Stress Management Exercises

Holy Stresssssssss!!! Is your stress management out of control? Have you racked up your “building character” points beyond a reasonable lifetime spending limit and frequently on the verge of ripping your face off, snapping sarcastically at inanimate objects, and consuming massive amounts of toxins merely to cope? Ttake heart and read on.

You are far from alone and rapidly recruiting overqualified candidates at an unprecedented pace that is spiraling out of control. The majority of those afflicted fall far beyond that healthy “stress” that motivates and inspires us. We are talking severe stress of epidemic proportions. Are we facing a no win situation? One stress clinic participant suggests:

1st – Stress feeds on feelings and fears.

2nd – We cause most stress ourselves. It is up to us to create rituals to cope.

Excellent points! Not to mention she just saved you a bucket of time and money. Since we are on a roll, let’s dig into the main course before we lose our appetites. After all, finding oneself smothered in responsibility can be simply nauseating.

Rate yourself: Never – 1, Very Often – 5.

I feel that my life is making me physically or emotionally sick
I have too much to do and not enough time to do it
My family and/or personal life is suffering
I can not express my opinions or feelings to anyone
Is it possible that I am not fully utilizing my talents, skills, and sense of humor? (loosely adapted from October Fortune “The Last Taboo” Cora Daniels)

For dessert, we are dishing up ACTION! Short of checking into the nearest institute (booked through 2020), here is a delightful alternative: Create your own special “Coping Cornucopia”. Stop, shut out the stimulus, sit still, and fill up your funnel.

1. Breathe: Yes, even more than you are right now. Close your eyes and breathe deeply in and out from your abdomen for a really, really long time or at least until you stop shaking.

2. Break: Get away. Physically remove yourself from everything and anything familiar. You will pick up a little perspective along the way and with luck may even wind up in another “state”. That is fine. Just phone home when you get a chance – or not.

3. Balance: Write down 2 things to do (some days this can be as simple as eat breakfast, read paper, check email), do them, and reward yourself (tea time, workout, phone call to a funny friend). Try the “2 on/1 off” method – 2 tasks to 1 reward, 2 hours work to 1 hour play.

Something to consider: If everyone is so stressed out, venting to others may not offer the relief it once did and could serve to make matters worse. Instead, try writing down your feelings, frustrations, thoughts, and become your own support system by offering yourself some viable solutions. Dig deep and you will find the answers. This is a healthy and lovely habit to get into.

Next, do a head check. When you think or feel “stress”, change the word and thought to “energy” and then – let it out!! Scream, punch a pillow, stomp your feet and do it with gusto! Try to leave others out of your release. It will be a secret you can share after you have successfully survived the spaz.

Soon enough, the peace and prosperity epidemic is bound to hit so tap the stress state for all it’s worth.

Tip for dealing with another’s stress: Have a hoot! Break through stressed silence by finding fun with a person’s quirks. A tender tease can slice through heavy, hostile air with grace and beauty. Mimic a friend’s sigh, look, shrug, laugh, walk When you see the stress well up, pour it on! If they do not laugh, apologize meekly and run away quickly. Otherwise, it could get ugly.

For your health and stress reduction: Just when you chucked the beef back to pasture, you a’re shocked to hear that toxins are swimming in your fishy friends. Health authorities suggest a 120 pd. person should not exceed 38.5 mg per week. Fresh tuna – 68, Swordfish – 170!! (These guys are still endangered in places so leave them alone). Stick with salmon at 6.

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