Jane Riley

Happy New You!!!!!!!!Stress Free Forever!

Sound Impossible? It’s do-able. It just takes practice. As with any pursuit, it takes some time and focus but this goal of stress reduction is one of the most worthwhile goals you could ever go after. The benefits improve your physical, mental, and emotional health more than any other single pursuit.

Learning how to “reframe” is essential to reduce stress. Does this scenario sound familiar? You groggily sit up to realize that your alarm has failed to go off, and you have twenty minutes to get to work. You rush to pull yourself together. The first stockings (or tie) you put on have a run (or a big spot )on it, so you fumble for a replacement and then getting in the car you find that your loving spouse (or kids) have left you on empty. You try to get into the closest gas station which means a left hand turn during rush hour-----right.

Finally arriving at work, your heart is pumping wildly, your stomach is churning, and your throat is tight and head pounding. People look at you oddly and murmur “morning” as they sense your tension which is palatable at this point. Then the phone rings. One of your kids is sick and you need to come get them. WHAT A DAY! Could it get any worse? Well of course it could.

Truly, will any of this matter five hours from now, when you have your child at home and you are doing work on your computer at home? What about five days from now? Or five years? However, the damage you have just done to your body will still be there five hours, days and years from now. The point is that you could be living in a third world country somewhere where in fact not having clean water is a serious concern. Reframing is a powerful stress reducer, and one we overlook simply because when we are stressed we have a natural narrowing of perspectives. Get the big picture!

Positive self talk is another effective stress buster. Affirmations, positive mottos, pleasing photos or art pieces in your work space or home lift your spirit and keep you focused on the good things. Keeping your workspace and home pleasantly decorated and free of clutter relieves stress and contributes to an overall sense of wellbeing.

Hanging out with the good guys is essential. Being in the company of like minded positive, happy, and encouraging individuals cannot be overstated as a strategy for successful stress reduction. Negative, needy, depressed people will always pull you down. No matter how committed you are to being positive and staying up, the “drain people” will pull you down with them. It’s like gravity, so the best thing to do is just avoid being with those who cannot see the big picture.

Get on a good balanced nutrition program and exercise faithfully. A good working body will house a good working mind and spirit. If you feel physically in bad shape how can you expect to feel good in your mind and attitude? Get physical with fun activities. If you are peopled out by the end of the day then choose a solo workout. If you feel isolated throughout the work day then go salsa dancing and work up a lather- Have fun with it.

As with any other pursuit if this is new to you if may seem strange for the first little while. Seek out positive success oriented tapes, speakers and seminars to encourage yourself, and most of all “Believe to achieve”.