Samaritans ’Stress Down’ Day – 4th February
A campaign that aims to raise awareness of the effects of stress in the workplace and encourages people to take better care of their emotional well-being. Read more at http://bit.ly/fYHQzy

Interesting article about the american footballer who had fainted due to stress – the harder they are, the bigger they fall perhaps? Stress affects us all and it manifests in different ways – good to know the man was big enough to ”out” himself with a stress problem – too often it’s all ignored or swept under the carpet

Today (3rd Nov 2010) is National Stress Awareness Day

In these difficult times of recession, stress can easily mount up so it’s important to tackle stress before it affects your mental wellbeing. Here are some top tips for stress busting! Remember stress busting is not just for today but for life!!

TOP STRESS BUSTERS
Smile

Smiling is the first line of defence against stress. It’s quick, easy and free! When you smile, your body releases feel-good hormones, while the stress hormone, cortisol, is reduced. Smiling helps you feel calm and in control. It lowers your blood pressure and makes you feel good about yourself.

Exercise

As well as its undoubted benefits for your general health, exercise is highly effective in reducing stress. It improves blood-flow to the brain, helping you think more clearly. Exercise is also another great way to release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers and feel good hormones. There is also evidence that fit people are better able to handle the long-term effects of stress.

Get enough rest and sleep

Taking a rest isn’t only about not doing anything. A rest from work can mean putting the emphasis on what you do in your leisure time – hobbies, holidays, sport – to counterbalance work or everyday stress. And we all need sleep for energy, good concentration and general health. Chronic sleep-deprivation can effect your performance at work, which can be a key factor in raising stress levels.

Positive thinking

Changing your thoughts is not as difficult as you think. Try to adopt an outlook on life that stops you seeing external events as determining your happiness. Instead, see your thoughts as the determiner of your happiness. It takes practice, but if you can do this you’ll reduce the negative tension that leads to much of the stress in your life.

Reach out to others

When you need to reduce the pressure in your life, you can’t always do it on your own. Everyone should have a support network of friends, family, co-workers and other people they can call on to help take the strain – whether it’s practical help or a sympathetic ear when you feel down.

Get better organised

Make a list of jobs; tackle on task as a time; alternate dull tasks with interesting ones.

Change what you can

Look at the problems that can be resolved, and get whatever help is necessary to sort them out. Learn to say “no”.

Sort out your worries

Divide them into those that you can do something about (either now or soon) and those that you can’t. There’s no point in worrying about things that you can’t change.

Make time for “You”

Whether it’s a game of football or watching your favourite programme on TV, it is important to take time out to do the things that you enjoy. This helps you feel more in control, calmer and makes you more able to deal with stress.

Relaxation

A good relaxation technique is an anti-stress weapon that you always carry with you, to help you deal with any stressful situation as it arises. Make relaxation a regular part of your daily routine. There are so many relaxation techniques, from deep-breathing and visualization to meditation and self-hypnosis. Find one that works for you – check out the many books, CDs, and DVDs that can help.

Eat a healthy diet

A balanced diet that delivers all the nutrients your body needs to function at its optimum level is essential for dealing with stressful situations. And cutting back on stimulants like caffeine and sugar and depressants like alcohol and nicotine will keep you blood sugar levels constant and help you to avoid mood swings.

Music

Music has the power to get the feet tapping and lift mood. Hearing uplifting music when we wake up in the morning can keep us in good spirits throughout the day. Music that relaxes us can aid deeper, more restful sleep.

Seek professional help if you need it

If you feel that despite all your efforts stress is getting the better of you, there are lots of people who can help. The International Stress Management Association provides referrals to stress management professionals, as well as guidance on dealing with stress.

How do you deal with stressful people? Want to protect yourself from the stress they can cause you? How about this technique: imagine that you have a rubber aura, glowing all round your body. It protects you from other people’s stress and aggression. Any negativity directed at you hits it. But your rubber aura is so strong that the negativity just bounces off into infinity. Boing, gone! You are 100% protected. Close your eyes, and picture this working. Really lock in the memory and let us know if it helps!

Tension soon accumulates in your neck, shoulders and back when you spend hours sitting at a desk, driving or in meetings. Ease the problem with massage you can do at your desk.

You can learn the complete ’desk massage’ and ’desk yoga’ routines at the ”Feel Karma stress management workshops”. Or try these techniques at your desk to relieve tension – http://www.stress.org.uk/massage-tips.aspx

Simply decluttering your space can help lower your stress levels apparently. This link takes you on a house call with organisation expert Lori Greiner as she rearranges one woman’s home – apologies for the advertising messages at the start of the clip – it comes from Fox News in the USA: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4130105/less-clutter–less-stress

T0 relax fully, some say you can’t beat self hypnosis. It’s a way of tapping into the power of your brain. And it’s a skill anyone can use, any time of day or night.
Whilst you’re under, you’re very deeply relaxed indeed. And if you’ve ever tried it you’ll know how refreshed you feel after even just a few minutes. For more and more people it’s becoming the number one choice of relaxation. Get a free audio download at http://bit.ly/9Jh8kd and share your opinions of this technique with us at Digital FEAT

Just to let you all know, our next stress awareness course (7 July 2010) is now fully subscribed. However, if you are interested in attending this course, get in touch as we can schedule an addition session as and when required.

Try the stress quiz at http://bit.ly/aaHnPV – loads of useful information attached to it

New research shows that women 50 and under are at greater risk of heart attack than those aged 51 and above. A key factor could be high-pressure jobs taking their toll. See the ITV interview with Neil Shah from the Stress Management Society at: http://bit.ly/97DU2B

”Worrying time” is a great way to deal with stress. Simply jot down any worrys you have during the day on a piece of paper and set aside 15-30 minutes everyday at say 5pm to do your worrying. Often people then find after this the worry is no longer a problem. However if the issue still looms, devote some time to solving the problem before it becomes a bigger one.

Interesting to read an article in the Fife Free Press showing the stresses of football management. Raith Rovers Manager, John McGlynn, speaks of the stress involved in the business of football – despite having a very successful season, cementing their place in Scottish League Division One and reaching the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. He’s now heading for a break to recharge the batteries, before it all starts again next season!

Have you ever seen a Shaolin Monk looking stressed? Thought not. That’s because meditation conditions the body and mind to remain calm during stressful events, and helps keep things in perspective when emotions are running high.