Inner Inspiration

Archive for the ‘Simple Tips’ Category

Stress-induced problems swirl around us all the time and it often feels like the pressure never ends! Yet, there are simple ways to relieve stress without harming your body.

Here are 10 steps to a less stressed life:

1.    Cut out the busyness. What are some things you can cut out of your schedule to give you more quality time for you and your family?

• What clubs or organizations do you belong to? What meetings or activities are you involved in? Is it all necessary?
• Carefully consider which programs and activities you can remove from your schedule – then do it!

2.    De-clutter and organize your home. When your home is cluttered and unorganized, you tend to feel cluttered and unorganized on the inside, causing you more stress.

• Get rid of the stuff you never use by selling it, throwing it away, or giving it to someone who’ll make use of it. Once you’ve done that, organize what’s left over and make a place for everything. If necessary, use labels and organizational containers to make it easy to find things again.

3.    De-clutter and organize your workspace. Organizing your workspace is no different than de-cluttering your home.

• Remember, your external environment affects your internal peace. Messy on the outside likely means messy on the inside.

4.    One of the major stress factors is money. However, there’s a simple solution: a budget. Most people don’t like the word budget, but budgeting doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, financial planning actually helps you save money.

• Do a search online to find a budgeting system that works best for you. It needs to be simple and easy to use every day. Once you’re on a budget you’ll feel a lot less stressed due to finances.
• Seek the help of an experienced financial planner who can steer you on the right financial path.

5.    Enjoy what you do have. In our society you’ve probably learned somewhere along the way that more is better. Well, it’s not.

• When you learn to be content with what you have right now, you’ll find much more peace within yourself.

6.    Get regular exercise. When you workout, your body burns off more than just fat and calories. Working out also burns off steam.

• If you’re stressed due to work situations or family conflict, getting a good workout will help you relieve stress.  You’ll be able to think and reason more clearly, which will help you deal with some of the core issues that are causing your stress.

7.    Eat healthier. Yes, eating healthy foods really does relieve stress because when your body is nourished properly, it functions optimally. Eating right lends itself to clearer thinking.

8.    Reduce your workload. If you have a heavy workload, either on the job or at home, do what you can to reduce it.

• Take a good look at your routine and determine if the workload is really worth the toll it’s taking on your body and health. If it’s not – and there’s no end in sight – perhaps it’s not the proper solution to your problems anyway.

9.    Communication is key to relieving stress in your life. If you have a friend you can talk to openly and honestly, seek them out.

• Getting things off your chest will help you sort out problems and see your situation in a new light. The less foggy your mind is, the more stress you’ll be able to remove from your life.
• It often helps to have someone outside of the situation to talk to because they’ll likely see something you don’t.

10.    Journaling is a great way to relieve stress. You can have an outlet without having to reveal your deep thoughts to the world.

• Journaling is a great way to see the progress you’ve made, which can be very therapeutic.

As you can see, there are many ways to reduce stress. Put them into practice now and you’ll soon begin to see a real difference in your life. Your stress will start to diminish and you’ll be free to enjoy your beautiful life!

Everyone experiences times throughout the day where you just wish you could relax for even a few minutes.

You already know that relaxation helps your body re-energize, but sometimes you’re so busy and caught up in the moment that you just don’t have the time to unwind.

Well, fortunately there are simple ways to relax, even during your busiest days, that don’t require a lot of time or equipment.

Here are 5 Simple Relaxation Tips:

1.    When you’re in line at the grocery store: Instead of stressing out because there aren’t enough cashiers and every line has 5 people with heaping carts of groceries, use that time to relax your body by taking some deep breaths.

• Deep breathing helps increase the oxygen in your blood. Your blood then circulates that extra oxygen throughout your body helping your inner systems recharge.
• Taking five slow deep breaths will do the trick. The proper technique is to inhale and exhale deeply through your nose and out your mouth.
• Not only will deep breathing help you relax, it’ll help to clear your mind, reduce brain fog, and you’ll feel much more alert and ready to tackle the next project on your plate.
• Deep breathing can be done anywhere when you’re feeling stressed or just want to clear your mind.

2.    When you’re at work: It’s often hard to find time to relax at work. You might even get in trouble if you’re caught “relaxing.” Oh the horror! However, there are some techniques you can do while you’re at work to help create a sense of calm that aren’t so obvious to others.

• If your job requires you to sit at a computer all day, make sure you get up and move around for a few minutes every hour. This helps circulate the blood throughout your body. Just moving the blood flow will make you feel more alert and focused.
• While sitting at your desk, roll your head around, from side to side and from front to back with your eyes closed. This technique helps to relieve neck tension, increasing blood flow to your brain, which is a natural and easy way to relax.
• If you’re on your feet all day, stretch out your back and sides by standing with your feet firm on the floor, shoulder width apart, and twist your upper body, including your head, slowly from side to side. This will loosen up your back muscles and spine, releasing tension throughout your body.
• During a break or lunchtime, go for a walk. Walking is a great way to clear your mind and your body will benefit from the extra exercise as well.

3.    When you’re rushing through a busy day: Take just a few moments to daydream and escape the busyness of reality.

• Daydreaming lets your imagination flow, causing instant relief from the stress of the real world.
• Think of a place or experience that makes you feel happy or calm. Imagine how it smells, how the air feels, and who’s around.
• After five minutes of a calming daydream you’ll feel relaxed, reenergized and ready to face the real world again.

4.    Wherever you’re at, smile: Smiling is proven to help relax and rejuvenate your body.

• When you’re out and about, smile at others around you.
• When you’re at work, smile at your co-workers. Not only will it help you relax, it’ll help relax them as well.
• Smile at your children when you’re toting them around to all their different activities. This will create a peaceful environment you’ll all enjoy.

5.    When the going gets tough, laugh: Laughter’s proven to be an instant stress reliever. Now I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to be seen as a nut case, so laughing out loud when you’re in line at the store or sitting at your desk may not be the best time. When you can, get someone involved in your laughter with you.

• Tell a funny joke or story to a co-worker (at an appropriate time, of course).
• Play a fun game or sing a silly song with your kids as you’re driving.
• Watch funny videos on YouTube.

Engaging in these simple, everyday relaxation techniques will help to sustain and strengthen you throughout your day. It’ll also make it easier to unwind when you get home. Your friends, co-workers, and family will all appreciate the new, relaxed you!