3 Simple Ideas to Reduce STRESS

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

Are you stressed? Do you worry about __________________ (fill in the blank)? Are you aware that the majority of what we worry about never comes to pass? How much of your time and energy do you spend worrying about things that never happen? That’s time and energy that could be used in more constructive and positive endeavors.

Here are three simple ideas to help you reduce your stress.

1.   Stop watching the news 24/7 – When was the last time you heard some good news while watching the evening/morning/24 hour news? Every great once in a while they’ll have some feel good story but as a general rule the old adage is very true, ‘if it bleeds, it leads’. A lot of the time when I tell people this, at first they look at me like I just suggested they kill someone, then they ask me, “How will I know what’s going on in the world if I don’t watch the news?” Believe me, I haven’t watched the news in over five years and I know what’s going on in the world. Do I know all the details of the latest madness? No. If I did would it make a difference in the world? No! So why should I stress and depress myself by hearing about and viewing the insanity of the world in which we live? Instead, watch something that will make you laugh. Find a favorite old sitcom that’s in syndication and watch back-to-back episodes.

2.   Laugh – Yes, laughter is a wonderful stress reliever. Laughing stimulates several of our major organs, it stimulates our circulation and aids in muscle relaxation. Those are the short term benefits and there are long term health benefits as well. There’s even legitimate medical research to back it all up. If you’re interested in reading the details about laughter as a stress reliever click here to go to the Mayo Clinic.

3.   Take Deep Breaths – While laughing for no apparent reason might cause people to look at you strangely, you can do deep breathing anywhere and it’s virtually unnoticeable. Breathing deeply tells your brain to calm down. Your brain then passes that message on to your body. In addition to deep breathing there are other breathing exercises that can benefit you and reduce your stress and increase your alertness. Click here to read the details about multiple breathing exercises.

These are just three things can help keep your stress level under control. There’s no cost associated with any of these stress relievers. The reality is there are a great many things you can do to reduce and control your stress level and most of them are free.

Here’s a bonus piece of information. Research has shown that the majority of what we worry about never happens. So stop spending your mental energy and time worrying about things over which you have no control. Put that time and energy to a more constructive activity.

STRESS Relief

Posted by:
Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

We all know what helps us relax, whether it’s a walk on the beach watching the pelicans glide just above the waves, a stroll down a wooded path listening to the birds singing or sitting in your backyard watching the antics of a couple of squirrels. Knowing what helps you relax is only half the battle. You have to remember to take time for that relaxation. Stress relief should be one of your top priorities when it comes to your health.

Stress makes you susceptible to a variety of ailments and aggravates existing ailments. If you don’t believe me, Google the word stress and you will find a great deal of research has been done on the topic and how it affects your health.

Job searching is stressful, being unemployed is stressful, having financial problems…you get the idea. A new stressor is fast approaching, the holiday season. It creates its own special brand of stress.

So remember to schedule time for yourself. Time where all you do is breathe deeply and relax, clear your mind of all that’s going on in your life and just be. Stop and smell the roses, watch the birds, smell the salt air of the sea or whatever it is that helps you relieve stress.

Are You A Worry Wart?

Posted by: Darlene Duncan. CWDP. JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

What do you worry about?

Here’s a list of some of the most common things people worry about.

Money
Keeping a job
Getting a job
Health issues
The economy

If these aren’t things you worry about, mentally add whatever it is you worry about to the list.

Now look over the entire list. Think about each item for a moment. Answer this question. Will my worry have a positive effect on the outcome of (fill in the blank with whatever you worry about)?

For example, is worrying about being laid off going to prevent it from happening? Probably not. There are those times when it doesn’t matter how good a job you do or how valuable you are to the company, they’re going to lay you off. Is worrying about it going to help? No. Instead, do something about it. What can you do?

There are a couple of things. One, find out if there’s any way you can stay with the company. Can you become more valuable by doing extra things? Maybe you know how to do your job and someone else’s too. Once you have exhausted the possibility of keeping your job and have learned that it’s just not going to happen, start looking for that new job now, while you still have a job. Because, believe it or not, it’s easier to find a job when you already have a job.

The reality is that the majority of the things we worry about never come to pass. With that in mind, I have a suggestion for you. Stop worrying about things you have no control over. Instead, use that worry energy to take action. It’s really very simple. I didn’t say it was easy, I said it was simple. How simple? Every time you catch yourself worrying about something you have no control over, STOP. We all do self-talk, whether you admit it or not. So ask yourself, what can I do that could have a positive effect on this issue? Once you have the answer to that question you can move forward by beginning to take action.

Less worry equals less stress; less stress is good for your health. The better you feel, the more energy you have and the better you present yourself to potential employers.

Bottom line, stop worrying about things you have no control over and get busy doing things to improve your situation.

Stress Relief

Posted by: Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
Training Coordinator

Everyone of us deals with stress everyday. Some people handle it better than others. We all know someone that never seems to be bothered by stress. You know the ones, they handle crisis after crisis and never seem to be stressed by anything. The reality is that those people either have some method for coping with the stresses of life or they are suppressing that stress. Suppressing stress, living with stress and not reducing it can lead to a variety of health problems.

To check out this article on how to reduce your stress level click here.