Controlling Stress

Deep Breathing -- The minute you recognize stress take a deep breath and exhale slowly. The slower and controlled your exhale, the deeper your next breath. A few deep breaths will calm you.

Direct Emotions -- You can convert energy. Take the energy of anger and channel it into a workout or clean house. Run. If you're tied to work, work harder, become a concentrated energy machine. By the time you finish the anger will have dissipated.

Drink More Water -- Six to eight glasses a day.

Listen to Music -- Music not only soothes the soul it has a proven physiological effect. Alter your brain wave patterns and your mood.

Get Some Ions -- Buy a quiet little ion machine and place it near your desk. At home set up a small fountain. Ion machines and cascading water emit negative ions into the surrounding air. Ionized air is a natural mood elevator, producing both happiness and energy.

Make Lists -- Take things one at a time. Just writing things down starts a measure of control. Write it all down. Write what has to be done as well as what you want to do. Now prioritize that list. Do the things you have to do and don't want to do first -- this gives you something to look forward to later. No matter how many tasks you write down or how many jobs you add to your list, do one at a time and check it off the list. The more the chaos, the more the need for control.

Exercise -- Find an exercise program you like, be it aerobics, yoga, dance, body building, martial arts, whatever you enjoy. Fit a minimum 20 minute workout into your schedule 3 to 5 days a week. Don't forget walking.

Avoid Negativity -- Negativity means different things to different people but on the whole our world has some known sources of negative energy. Avoid news programs, television, and the front page of newspapers as much as you can. Learn to identify negative people in your space and spend as little time with them as possible.

Use Color -- Control your environment with color. Red is a short term, high energy stimulant. Green eliminates distractions and helps you maintain focus for long periods of time. For a more elaborate expression of colors see Colors in Magick and More.

Eat Energy Snacks -- Nuts and seeds are power snacks.

Stabilize To Your Patterns -- In every 24 hours your body has a steady pattern of highs and lows. This is called your circadian rhythm. By keeping a small journal and just noting how you feel at different times of the day you will begin to see your natural pattern. Some people are Larks, bursting with energy in the morning while some people are Owls, they come alive at night. 10:00 a.m. to noon is a known slump time for many as is 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Once you learn your circadian rhythm you can plan accordingly. At times when your energies surge, do your most demanding tasks. When it's down time do something routine. Setting a stable sleep pattern reduces reaction to stress. Do this by getting up at the same time every day.

Control Your Mind -- Stress and anxiety often produce what is called in psychology an anxiety feedback loop. One negative thought, one worry, creates another negative thought, another worry, and another -- and there you are, locked in the loop. This mind-control technique is from the famed hypnotherapist Dr.Theodore X. Barber: Next time a negative thought strikes you think STOP. Think it loud and sharp in your mind as if someone was yelling it at you. Amazing how it works.

Back to Library

Back to Estate