Article
Reduce Your Stress - Now!
If you have stress – and who
doesn’t - here are some quick fixes that you can do to reduce the effects of
stress in your life. You – and those around you – will both benefit.
Be mindful that none of the
stress buffers is intended as a long-range answer to the body stress in your
life, but every one of them offers a step you can take now – today, tomorrow,
this week – toward reducing distress. Find two or three that fit your
situation and try them out.
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Decompress. Keep the distress in one
area of your life from spilling over into, and contaminating, other areas.
Example: you had a rotten day at the office and, in your anger, you drive like a
maniac on the way home. Decompress between your activities. Consciously review
your feelings of anxiety or stress. Then decide to leave the situation and
abandon the feelings of the moment. Pray,
drink water, take a quick nap, meditate, or listen to some soothing music. Then
move on.
*
Volunteer. Studies show that those
who do good, feel good. Not only will you be doing something helpful for someone
else but you will find you have additional energy.
*
Eat better. Pay attention to your
nutrition. Study your eating habits and decide what you need to change to create
the best balance.
*
Exercise.
Decide to do something for your body. Walking is the easiest activity to begin
– and stick with.
*
Stop smoking. Give it up,
completely. Do anything: read, visit professionals, talk to people – anything
that will move you to break your drug addiction
.
*
Watch your drinking. You may feel
you should change your alcohol habits. Start slowly. Find other sources of
relaxation: exercise, sports, friends who will be supportive, reading, or
listening to music.
*
Cut back on drugs. Watch out for
recreational drugs that have made their way into your life – tranquilizers,
caffeine, nicotine, or any medicine to which you can develop a habit. Coffee,
tea, and soft drinks all contain habit-forming caffeine. Taper off gradually.
*
Find a quiet place. If you don’t
have a quiet place in your home for a personal and private retreat – create
one. Children can benefit from this practice just as much as adults.
*
Improve your sex life. Spend time
with your spouse in intimacy. If you need to alter your schedule or attitude to
make this happen – do it.
*
Discover holistic health. Consider
your whole body: mind, body, and spirit. Realize that when one area is
unhealthy, the whole body suffers.
* Care
for aching feet. If your feet are in shape your whole disposition will improve.
It is estimated that over a lifetime you walk the equivalent of four times
around the world. This is hard to do in the wrong pair of shoes. Women: when you
slip on a pair of high heels you put 76% more weight
Ed
Boenisch, Ph.D, is Adjutant General for the Wyoming Military Department. Before
that he was the dean of students at Laramie County Community College in
Cheyenne, Wyo. He sculpts bronzes, hikes, and conducts workshops in time and
stress management.
Michele Haney, Ph.D., is vice president at Front
Range Community College in Denver, Colo. She was also the division director for
Life, Health and Physical Science at Laramie County Community College. She is
the single parent of two sons. www.crosswalk.com
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