You are here: Home / Archives for stress

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: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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: , , , , , , , ,

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.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Take Pleasure in the Little Things

September 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Yesterday morning, after I dropped my daughter off at school, I got home, grabbed another cup of hot coffee and took a walk outside around our property.

We have a fairly large piece of land, lots of woods and foliage. Several gardens and all kinds of little nooks and crannies to explore. The problem is I rarely explore them, because I’m just too busy. Every day I rush by the beauty around me, neglecting to admire what has been put on this earth in it’s simplest form.

So, yesterday morning, camera in hand….I stopped to take a look. It was early morning, probably about 8:45 and slightly foggy and definitely dewy…if that’s a word? I switched to the close-up lens on my little Panasonic Lumix and went exploring.

Now I know spiders may not be very relaxing to most people, but if you leave them undisturbed and really take the time to see their handiwork, mostly done in an evening’s time….it’s really quite magnificent!

As I wandered around my own yard, I felt a calmness as I connected to nature. The Fall season is my favorite time of year with the cool crisp weather and the vibrant hues of nature falling from the tallest tree tops.

I challenge you to take 10 minutes out of your busy day to do the same. Grab your cup of coffee and walk and observe what is right in front of you. Take some time to consider the little things in it’s simplest form.

Wishing you a less stressed day, Mercedes.

Filed Under: Relax Now Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Ten Ways to Lessen your Stress in the Morning.

August 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Not all people are “morning-people,” case-in-point….my husband is not a morning person, he gets up grumbling about how little sleep he got and demanding to know when someone is going to feed the damn cats. My daughter, is not a morning person. I drive her to school every morning and try to have a 20 minute conversation with her, and all she can say to me is “mom, you know I hate the mornings, please don’t talk.” I have always been a “morning-person.” I get up on the right side of the bed, I feel positive and energized. Here are ten tips to help you kick-start YOUR morning so your days can be less stressed, more productive and at the end you will feel more relaxed.

  • Organize your morning routine. Everyone has one, it’s really a process of getting up and getting on with the day. I once learned in a project management class, that “variance is evil to all processes.” This is true.
  • Set your alarm, snooze once, say to yourself…..”I WILL get up on the next alarm, then do it. Sit on the side of the bed for a minute, stretch your arms and back, take a long deep breath, hold it and then breath out slowly.
  • Use affirming thoughts when you first wake up, stop complaining about how early it is or how you hate your job. There are those less fortunate than you, who wish they had a home, a bed to sleep in and a job to pay the bills.
  • Pamper yourself a little in the morning, use a special soap, shampoo or aromatherapy in the shower. Use scents with energizing aromas like eucalyptus, mint or citrus, to “wake up” the senses.
  • If you like coffee in the morning, set the pot the night before so you wake up to the smell of your favorite blend. When you step out of the shower, go get yourself a cup while you shave or do your make-up.
  • Eat something with protein in it to get the brain and metabolism going.
  • Feel prepared for your day. If you need to go to a destination you’ve never been to before, use a navigator or mapping program. Make sure the car is full of gas and you know where your keys are.
  • Expect the unexpected and then don’t be surprised when it happens. If you know traffic is a nightmare, plan alternate routes.
  • Plan for the weather.
  • Make extra copies for your early morning meetings, don’t expect the secretary to do it, because this will be the day she calls out sick.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. The idea is the more you plan and prepare, the better you will feel. More than half of really living is a “mind-set,” if you wake up telling yourself you hate your life and it’s going to be a crappy day, then, guess what? It will.

If you agree, disagree or just want to add a tip or two, feel free to comment.

Filed Under: Balancing Act Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,