Stress+Management+Tips


 * __DEALING WITH PRESSURE & STRESS[[image:stress.gif width="337" height="230" align="right"]]__**

To View A Slide Show On Dealing with Stress Click Here

Click onto these site to identify your stress levels. @http://www.harvestenterprises-sra.com/The%20Holmes-Rahe%20Scale.htm @http://www.time-management-guide.com/assess-stress.html @http://lasalle.limestone.on.ca/library/stressinventory.htm


 * To view how the body presents symptoms of stress please open document.

__STRATEGIES TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH STRESS__ **

Head Streches
 * 1) Tilt your head forward slowly, downwards towards your chest. Pause, count to 3, then slowly bring your head back to the upright position. Repeat this three times.
 * 2) Tilt your head back slowly (your nose will be facing the ceiling). Pause, count to 3, then slowly bring your head back to the upright position. Repeat this 3 times.
 * 3) Tilt your head slowly to the right, toward you right shoulder.Pause, count to 3, then slowly bring your head back to the upright position. Repeat this 3 times.
 * 4) Tilt your head slowly to the left, towads your left shoulder.Pause, count to 3, then slowly bring your head back to the upright position. Repeat this 3 times.

Muscle Relaxation
 * 1) Sit in a comfortable position.
 * 2) Clench and tighten your left fist. Hold the tension for a count of 5, then slowly release the tension.
 * 3) Clench and tighten your right fist. Again hold for a count of 5 and slowly release the tension.
 * 4) Continue in this fashion moving through the body to the arms, the face, the tummy, the buttocks, the legs and the feet.

Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is the ancient art of using natural ingredients found in plants, herbs, flowersand fruits. Oils can be added to bath water or foot baths, or even used to scent your room.Lavender,Ylang Ylang, and Pepermint are very good scents for relaxation. These oils mix well with others and have a wide range of relaxing uses.

Deep Breathing Exercises
 * 1) Sit in a comfortable position with your shoulders rolled back, straight back, palms facing upwards and your limbs relaxed.
 * 2) Close your eyes, breathe naturally.
 * 3) Start to count your breaths, either as you in hale or exhale, from one to ten.
 * 4) As you find your thoughts drifting, just bring your attention back to the numbers.
 * 5) If you lose count begin again. If you reach ten start from one. Try to let the thoughts and feelings come and go.

WHY LAUGHTER IS A GOOD ACTIVITY TO REDUCE STRESS
 * Laughter can lighten stress, anxiety, depression and pain by distracting us from worry and gloomy thought.
 * Laughter relaxes the body and the mind, at the same time leaving us stimulated.
 * When we laugh we are in the present, here and now, even if laughing about a previous events. When we are in the happy present, the past and future recede and cease to bother us (even if it may be breifly!).
 * Laughter gives a hearty work-out to practically every organ in the body.
 * Laughter causes our lungs to rapidly inhale and exhale and our muscles to let go out tension as they contract and then relax.
 * Laughter releases a range of hormones, endorphins and enkephalins which are natural painkillers, and puts us in a good mood.
 * Laughter causes our brain to pour out chemicals that balance left and right brain activity. This balance enhances and increase our creative capacities and leads to clearer thinking and alertness.
 * Laughter boosts levels of immunoglobulin - a virus fighter found in saliva.
 * Laughter releases hormones such as catecholamines which have anti-inflamitory properties.

LAUGHTER ACTIVTIES Here are some laughter activities that you can do;
 * Start the day with some laugh areobics, read some jokes or the catoons from the paper over breakfast.
 * Decide to have a great day.
 * Tell yourself some thing positive ten times under the shower.
 * Bring to mind one funny incident or anecdote per day.
 * Go to work with the expectation of enjoying your work or your activities and the people you come into contact with.
 * Have at least one fun or fluffy item in your kitchen or workspace.
 * Genuinely praise others.
 * Visualise yourself as a light-hearted person laughing.
 * Keep a record of what makes you feel good.
 * Arrange to see a comedy on stage or screen.
 * Hire a funny video.
 * Meet with a friend whom you can share some laughs with.
 * Make a display board of things that make you smile or laugh.

Some links to sites with others things that may make you laugh. Enjoy! @http://www.funnystuff.com/ @http://www.howtoliveonline.com/2007/06/funny-websites-to-make-you-laugh.html [] @http://www.freewebs.com/funnysayings/