like a life-sucking weed.  Some people allow the feelings of being overwhelmed to continue so long that they almost enter panic mode.  There’s nothing about that that’s good or productive, so dealing with the feelings immediately is of the utmost importance.

When you feel overwhelmed, you should realize that you simply haven’t found the answer yet.  When you take a deep breath and say, “I simply haven’t found the answer yet,” you’ll feel better almost immediately.  A lot of hope lives inside the little word y-e-t.  Simply saying the word gives you hope that there’s a light at the end of the overwhelming tunnel.  Reminding yourself that you have to proactively find the answer is the swift kick in the seat you need to get moving.

When you begin to search for the answer, you may find that:

  • … you’re trying to do too much
  • … you aren’t trying hard enough
  • …. you need to ask for help
  • …. you’re half-assing it
  • … you haven’t been giving it your all
  • ….  it’s time for a new approach

Stepping back from a situation and looking at it objectively can work wonders.  You may find that waking up an hour earlier is all you need to “catch up.”  How amazing would it be if something as simple as that alleviated your stress?!

Ask yourself tough questions. Are you really giving it your all? Have you gotten lazy in any areas of your life? Are you trying to do too much, be too much, and have too much? Do you need to simplify?  Was there a time in  your life when life, itself, seemed easier?  What made it easier? How can you get back to that simplicity?

If, after brain-storming, you just can’t seem to come up with the answer, ask the people you trust the most.  Everyone has opinions and most people love few things more than being helpful.  If nothing else, search online for answers. If you GOOGLE your particular problem, you’ll find a great number of people who’ve experienced the same thing. What’s more, you just may find the answer you’re looking for.

Then next time you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself that the feeling means you simply haven’t found the answer yet.  Then immediately begin seeking for the answer!  Don’t waste any time with negative feelings such as pity or frustration.  It’s a big, beautiful world out there and wasting time with negative emotions robs you of the life you deserve.

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi

Filed Under: Stress 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: , ,
January 10, 2011 Leave a Comment

This is Your Mind On Music. Any Questions?

I’ve always been amazed by the influence music can have on a person. When you’re feeling down, the right kind of music can lift your spirits. Ironically, when you’re feeling sad, listening to sad songs can somehow help as well. That one has always stumped me – you’d think it’d make matters worse, wouldn’t you?!

Even in movies and on television, the effects of music are epic. When we’re watching a scary movie, the music played in the background serves to heighten our fear. Upbeat soundtracks cause our emotions to soar right along with the music!

I’ve also noticed that music can have a very relaxing effect on the listener. A lot of the time, when I’m working at the computer, I’ll have Patsy Cline, Motown Classics, or Johnny Cash serenading me while I plug along. Good thing I work from home! Different songs, and even different artists, affect people differently – for whatever reasons, Patsy Cline songs always bring a smile to my face and calm into my world.

Even on Mondays.

A new study now backs up what I’ve said all along: Listening to music makes the brain release a chemical that gives pleasure. Researchers found that music causes our brain cells to react to music much as they do to food or sex.

Is it any wonder so many people love to listen to music?

Interestingly, the study proved that the songs don’t even have to have vocals accompanying them – instrumentals have the same reaction. In fact, personally, I’ve found that instrumentals are often more relaxing. Classical music is especially good for sort of turning off the thinking process and shutting out the world. I’ll often play classical music while working online. I find my fingers trying to keep beat with the music sometimes.

What can I say, sometimes I need a little amusement in the middle of a long day.

Try this: The next time you feel stressed or anxious, listen to classical music (like the music in the video below). You’ll find that your stress and anxieties will diminish as the notes carry them away. If you don’t happen to have a classical music collection (yet!) search Classical Music on YouTube, or search for an individual composer’s work. A quick search for Relaxing Music brings about some beautiful results as well.

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi

Filed Under: Anxiety, Stress Tagged: , ,
January 9, 2011 Leave a Comment

Stress Less by Moving More

If one of your resolutions, or goals, is to find a way to handle stress and another is to get fit – you’re in for a pleasant surprise because one of the best ways to achieve one is also one of the best ways to achieve the other.

People spend a great deal of time trying to find ways of coping with stress.  They try talking things out, repressing worries and anxieties, meditation, and a host of other approaches. While some achieve a certain level of success with these stress reducers, there is a simpler and more productive way to combat stress.  What’s more, you’ll reap far more head-to-toe benefits with this approach than the others combined.

The stress-busting solution: Engage in as much physical exercise as you can possibly engage in.

One laboratory experiment took ten underexercised rats, and subjected them repeatedly to a variety of stresses: shock, pain, shrill noises, and flashing lights. After a month, every one of them had died through the incessant strain. Another group of rats was given a good deal of exercise until they were in peak physical condition. They were then subjected to the same battery of stresses and strains. After a month, not one had died.

(Disclaimer: As an intense… intense…. intense animal lover, I’m never FOR animal experiments – even on rats.  However, I do have to concede that when science is able to gather information that benefits humans, it’s difficult to argue.  How extraordinary it would be if one day science found another way.)

Here’s the basic, simple, and profound truth:  Our bodies were made to move and the more they are exercised, the more effectively they function.  From Adam and Eve to you and me, our bodies were beautifully designed to function and work.  We were made to hunt, gather, build, work, run, and then go back and do it all over again.  We weren’t intended to sit as much as we do.  We weren’t made to find the easiest way to do things, the path of the least resistance, or the shortest distance to take.

We weren’t made to ride buggies around the grocery store because we’re too lazy (or overweight) to walk.  We weren’t made to find the closest parking space possible to the front door so we don’t have far to walk.  We weren’t made to blow right past the stairs and take the elevator every time.

Many of the problems we have today (physical, mental, and emotional) could be greatly alleviated if we simply got more exercise and increased our activity.

Studies on the ways exercise helps to reduce stress are VERY conclusive.

Benefits of Exercise for the Body and Mind:

  • gets rid of harmful chemicals in our bodies
  • burns extra calories to help us lose weight or keep from gaining too much weight
  • strengthens our muscles
  • strengthens our bones
  • improves our circulation
  • aids in digestion
  • strengthens our respiratory system
  • strengthens our mind
  • provides a form of abreaction (a way we can let off steam)
  • builds up stamina
  • counteracts the biochemical effects of stress
  • reduces the risk of psychological illness

Growth and advancement are almost always wonderful things.  In our world of advanced technology, however, we simply aren’t getting enough activity and exercise.  Think about it, when’s the last time you engaged in activity long enough (or strenuous enough) to break a sweat? When’s the last time you pushed your body beyond what it’s accustomed to doing?

For every aspect of our bodies, we need to find ways to ADD exercise and activity to our daily routines. Keeping an activity journal is one way to get in touch with how much – or how little – you actually move.  Most of us would be surprised at how many hours we actually spend sitting.

Wearing a pedometer is another great way to gauge your movement.  Experts tell us we need to aim for at least 10,000 steps daily.

Whether you are trying to cope with stress and anxiety or not, adding more exercise to your life will make you both healthier and happier.  Do it for your mind, do it for your heart, do it for your weight, do it for your emotions…. just do it!

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi

Filed Under: Anxiety, Mental Fitness, Stress 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: , ,
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

Filed Under: Relaxation, Stress Tagged: , ,
November 9, 2009 4 Comments

5 Ways to Cope With Stress

5 Ways to Cope with Stress

Guest post by Adrienne Carlson.

It’s worse than the fattiest of foods in making you fat, and it’s more lethal than most diseases in sending you to the hospital; in fact, stress is one of the most dangerous enemies of good health. All of us are subject to stress in some form or the other as we go about our lives, but only a few of us are skilled at managing this curse without letting it affect us physically and mentally. While a small amount of stress is necessary to get our adrenaline flowing and keep us on our toes, too much of this and we end up paying for it heavily. Because stress is a regular part of life, we need to know how to cope with it rather than try to avoid it. And to this end, here’s how you can do exactly that:

  1. Don’t keep it bottled up inside: When something bad happens and you feel heavy inside, it’s best to let it out. Some people find that crying is therapeutic while others prefer to talk to someone they trust. Yet others feel better after they vent their feelings on someone or something – they scream or bang a door to reduce the stress they feel inside. Whatever works for you, find it and use it to deal with stress and get it out of your system.
  2. Know how to relax: Learn to leave the office at the office and your personal life at home in order to prevent the stress associated with one from spilling over into the other area. You end up losing your peace of mind in the process. Practice mental techniques that help you compartmentalize your life and deal with each separately. Know what helps you relax and unwind after a stressful day or experience – you may find music soothing or prefer to read a book. Either way, the choice is yours, so find something that helps you clear your mind and sleep peacefully.
  3. Learn to let go: If there are issues in your life that are not to your liking or problems that you cannot seem to solve, learn to let go. Sometimes, things have a way of clearing up by themselves. So if you know that you are helpless in solving a problem, don’t attempt to solve it at all. Forget about it so that it does not compound to your misery by keeping you stressed out all the time.
  4. Reduce your expectations: There are times when high expectations lead to stress, especially when they involve relationships. When your expectations and desires are not met, you tend to feel stressed and tense, and this makes you irritable. Instead, lower your expectations and learn to be satisfied with what you have instead of wanting more and more.
  5. Accept what you cannot change: There are some situations that you cannot change and some people who never will. So instead of grumbling and complaining all the time, accept them for what and who they are. This helps you avoid a whole lot of unnecessary stress.

It’s not easy dealing with stress, but when you condition your mind to do it, it becomes more of a habit than something that is difficult to achieve.

By-line:
This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of physical therapy assistant schools. Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Stress Tagged: , , ,
May 26, 2009 2 Comments

How To Cope With Your Fears And Stress

I’m honored to present a guest post by a very talented author, Stanley Popovich.  Be sure to check out his website, linked at the end of the article.

How to Cope with Fear, Anxieties, and Stress.

How to Cope With Your Fears and Stress

By: Stanley Popovich

Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a hard time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties.

The first thing that you need to do is to determine what is the source of your fears. Determine what is making you so anxious and fearful. Once you determine the source of your fears, the next step is to manage it.

Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the problem. A person could get some fresh air or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things.

A person should visualize a red stop sign in their mind when they encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, a person should think of a red stop sign that serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. A person can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your small notebook and read those statements. This will help to manage your negative thinking.

Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future. Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.

Dealing with our persistent fears is not easy. Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problem will go along way in fixing your problems.

BIOGRAPHY:
Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/


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