Seven Ways to De-Stress Now!
Author: Barbara J. Faison

1. Disconnect. Pick one day to disconnect from all technology for one hour. Turn off all the phones, pagers, televisions and computers, including email. Once you disconnect,sit and allow yourself to be still. The mind needs time to relax and recharge and it cannot do that with external stimuli. Once you have disconnected for one hour make it a regular practice. When you get still and quiet you will be able to reflect, re-connect and recharge your energy.

2. Slow Down. When you wake up and before you get out of bed, give yourself permission to slow down. Slow your thoughts down, slow your actions down, and slow your life down. Before you move, stay in bed and be still for a few moments and become aware of your breathing. Take the time to be conscious about your movements before leaving the bed. Begin moving your body slowly and stretch your arms and legs before getting up. Pretend you are a camera moving in slow motion through the scenes of your life and focus on what you are seeing.

3. Breathe Deeply Often. Take 3 deep breaths when you wake up. Breathe in and out through your nose. Stop and feel the air moving in through your nose and down through your chest. Feel the air filling your lungs and moving throughout your body. As you move through your day, become aware of your breath. During the day, take a “breath check” and stop what you are doing to become aware of your breath.

4. Exercise Consistently. Make the commitment to exercise at least 4 days a week. This can be walking, dancing, hiking, swimming, bowling or any other type of exercise that will get you moving. Find exercise partners or try new types of exercise to break the monotony. Try a different type of exercise like dancing to add variety to your exercise experience. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.

5. Do Something Different. Change is a natural part of life. Learn to anticipate and embrace life’s changes. Use your energy to move through challenging situations instead of being stagnant. Take a different route home when driving. Buy a new magazine or a book from an unknown author. Buy something new at the grocery store. Try a new recipe. Look at change as an opportunity to try something different.

6. Focus on the Solution (FOTS). When faced with a perceived problem learn to look at your options to move through the issue. Become aware of where your mental energy is focused. Is it on what the problem is, or is it on the possible solutions? Spend 99% of your time on the looking at your options.

7. Watch what you watch. Learn to balance being informed with being over stimulated. Decide how often you really need to SEE the news and limit that to twice a day. Pictures are powerful images that replay in your thoughts. If you have to be informed more than twice a day, chose to listen to the radio rather than watching television.






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Barbara J. Faison, author of "Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes," combines her background in theatre, salsa dancing and professional training to provide customized workshops, seminars and development programs for individuals and organizations. Read book excerpts at www.barbarafaison.com or contact her at barbara@barbarafaison.com or 404-298-6828.

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