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Explore New Hobbies for Relaxation

May 8, 2012 by 2 Comments

According to the World English Dictionary, hobby is defined as an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation. I have done hundreds of Stress Management and Relaxation Seminars and one of the first questions I ask my audience is “how many of you have a hobby?” It’s amazing how many people don’t. That is to say, they don’t invest time into doing something….anything they truly enjoy for relaxation. Hobbies can be anything from simply reading a favorite book, to scuba diving with all the gear!

I learned how to water-color paint quite by accident and now I find it one of my most relaxing activities.  Although I don’t have time to paint as much as I’d like, I do paint while on vacation and find it most enjoyable. I learned that I wasn’t half bad at it several years ago when I was in college to complete my Bachelors degree in Nursing. I needed to choose an elective and one of the only classes available was “Water-color paints 101.” Now, I do admit that there is a bit of genetic creativity in my family history and perhaps I was channeling my late Great Uncle Paul who was one of the most talented artists I’ve ever known in both oils and water-colors.

The bottom line here folks is to find something you enjoy and “just do it!” As the Nike slogan goes. It’s important to find time for relaxing activities….this is your stress management plan for getting through life. We’ve all heard the old saying…”all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, quite frankly, “all work and no play makes Jack and Jill very ill.” Relaxation is YOUR outlet for stress. It’s a way for your body to take a break from the damaging effects of stress. It’s a way for your mind to wander off into calm serene places. And it’s a way to regenerate the soul.

So, let’s get going….get out there and try something new and have fun!

Hope you have a less stressed day.

Mercedes.

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tranquil Relaxation Video

April 7, 2012 by 1 Comment

If you have just under 5 minutes to sit back and relax, please take time to watch this video. I have created this relaxation video from my own original photos of places I call “Serenity Spots.” These are places I’ve been, things I’ve seen and have captured in the blink of the camera lens to preserve for you and create into this soothing relaxation video. The music is from the album “River of Light,” by Guy Maeda who is the Pianist in this album.

Click Here to see VIDEO now.

Filed Under: Videos

Being One with Nature

March 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our daily lives, the abundance of “stuff” around us, technology and the sheer enormity of people, places and things that touch our lives that we forget about what was here first and in it’s simplest form: NATURE.

If that’s a “run on” sentence, then I’m sorry…blogging is about putting your feelings on paper, or in this case in the blogosphere, it’s not necessarily about being grammatically correct, although spelling does count.

Getting back to Nature, is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to reduce your daily tension and relax. It’s about looking at what’s around you and seeing things in a different way. It’s about bringing out your inner child and looking at the smallest insect or the vastness of the universe at night and letting your mind wander and wonder. Being one with nature, means you are letting yourself become absorbed in what comes natural in life. There is an immediate feeling of relief when you let yourself walk among the trees, lay in a grassy meadow, stare at the movement of the clouds, gaze at the stars or listen to the waves of the ocean.

Remember the old saying, “stop and smell the roses”? The next time you are hurriedly moving through the grocery store and you pass by the florist area, STOP for a second, bend over, close your eyes and smell the roses. For one second in time you will be in another place and that one second might just lift your spirits to get you through the remainder of your day.

Have a less stressed day, Mercedes. 

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Organization is the Key to Less Stress.

March 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We have all heard of making a “to do,” list to stay organized. And whether you use today’s technology, by inputting the information into your Android or IPhone or using plain old paper and pencil, the results will be the same. You will have a clearer picture of what needs to get done in order to stay organized. And why is it so important to stay organized? Because, long story short, organization is the key to reducing stress and allowing you more time to relax.

A good example is taking a vacation, like I will be doing in less than a week. This is not just any vacation, this is a complicated vacation and a very long list is needed. Taking my daughter and two of her best friends on a cruise to celebrate her Sweet 16 Birthday is no easy task. There are alot of plans to make.  Hell, it almost like plotting the take-over of a major corporation or engineering some new space vessel. Like they say, it’s all in the details!

But getting back to my point, lists can be long and complicated or short and sweet, the fact remains that they all do the same thing; keep you on track to get things done, help you prioritize what is most important and give you a sense of accomplishment as things get crossed off the list. But you might ask, so what if I can’t get it all done in one day? The answer is simple, re-prioritize the list for tomorrow and start new. Each day is a new beginning with challenges and rewards. Making a “to do,” list is just the first step in staying organized. More about the benefits of physically organizing your home, office, work-shop and even car on a later post.

So for now, whether you have big plans or just a few things that need to get done….Make that list and get going! Believe me you will feel better, stay on track and have time to relax.

Please have a less stressed day, Mercedes.

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Coloring isn’t just for Children.

March 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The word mandala itself is derived from the root “manda,”
which means essence, to which the suffix “la,” meaning container, has been
added. Thus, the derived definition of the mandala is that it is a “container
of essence.” And the word mandala in Sanskrit means “circle,” or “completion.”
As an image, a mandala may symbolize one’s mind, body and soul, all working in
unison to complete the whole of the person.

In nature, mandalas are found in many places, the solar
system is the most obvious but one can look carefully to find them in
sea-shells, snowflakes or the rings of a tree to name a few. Mandalas can also
be found throughout life as conceptual circles of friends, family, community as
well as the “circle of life.”

What are the therapeutic properties of coloring a
Mandala?

Mandalas are beautiful and they are powerful tools for
inspiration, meditation, healing and self-discovery. They come in many forms
from the most simple, to complex and intricate. Skill level is of no
consideration and this form of therapeutic coloring is used with both children
and adults.

The act of Mandala coloring is very relaxing, calming and
healing. The special circular designs of each mandala is meant to relieve
stress and tension, help enter a meditative state, remind us of our relation to
the infinite and the world that extends not only within our body and mind but
far beyond into the universe.

If you are curious about entering this meditative world,
grab your kid’s crayons, colored pencils or markers and find the 30-Minute
Mandalas Coloring Book to be most helpful!

Filed Under: Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Relax Now, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good News for Failed New Year’s Resolutions

February 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Research shows that 87% of those who have set a New Year’s resolution will fail within the first 90 days of the New Year. But there is good news, you don’t need to just throw your hands in the air and give up. Guess what is right around the corner, coming March 21st? That’s right the Spring Equinox.

And what better time to renew those old resolutions and try again. Spring is a time for renewal, rebirth and regrowth so why not renew your goals and put a “Spring” in your step while doing it? Most people set unrealistic goals. I want to talk about SMART goals…Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

If your goal is to save money for holiday spending for instance, do the math. What is your time frame and what is the ultimate goal? If the goal is to save $1,000.00 for the holidays, then you know you have 10 months. Divide the goal money by 10 months and you must save $100.00 per month. Now break that down day by day, roughly 300 days and you will need to save only $3.33 per day. What do you purchase on a daily basis that would cost $3.33? A fancy cup of coffee and a doughnut perhaps. An over-priced sandwich and a bag of chips? A package of cigarettes?

You get the picture, now do the same thing with your weight. If I want to lose 20 pounds by April 1st and today is March 1st, well that might not be realistic, however, 10 pounds might be more realistic. You see where I’m going with this right? Now get going and renew those “failed” New Year’s Resolutions.

Have a Less Stressed Day, Mercedes.

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Sweet Smells of the Holidays: Cinnamon (part 1)

November 16, 2011 by 1 Comment

Nothing evokes holiday memories than that of the aromas of holidays past. This series of blogs will focus on some of the most traditional and comforting essences surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will discuss how you can specifically add these essential oil aromas to your home to produce the warmth and joy of the holidays.

Let’s start with one of the oldest and most well known aromas: Cinnamon. History has it that at one time it was considered a popular aphrodisiac, spice and antiseptic. It was originally used by the people of Ceylon in 1505. To this day it is still a popular aroma used in oriental inspired perfumes and colognes.

Aroma: Sweet, spicy, peppery, comforting, woody, herbaceous, oriental and warm.

Aromatherapy Properties: Restorative, uplifting, comforting, provokes past memories and emotions. Medicinally, cinnamon is used for digestive and intestinal discomfort, wasp stings, sore muscles and stress related conditions. It is a wonderful house-warming scent. Cinnamon is one of the most widely used and accepted aromas because of it’s prominence in culinary practices. The scent of cinnamon will conjure up past comforting memories of “cookies baking at grandma’s house and past holiday gatherings.”

How to use it:

  • Bake and cook with it and the smell will fill your home for hours.
  • Use pure essential oils of cinnamon on a sponge and place in the microwave for 1 minute. You will sanitize your sponge and also diffuse the cinnamon smell.
  • Use pure essential oils of cinnamon in a spritz bottle and spray frequently to keep the essence fresh.

 

 

Filed Under: Aromatherapy, Family Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

New Experiences at a Discount!

November 8, 2011 by 1 Comment

For years my husband and I argued about money, I mean….who doesn’t. Whether you are a young couple just starting out, maybe with a baby on the way, a middle-aged couple with kids in college, or an older couple in retirement, and unless you are independently wealthy, money plays a role in almost everything we do or don’t do!

In today’s economy, it’s especially important to watch the purse-strings and keep them as tight as possible, right? But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. Did you know that as we age, we literally forget how to play, how to have fun and when we do just blow off a day, doing whatever we want, there is usually some sort of guilt that follows.

I’m here to tell you to make time for play. Make time to do some of the things on your bucket list. Make time investing in the relationships that mean the most by creating memories of good times. Make time going on a date with your spouse. Make time to find new interests, see new places and eat new foods. Because there is truth and reality in the old saying, “you can’t take it with you.”

What I really want to talk about are today’s new deep discounts for doing just about anything from sky-diving to zip-line riding to trap shooting to a simple elegant dinner at a Tapas Bar. If you just put in a little effort, using you computer or smart phone, you can hunt for great bargains by using some of the most popular discount sites, such as ScoutMob, Living Social or Groupon. Most of the discounts are 50% or more and the intent is to make it more affordable for people to try new businesses who are having a difficult time getting customers in this really crappy economy.

My husband has surprised me with a sky-diving coupon and yes, at 50+ years old, it was on my “bucket-list,” and I’ve done it. We recently went trap-shooting. We have tried so many new restaurants, that we would have never found otherwise.

So if you’ve been skeptical, don’t be….get out there and live life, create some memories and build some relationships and don’t break the bank!

 

Filed Under: Relationship Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eat More Chocolate!

November 1, 2011 by 2 Comments

With today being the day after Halloween, the night of tricks and mostly treats…..as in candy, and hopefully chocolate candy, I thought I’d write this article.

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

 

A new Harvard study found that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people with hypertension. It found that dark chocolate, the kind that contains at least 50 to 70 percent cocoa, lowered blood pressure in all participants, but most notably in those with hypertension. Dark chocolate also appears to affect cholesterol. The Harvard researchers found some evidence for a small decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and a significant increase in HDL (good) cholesterol.

 

But it doesn’t stop there….More benefits of eating dark chocolate include:

  • ·         it tastes good
  • ·         it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure
  • ·         it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant
  • ·         it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

 

Yes, but isn’t chocolate fattening? Not Dark Chocolate…..

Some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol. The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid:

  • ·         Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.
  • ·         Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol.
  • ·         Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.

That means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you. The fattest and highest carbohydrate chocolates are milk chocolate, because cream and sugar are primary ingredients. And did you know that white chocolate, isn’t chocolate at all? There is no cocoa in white chocolate and this is the most fattening of all.

So enjoy raiding your kid’s treat bags, hope you find some good chocolate.

Hope you have a less stressed day. Mercedes.

 

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Proper Sleep Essential for Feeling Refreshed!

October 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

No one really thinks about the mattress they sleep on. Often times it’s a piece of forgotten and taken for granted furniture.

People generally change out the dining and living room furniture before they buy a new mattress and box springs. At least my husband and I fell into that category. But let me ask you a question….how long do you generally sit at the dining room table or on the sofa? My guess is probably anywhere between 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on how long the football game goes into overtime. Now, answer the same question about your bed? The answer should be at least 6 to 8 hours per night, every night of the year, with the exception of vacations. And by the way, if you stay at even a moderately priced hotel, chances are their mattress is more comfortable than the old thing, you failed to replace.

My husband and I had our mattress for 17 years….now before you all start with the OMG’s, think about when you last switched out your mattress? I guess with us, the feeling was, “there is something more important we need to spend that money on….” I mean, our children had a better mattress set than us. So where am I going with this?

OK, we finally bit the bullet, bought a Simmons Beautyrest firm mattress with pillow-top. We shopped around for a couple of days, and by the way….I found out, you have to lay down on those mattresses in the store. Don’t be shy about it either, take off your shoes and really lay down….like you would at home. Do you test drive a car before you buy it? Expect to pay in the range of $1,000.00 to $1,500.00, for a pretty good one and if you have to have the “sponge mattress,” that sucks your body into it….what’s it called? Tempurpedic….well then, you’re talking $4,000.00 minimum.

What I’m getting at fellow stress reducers…is that ever since we got that new mattress, we have both been sleeping like babies. My husband has back issues, and he has not complained once since sleeping on this mattress. The bottom line, is you need good rest to be able to face the next day. You need a retreat, a bed that is comfy, cozy and inviting. And other than the actual mattress set, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on the headboard and pillows. As a matter of fact, I reused my original headboard and painted it. Purchased the pillows for cheap at the local Hobby Lobby on sale.

So next time you are considering a new sofa set, think about your own comfort and the amount of time you sleep on that old worn out mattress.

Please have a less stressed day. Mercedes.

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