Showing posts with label anxiety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anxiety. Show all posts
Monday, 29 June 2020
Tuesday, 23 June 2020
How to Channel Anger Within & Be Massively Productive
Anger, desire for revenge and rage are very strong emotions. These emotions, if used for bad, can do harm and cause damage in your life on a multitude of levels. After all, "holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" (Buddha). However, since these emotions are so powerful and full of energy, if channeled toward goals, dreams and the greater good, can soar you toward success.
Here Are 3 Ways to Take Your Anger Within & Be Massively Productive
Refocus Back To you
When we are raging mad at someone who hurt us, we spend our days and nights ruminating on that person and everything they did to hurt us. The focus is on them. Instead, shift the focus back to you. Take a step back and think about what you want out of your life. Set goals for yourself and begin taking steps to achieve those goals right away, today. The motivation and energy you can muster up in a body full of adrenaline can be intense and can propel you forward. Forget baby steps, this anger channeled toward being productive instead of vengeful can send you leaping toward your goals.
Get Physical
Now, more than ever, is a time where you need to feel sexy, handsome, beautiful and full of life. Nothing can make you feel as confident in your own skin like physical activity. Exercise allows you to minimize negative emotions and release endorphins (those feel-good neurotransmitters). Take the power of anger to run faster and lift more weight. As you work out, imagine your body transforming into what you want it to become. Exercise can also reduce stress, so that when you leave the gym, you are more mentally clear to make strong, solid decisions in a time that might be chaotic and upsetting.
Learn More About Yourself
During a time of anger and rage a man/woman shows their true character. It is how you handle these strong emotions that shows your true colors and level of integrity. It is okay to be angry, it is a normal emotion but the key is how you release that emotion and what you can take from a trying time in life. To really gain self-awareness, journal. You can say all those nasty things you want to say, in your journal. In your journal, you can voice all your concerns and even how pains in your past might be coming out now in your adult years. Write about your emotions, decisions and thoughts. Writing things out does two things at the very least. First, it allows you to vent and get emotions out safely. This can help minimize nightmares and panic attacks that can stem from a buildup of emotions. Second, it allows you to note patterns of thoughts and behaviors. Eventually, this pain and these emotions will pass. You can then look back at your writings and note patterns and better understand what led you to certain emotions, actions and reactions. You can use your past journal entries as a tool to help you be more self-aware in the present and to help you react differently moving forward.
Dr. Jaime is your go to life coach who will hold you accountable and push you to succeed. She is the host of The Dr. Jaime Show and author of The SuperWoman's Guide to Super Fulfillment which is published in over 10 countries over 4 continents. Dr. Jaime is a motivational speaker and the go to keynote for companies. She has been featured nationally, both on TV and other major media outlets, for her expertise in work life balance & goal setting. Find out more about Dr Jaime at http://www.drjaimek.com Subscribe to The Dr Jaime Show on all your favorite podcast apps.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jaime_Kulaga/1038479
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9944851
Here Are 3 Ways to Take Your Anger Within & Be Massively Productive
Refocus Back To you
When we are raging mad at someone who hurt us, we spend our days and nights ruminating on that person and everything they did to hurt us. The focus is on them. Instead, shift the focus back to you. Take a step back and think about what you want out of your life. Set goals for yourself and begin taking steps to achieve those goals right away, today. The motivation and energy you can muster up in a body full of adrenaline can be intense and can propel you forward. Forget baby steps, this anger channeled toward being productive instead of vengeful can send you leaping toward your goals.
Get Physical
Now, more than ever, is a time where you need to feel sexy, handsome, beautiful and full of life. Nothing can make you feel as confident in your own skin like physical activity. Exercise allows you to minimize negative emotions and release endorphins (those feel-good neurotransmitters). Take the power of anger to run faster and lift more weight. As you work out, imagine your body transforming into what you want it to become. Exercise can also reduce stress, so that when you leave the gym, you are more mentally clear to make strong, solid decisions in a time that might be chaotic and upsetting.
Learn More About Yourself
During a time of anger and rage a man/woman shows their true character. It is how you handle these strong emotions that shows your true colors and level of integrity. It is okay to be angry, it is a normal emotion but the key is how you release that emotion and what you can take from a trying time in life. To really gain self-awareness, journal. You can say all those nasty things you want to say, in your journal. In your journal, you can voice all your concerns and even how pains in your past might be coming out now in your adult years. Write about your emotions, decisions and thoughts. Writing things out does two things at the very least. First, it allows you to vent and get emotions out safely. This can help minimize nightmares and panic attacks that can stem from a buildup of emotions. Second, it allows you to note patterns of thoughts and behaviors. Eventually, this pain and these emotions will pass. You can then look back at your writings and note patterns and better understand what led you to certain emotions, actions and reactions. You can use your past journal entries as a tool to help you be more self-aware in the present and to help you react differently moving forward.
Dr. Jaime is your go to life coach who will hold you accountable and push you to succeed. She is the host of The Dr. Jaime Show and author of The SuperWoman's Guide to Super Fulfillment which is published in over 10 countries over 4 continents. Dr. Jaime is a motivational speaker and the go to keynote for companies. She has been featured nationally, both on TV and other major media outlets, for her expertise in work life balance & goal setting. Find out more about Dr Jaime at http://www.drjaimek.com Subscribe to The Dr Jaime Show on all your favorite podcast apps.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jaime_Kulaga/1038479
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9944851
Friday, 19 June 2020
Career Anxiety - What Happens When Things Don't Go As Planned?
I was talking with a doctor friend the other day who said, "You know, this isn't where I expected to be at this point. I lost half of my portfolio - that was my kids' college fund. I didn't think I'd have to be working this hard at this age."
Another friend who just lost his job said, "I'm 55, unemployed, and not feeling too good about myself right now. This isn't how I pictured things turning out."
Life doesn't always go as planned - especially when it comes to employment.
Obviously, the severity of this recession has put enormous pressure on millions of people, wreaking havoc with all sorts of plans. But a lot of other things can make for rough sailing on the job front.
You don't get along with your boss. The job isn't a good fit. Your company merges with another one creating redundant jobs. Your industry has reached maturity. Due to an increasingly onerous tax burden, your company packs up and relocates to another state. The startup you're working for is unsuccessful securing its next round of funding. Your company goes out of business. Some sort of government regulation materially changes the playing field in your industry. The list goes on...
Anything can happen.
Change is the constant you can count on. (And in an increasingly dynamic market, that pace of change is only going to accelerate.)
You've got to be proactive. Anticipate. Be prepared for anything. Don't just have a plan; have a contingency plan. Keep them current.
The days of cruising through your career on auto pilot are over. Be ready for anything, be observant, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
Rebecca Metschke helps professionals improve their marketability. The author of The Interview Edge ([http://www.TheInterviewEdge.com]), a comprehensive career guide to career management, she also writes a daily blog posting strategies, tips and advice for those whose careers are in transition ([http://blog.theinterviewedge.com]).
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rebecca_Metschke/259487
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2837559
Another friend who just lost his job said, "I'm 55, unemployed, and not feeling too good about myself right now. This isn't how I pictured things turning out."
Life doesn't always go as planned - especially when it comes to employment.
Obviously, the severity of this recession has put enormous pressure on millions of people, wreaking havoc with all sorts of plans. But a lot of other things can make for rough sailing on the job front.
You don't get along with your boss. The job isn't a good fit. Your company merges with another one creating redundant jobs. Your industry has reached maturity. Due to an increasingly onerous tax burden, your company packs up and relocates to another state. The startup you're working for is unsuccessful securing its next round of funding. Your company goes out of business. Some sort of government regulation materially changes the playing field in your industry. The list goes on...
Anything can happen.
Change is the constant you can count on. (And in an increasingly dynamic market, that pace of change is only going to accelerate.)
You've got to be proactive. Anticipate. Be prepared for anything. Don't just have a plan; have a contingency plan. Keep them current.
The days of cruising through your career on auto pilot are over. Be ready for anything, be observant, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
Rebecca Metschke helps professionals improve their marketability. The author of The Interview Edge ([http://www.TheInterviewEdge.com]), a comprehensive career guide to career management, she also writes a daily blog posting strategies, tips and advice for those whose careers are in transition ([http://blog.theinterviewedge.com]).
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rebecca_Metschke/259487
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2837559
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
Midlife Crisis Or Midlife Opportunity?
During middle years we can find ourselves experiencing five different 'wake up' calls. Each one has the potential to provide its own 'crisis'.
The five crisis of mid-life are:
1. Cultural
2. Health
3. Relationship
4. Financial/Career
5. Existential
Generally, I refer to midlife as the range from 35 to 60 years, although these life-changing crises can occur before or after these ages. And whilst I'll explain these crises individually for ease of understanding, it's worth remembering that they rarely work in isolation. There's more of an interdependent relationship between them than you might at first realise.
For example, if someone is unhappy at work they may stick for years at it to avoid a financial crisis but the effect on their overall psyche can lead to a marriage break up, a health breakdown and spiritual crisis. If somebody comes down with a life threatening illness they may lose their job, their marriage, their health and ultimately their will to live.
1. Cultural
Midlife transition is a universal phenomenon whereas midlife crisis is more a Western phenomenon, with our culture favouring youth over age and wisdom.
Many people in their forties and fifties in the West don't look forward to the benefits of eldership like they do in the East. Tribal people have always acknowledged the power of someone moving to wholeness and wisdom, as they get older.
Here in the West there's a stigma attached to reaching the half way mark, "I'm over the hill" is an oft-quoted comment.
I don't believe we're over the hill, but standing on top of the hill. From this high vantage point we're able to look back and see the journey we've taken to get here. We can review our lives and trace our steps. We can see, understand and appreciate how our life's events, and the choices we've made along the way, have made us who we are today.
Reminding ourselves of what we've been through and what we've learnt can provide us with valuable insights as we move forward. With this clarity we're able to choose the direction we'd like to go in and clearly see the next mountain we'd like to climb. And so we set off into the unknown - a new terrain for the next life adventure.
2. Health
There's nothing more shocking than coming face to face with your own mortality, either through a life threatening illness or the death of a loved one.
By the time we hit midlife, our parents are likely to be experiencing some of the issues that age brings; physical and mental deterioration, or even dying. One statistic I read said mid-lifers today are twice as likely to be emotionally, physically and sometimes financially supporting an aging parent.
As I've entered the second half of life I've become increasingly aware of death. As a young adult I lived with the illusion of immortality and felt 'bullet proof'. I went through those early years as if I was indestructible.
Now, in mid life I've seen many people my age succumb to cancer and heart attacks. A dear friend's mother died recently. He says that now he's on his own, he has a clear sense of his own mortality and it's woken him up to the fact that life is too short to be lived on cruise control.
In midlife many of our health problems are self-imposed. Fast foods, lack of quality rest and non-stop activity takes its toll on our physical and emotional well being. Today we're taking on more and more trying to cram every moment with more activities causing our threshold for stress to increase. The bodily alarm keeps going off but we keep hitting the snooze button so we can keep going and going. Eventually the body breaks down through neglect.
3. Relationships
The result of crises in relationships may take the form of extra-marital affairs and ultimately divorce. Relationships that were founded on physical looks, sex, financial security, prestige and expediency can flounder into crisis around the midlife period.
Many midlifers also have teenage children who are going through their rebellious, "I know it all" stage. When you add all these factors together and couple them with the angst midlife brings, you have a potent, volatile mix.
Another crisis for mid-lifers today is whether to have children or not. As a woman's biological clock ticks away, couples can feel under immense pressure to make a life changing decision and then have to come to terms with their decision. And what of the added burden of dealing with the social stigma that's attached to being childless? Then there are those who have been trying to have children for years only to find out that they can't. This can be devastating to both parties and can make or break the relationship.
4. Financial/Career
Financial crises are commonplace in midlife. Acquisitions, mergers, downsizing, advancements in technology all take their toll on the mid-lifer. Suddenly finding yourself out of a job can be shocking.
If somebody loses their job in their twenties or thirties it's annoying, but when somebody loses their job in their late forties or fifties it's traumatic. To somebody whose whole identity is entwined with the status and title their job brings, losing a job can be a devastating blow to his or her sense of self worth. And its not just their identity they lose, it's their financial insurance, community, and livelihood. One of my clients summed up his job loss when he said, "It's not just a job, it's my whole life!"
For someone who's invested so much into his or her job, losing it is ultimate failure. The result of that perception sends some spiralling in to a deep dark black hole called depression. Some don't lose their job but are stuck in jobs they hate; it pays the bills but leaves them feeling empty.
The funny thing about careers is that for a lot of people they didn't actually choose it - it chose them. Think about your own experience. Did somebody either tell you that you would be good at that particular job or did you get into it because you simply had to get a job to earn some money?
All of this generally happened whilst we were a young adult, at a time when we didn't know ourselves very well. It generally isn't until we hit our thirties or forties that we hit the 'awake wall' and ask, "Why am I doing this?" "How did I get here?"
5. Existential
This crisis is really a crisis of meaning or a spiritual crisis. It's the drive to find out and understand the deeper meaning of life. It's an internal crisis, whereas the other four happen externally to us. This is why I believe midlife has a positive intention for us. An existential crisis causes us to ask the age-old existential questions of life. Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose?
In one sense an existential crisis is linked to the four other crisis. When an event comes along that disrupts our fundamental assumptions about life, the result is a search for the deeper meaning of it all. For example, if somebody loses his or her job and is staring financial ruin in the face, it can lead to a search for greater meaning.
Somebody facing a life threatening illness can start to seek the deeper meaning of it all. Events like these can slam us back into what we value most. You may have personally experienced the sort of family relationship healing that takes place when somebody we love is close to death.
Forgiveness, love and compassion are what matter most in times like these. Many I've interviewed sum up their current existence by saying they've come to a point in their life where they feel like they're in the wrong place with the wrong people doing the wrong thing. This wake up call starts a process of deep inner reflection. They look around and wonder what they're doing and what prompted the choices they made. Usually they find that their current unhappiness had its roots firmly planted in their youth.
Nothing has any meaning other than the meaning we give it...
It's a rare individual indeed who'll not face at least one of these crises in their middle years. That part we may not be able to control over, but we do have a choice as to what meaning we give them. We can give them the meaning of great personal and family disasters, but this will only serve to increase our pain and deepen the suffering.
I did some research on the word, 'crisis' which in my little Bloomsbury dictionary is defined as; a turning point; a critical moment; an emergency. After a little more research I found the word 'crisis' comes from the Greek word krinein, which literally means, 'to decide'. Before I did that little piece of research the word crisis for me had a negative tone. Now I think it has a positive tone.
The term 'midlife crisis' now means a time in our life when important decisions need to be made.
Maybe it's time we changed our language from, "I'm having a midlife crisis" to "I'm experiencing a:
-Midlife evolution
-Midlife empowerment stage
-Midlife growth stage
-Midlife kick
-Midlife challenge
-Midlife transition
-Midlife wake up call
Which one best resonates with you?
There are no meaningless events...
It's my belief that there are no meaningless events in life. Every crisis, no matter how devastating, is also an opportunity for profound and deep personal growth.
It was Stephen Covey who said, "In the absence of a wakeup call, many of us never really confront the critical issues of life."
Each one of these five crises are challenges, with important lessons to be learned. Plenty of stories abound of people who have chosen an empowering meaning to life's difficulties and, as a result, turned their lives around.
Midlife is not a weak part of our evolution; it's an empowering step. So let's step up!
Colin writes about how to find your smile, discover your right livelihood and create your ideal life at Midlife Maverick.
If you enjoyed this article you may wish to download his acclaimed free e-course, "Live Your Own Life, Only Better!" http://midlifemaverick.com/live-your-own-life-only-better
Or, Join his ezine and get "Breaking Free" ebook as a gift. http://www.midlifemaverick.com/breaking-free
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Colin_Hiles/76975
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3997108
The five crisis of mid-life are:
1. Cultural
2. Health
3. Relationship
4. Financial/Career
5. Existential
Generally, I refer to midlife as the range from 35 to 60 years, although these life-changing crises can occur before or after these ages. And whilst I'll explain these crises individually for ease of understanding, it's worth remembering that they rarely work in isolation. There's more of an interdependent relationship between them than you might at first realise.
For example, if someone is unhappy at work they may stick for years at it to avoid a financial crisis but the effect on their overall psyche can lead to a marriage break up, a health breakdown and spiritual crisis. If somebody comes down with a life threatening illness they may lose their job, their marriage, their health and ultimately their will to live.
1. Cultural
Midlife transition is a universal phenomenon whereas midlife crisis is more a Western phenomenon, with our culture favouring youth over age and wisdom.
Many people in their forties and fifties in the West don't look forward to the benefits of eldership like they do in the East. Tribal people have always acknowledged the power of someone moving to wholeness and wisdom, as they get older.
Here in the West there's a stigma attached to reaching the half way mark, "I'm over the hill" is an oft-quoted comment.
I don't believe we're over the hill, but standing on top of the hill. From this high vantage point we're able to look back and see the journey we've taken to get here. We can review our lives and trace our steps. We can see, understand and appreciate how our life's events, and the choices we've made along the way, have made us who we are today.
Reminding ourselves of what we've been through and what we've learnt can provide us with valuable insights as we move forward. With this clarity we're able to choose the direction we'd like to go in and clearly see the next mountain we'd like to climb. And so we set off into the unknown - a new terrain for the next life adventure.
2. Health
There's nothing more shocking than coming face to face with your own mortality, either through a life threatening illness or the death of a loved one.
By the time we hit midlife, our parents are likely to be experiencing some of the issues that age brings; physical and mental deterioration, or even dying. One statistic I read said mid-lifers today are twice as likely to be emotionally, physically and sometimes financially supporting an aging parent.
As I've entered the second half of life I've become increasingly aware of death. As a young adult I lived with the illusion of immortality and felt 'bullet proof'. I went through those early years as if I was indestructible.
Now, in mid life I've seen many people my age succumb to cancer and heart attacks. A dear friend's mother died recently. He says that now he's on his own, he has a clear sense of his own mortality and it's woken him up to the fact that life is too short to be lived on cruise control.
In midlife many of our health problems are self-imposed. Fast foods, lack of quality rest and non-stop activity takes its toll on our physical and emotional well being. Today we're taking on more and more trying to cram every moment with more activities causing our threshold for stress to increase. The bodily alarm keeps going off but we keep hitting the snooze button so we can keep going and going. Eventually the body breaks down through neglect.
3. Relationships
The result of crises in relationships may take the form of extra-marital affairs and ultimately divorce. Relationships that were founded on physical looks, sex, financial security, prestige and expediency can flounder into crisis around the midlife period.
Many midlifers also have teenage children who are going through their rebellious, "I know it all" stage. When you add all these factors together and couple them with the angst midlife brings, you have a potent, volatile mix.
Another crisis for mid-lifers today is whether to have children or not. As a woman's biological clock ticks away, couples can feel under immense pressure to make a life changing decision and then have to come to terms with their decision. And what of the added burden of dealing with the social stigma that's attached to being childless? Then there are those who have been trying to have children for years only to find out that they can't. This can be devastating to both parties and can make or break the relationship.
4. Financial/Career
Financial crises are commonplace in midlife. Acquisitions, mergers, downsizing, advancements in technology all take their toll on the mid-lifer. Suddenly finding yourself out of a job can be shocking.
If somebody loses their job in their twenties or thirties it's annoying, but when somebody loses their job in their late forties or fifties it's traumatic. To somebody whose whole identity is entwined with the status and title their job brings, losing a job can be a devastating blow to his or her sense of self worth. And its not just their identity they lose, it's their financial insurance, community, and livelihood. One of my clients summed up his job loss when he said, "It's not just a job, it's my whole life!"
For someone who's invested so much into his or her job, losing it is ultimate failure. The result of that perception sends some spiralling in to a deep dark black hole called depression. Some don't lose their job but are stuck in jobs they hate; it pays the bills but leaves them feeling empty.
The funny thing about careers is that for a lot of people they didn't actually choose it - it chose them. Think about your own experience. Did somebody either tell you that you would be good at that particular job or did you get into it because you simply had to get a job to earn some money?
All of this generally happened whilst we were a young adult, at a time when we didn't know ourselves very well. It generally isn't until we hit our thirties or forties that we hit the 'awake wall' and ask, "Why am I doing this?" "How did I get here?"
5. Existential
This crisis is really a crisis of meaning or a spiritual crisis. It's the drive to find out and understand the deeper meaning of life. It's an internal crisis, whereas the other four happen externally to us. This is why I believe midlife has a positive intention for us. An existential crisis causes us to ask the age-old existential questions of life. Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose?
In one sense an existential crisis is linked to the four other crisis. When an event comes along that disrupts our fundamental assumptions about life, the result is a search for the deeper meaning of it all. For example, if somebody loses his or her job and is staring financial ruin in the face, it can lead to a search for greater meaning.
Somebody facing a life threatening illness can start to seek the deeper meaning of it all. Events like these can slam us back into what we value most. You may have personally experienced the sort of family relationship healing that takes place when somebody we love is close to death.
Forgiveness, love and compassion are what matter most in times like these. Many I've interviewed sum up their current existence by saying they've come to a point in their life where they feel like they're in the wrong place with the wrong people doing the wrong thing. This wake up call starts a process of deep inner reflection. They look around and wonder what they're doing and what prompted the choices they made. Usually they find that their current unhappiness had its roots firmly planted in their youth.
Nothing has any meaning other than the meaning we give it...
It's a rare individual indeed who'll not face at least one of these crises in their middle years. That part we may not be able to control over, but we do have a choice as to what meaning we give them. We can give them the meaning of great personal and family disasters, but this will only serve to increase our pain and deepen the suffering.
I did some research on the word, 'crisis' which in my little Bloomsbury dictionary is defined as; a turning point; a critical moment; an emergency. After a little more research I found the word 'crisis' comes from the Greek word krinein, which literally means, 'to decide'. Before I did that little piece of research the word crisis for me had a negative tone. Now I think it has a positive tone.
The term 'midlife crisis' now means a time in our life when important decisions need to be made.
Maybe it's time we changed our language from, "I'm having a midlife crisis" to "I'm experiencing a:
-Midlife evolution
-Midlife empowerment stage
-Midlife growth stage
-Midlife kick
-Midlife challenge
-Midlife transition
-Midlife wake up call
Which one best resonates with you?
There are no meaningless events...
It's my belief that there are no meaningless events in life. Every crisis, no matter how devastating, is also an opportunity for profound and deep personal growth.
It was Stephen Covey who said, "In the absence of a wakeup call, many of us never really confront the critical issues of life."
Each one of these five crises are challenges, with important lessons to be learned. Plenty of stories abound of people who have chosen an empowering meaning to life's difficulties and, as a result, turned their lives around.
Midlife is not a weak part of our evolution; it's an empowering step. So let's step up!
Colin writes about how to find your smile, discover your right livelihood and create your ideal life at Midlife Maverick.
If you enjoyed this article you may wish to download his acclaimed free e-course, "Live Your Own Life, Only Better!" http://midlifemaverick.com/live-your-own-life-only-better
Or, Join his ezine and get "Breaking Free" ebook as a gift. http://www.midlifemaverick.com/breaking-free
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Colin_Hiles/76975
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3997108
Thursday, 11 June 2020
Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
5 Happiness Apps to Help With Anxiety
The Partridge Family sang, "Come On, Get Happy." But that's easier said than done right now in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Isolation and fear can make us struggle with our mental health. On top of that, stay-at-home orders can complicate getting help in more traditional ways.
But thanks to technology, apps are available to provide help with anxiety and depression at your fingertips. With that in mind, I'm sharing some happiness apps meant to help calm nerves and help you live a happier life, even during these difficult times.
Happify
A few years ago I tried the app Happify. It caught my attention. For one thing, the name is catchy. Plus, although I want to be happy, I'm also cheap at heart, and the basic version is absolutely free.
The idea behind this app is that all it takes is a few minutes a day and you'll be on the road to breaking free of negative thinking. You'll learn to cope with stress and develop positive life-changing habits with some fun exercises and games.
According to the app you can strengthen basic happiness skills like: savoring the moment, thanking those who matter, aspiring to meaningful goals, eliminating dead end thinking, empathizing with others, reducing stress and negative thoughts, and improving your relationships.
After you download the app and create an account, Happify will score your happiness based on a questionnaire. Then, the app provides you with a series of tracks that you can use to start living a healthy, stress-free life.
Next, you choose a "track" to get started. A caregiver for my mother at the time, I thought I'd start on the one for reducing stress and anxiety. My first assignment: list three things I'm grateful for - and the kicker that really helped me - explain why.
This app rates high on many lists of best happiness apps and I can see why.
Headspace
This is another app I've tried and love. Headspace provides tools and resources to help you stay mentally strong, reduce stress and anxiety, live healthier, breathe properly, sleep better, and have a happier life.
They offer a free two-week trial, after which you'll auto-enroll in their $69.99 a year plan. At the time of this writing, if you're unemployed, you can get a free year of Headspace Plus to help you get back on your feet.
I discovered this app while enrolled in Weight Watchers (WW), which offers it free as part of their program. I suffer from insomnia and their sleep meditation exercise helped me quiet my thoughts, breathe slower, and relax my body to ease me into sleep. I also used their "Take a moment to pause" exercise to help me stop for a few minutes when I felt stressed and refocus.
Calm is a similar app for sleep, meditation and relaxation to help you lower stress through guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music. Calm offers a 7-day trial, but after that you'll be automatically enrolled in their $69.99 a year plan.
Real Life Change
The app Real Life Change is meant to be a portable life coach, designed to take your social interactions, moods, decisions, discoveries, and emotions that you experience each day and provide you with meaningful, actionable feedback to help you live a better and more mindful life.
The basic plan is free. This app is available only on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Track Your Happiness
Track Your Happiness is a free app used with your smartphone. You spend about 10 minutes answering questions, then you're contacted by e-mail or text - you choose how often you want the app to prompt you - and are asked to report what you're doing and how you're feeling.
A customized happiness report tracks your moods so you can learn what makes you happy, who makes you happy, and where you feel the happiest.
Super Better
Super Better has made building happiness a game with short easy activities you complete as you go on quests to build happiness-boosting skills like resilience.
Their site claims that millions have played SuperBetter to achieve goals and tackle challenges including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and more. The Original Super Better is available for free.
Need more than an app? You may want to check out Talkspace which allows users to connect virtually with a licensed therapist. For $49 per week, you'll have private access to a therapist via text, audio or video chat, as often as daily or multiple times per day.
I'll let you make up your own minds. Find what works best for you and your life. There's many more apps available than the five I've listed. Who knows? A happiness app just might prove to be useful to you and provide feedback to brighten your day during these stressful times.
Julie A. Gorges is an award-winning author and journalist writing about life after 50. Her blog, BabyBoomerBliss.net, was selected as one of the top 50 baby boomer blogs to follow in 2019 by Feedspot. Her books, including her latest "Ten Secrets to Losing Weight After 50," are available on Amazon. To learn more about Julie, visit her author website at juliegorges.com.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Julie_Gorges/1755531
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10299919
But thanks to technology, apps are available to provide help with anxiety and depression at your fingertips. With that in mind, I'm sharing some happiness apps meant to help calm nerves and help you live a happier life, even during these difficult times.
Happify
A few years ago I tried the app Happify. It caught my attention. For one thing, the name is catchy. Plus, although I want to be happy, I'm also cheap at heart, and the basic version is absolutely free.
The idea behind this app is that all it takes is a few minutes a day and you'll be on the road to breaking free of negative thinking. You'll learn to cope with stress and develop positive life-changing habits with some fun exercises and games.
According to the app you can strengthen basic happiness skills like: savoring the moment, thanking those who matter, aspiring to meaningful goals, eliminating dead end thinking, empathizing with others, reducing stress and negative thoughts, and improving your relationships.
After you download the app and create an account, Happify will score your happiness based on a questionnaire. Then, the app provides you with a series of tracks that you can use to start living a healthy, stress-free life.
Next, you choose a "track" to get started. A caregiver for my mother at the time, I thought I'd start on the one for reducing stress and anxiety. My first assignment: list three things I'm grateful for - and the kicker that really helped me - explain why.
This app rates high on many lists of best happiness apps and I can see why.
Headspace
This is another app I've tried and love. Headspace provides tools and resources to help you stay mentally strong, reduce stress and anxiety, live healthier, breathe properly, sleep better, and have a happier life.
They offer a free two-week trial, after which you'll auto-enroll in their $69.99 a year plan. At the time of this writing, if you're unemployed, you can get a free year of Headspace Plus to help you get back on your feet.
I discovered this app while enrolled in Weight Watchers (WW), which offers it free as part of their program. I suffer from insomnia and their sleep meditation exercise helped me quiet my thoughts, breathe slower, and relax my body to ease me into sleep. I also used their "Take a moment to pause" exercise to help me stop for a few minutes when I felt stressed and refocus.
Calm is a similar app for sleep, meditation and relaxation to help you lower stress through guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music. Calm offers a 7-day trial, but after that you'll be automatically enrolled in their $69.99 a year plan.
Real Life Change
The app Real Life Change is meant to be a portable life coach, designed to take your social interactions, moods, decisions, discoveries, and emotions that you experience each day and provide you with meaningful, actionable feedback to help you live a better and more mindful life.
The basic plan is free. This app is available only on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Track Your Happiness
Track Your Happiness is a free app used with your smartphone. You spend about 10 minutes answering questions, then you're contacted by e-mail or text - you choose how often you want the app to prompt you - and are asked to report what you're doing and how you're feeling.
A customized happiness report tracks your moods so you can learn what makes you happy, who makes you happy, and where you feel the happiest.
Super Better
Super Better has made building happiness a game with short easy activities you complete as you go on quests to build happiness-boosting skills like resilience.
Their site claims that millions have played SuperBetter to achieve goals and tackle challenges including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and more. The Original Super Better is available for free.
Need more than an app? You may want to check out Talkspace which allows users to connect virtually with a licensed therapist. For $49 per week, you'll have private access to a therapist via text, audio or video chat, as often as daily or multiple times per day.
I'll let you make up your own minds. Find what works best for you and your life. There's many more apps available than the five I've listed. Who knows? A happiness app just might prove to be useful to you and provide feedback to brighten your day during these stressful times.
Julie A. Gorges is an award-winning author and journalist writing about life after 50. Her blog, BabyBoomerBliss.net, was selected as one of the top 50 baby boomer blogs to follow in 2019 by Feedspot. Her books, including her latest "Ten Secrets to Losing Weight After 50," are available on Amazon. To learn more about Julie, visit her author website at juliegorges.com.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Julie_Gorges/1755531
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10299919
Sunday, 7 June 2020
Why Sleep Is So Powerful For Mental Health
In this fast-paced western society we are constantly connected and available 247, we have information flowing into us on a daily basis and there's an increasing expectation for us to respond instantly. Given all of this, there a growing need for us to be operating or functioning in terms of our mental health not just at 'normal' or 'acceptable' levels, but 'optimal' levels.
Optimal means we are functioning at the highest levels mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, such that we're able to cope well with the demands of life. If we are operating at sub-optimal level, it's much harder for us to perform even the basic of life's functions.
So how do we ensure our health and wellbeing levels are what they should be?
One key contributory factor for long-term mental health and wellness is to ensure we have 7-9 hours of good quality sleep per night.
Repair
Sleep repairs the body. This has a positive knock-on effect to how you function cognitively the next and following days. When we sleep, we sleep in cycles of 60-90 minutes. During that time we oscillate between deep (so-called delta) sleep where the body repairs itself and the lighter REM sleep.
Recall
REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep, or lighter sleep, moves information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. This helps you to better recall information you absorb on a daily basis. It is during this REM phase of sleep that your eyes move rapidly from side to side (hence the name) and that you dream.
Rhythm
Getting to bed at the right time (ideally 10pm) and getting the right amount of sleep every night keeps your circadian rhythm in check. Your circadian rhythm is your natural body clock that gives you signals when it's time for you to sleep and when it's time for you to wake up. Working shift patterns (especially night shifts) can knock this out of balance which can have major consequences not only for your mental and physical health but also for your gut health.
Lack of good quality sleep means that instead of being fully awake and energised during the day, you may find yourself sleepy, sluggish and unable to focus for any significant length of time. In addition, when you're in bed at night you may feel 'tired and wired' (meaning your body is physically tired, but your mind is wide awake and you're therefore unable to sleep).
Melatonin, the hormone that prepares your body for sleep, and serotonin (your awake hormone) need to be in balance for you to function at your best in the day. This means melatonin kicks in naturally from around 9pm (to help you sleep) until about 7am when serotonin is released to take you through the day. When this melatonin, serotonin cycle is in balance you are fully awake during the day and sleepy at night (when you should be). This in turn means you get a better night's sleep.
Immune Booster
So never underestimate the power of sleep if you value your health and wellbeing. Good quality sleep not only helps us function more effectively, it also boosts our immune system, helping us to stave off viruses and other infections that we would more easily catch with an inferior level and quality of sleep.
Sleep is therefore one of the fundamental pillars of amazing health and wellbeing. Without it we may over time find ourselves not only operating under par but opening ourselves up to chronic exhaustive conditions such as ME, chronic fatigue syndrome, or fibromyalgia. These conditions can be debilitating and could, if not kept in check, leave us either bed bound or wheelchair bound.
So a key way to look after your mental health over the long term is to ensure that you not only get your 7-9 hours but that you ensure that you go to bed at the right time to increase your chances of getting a much better night's sleep.
Carmen Gilfillan is the founder of Stimulus Development & Training. Stimulus specialises in helping people overcome emotional trauma, experience emotional breakthroughs, boost their health naturally and live their best lives. We do this through Life & Wellness Coaching, Emotional Freedom consultations and training in the areas of personal, professional and spiritual growth. Check out our website at http://www.stimulus.uk.com to book your free Emotional Breakthrough consultation.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Carmen_Gilfillan/694789
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10155606
Optimal means we are functioning at the highest levels mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, such that we're able to cope well with the demands of life. If we are operating at sub-optimal level, it's much harder for us to perform even the basic of life's functions.
So how do we ensure our health and wellbeing levels are what they should be?
One key contributory factor for long-term mental health and wellness is to ensure we have 7-9 hours of good quality sleep per night.
Repair
Sleep repairs the body. This has a positive knock-on effect to how you function cognitively the next and following days. When we sleep, we sleep in cycles of 60-90 minutes. During that time we oscillate between deep (so-called delta) sleep where the body repairs itself and the lighter REM sleep.
Recall
REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep, or lighter sleep, moves information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. This helps you to better recall information you absorb on a daily basis. It is during this REM phase of sleep that your eyes move rapidly from side to side (hence the name) and that you dream.
Rhythm
Getting to bed at the right time (ideally 10pm) and getting the right amount of sleep every night keeps your circadian rhythm in check. Your circadian rhythm is your natural body clock that gives you signals when it's time for you to sleep and when it's time for you to wake up. Working shift patterns (especially night shifts) can knock this out of balance which can have major consequences not only for your mental and physical health but also for your gut health.
Lack of good quality sleep means that instead of being fully awake and energised during the day, you may find yourself sleepy, sluggish and unable to focus for any significant length of time. In addition, when you're in bed at night you may feel 'tired and wired' (meaning your body is physically tired, but your mind is wide awake and you're therefore unable to sleep).
Melatonin, the hormone that prepares your body for sleep, and serotonin (your awake hormone) need to be in balance for you to function at your best in the day. This means melatonin kicks in naturally from around 9pm (to help you sleep) until about 7am when serotonin is released to take you through the day. When this melatonin, serotonin cycle is in balance you are fully awake during the day and sleepy at night (when you should be). This in turn means you get a better night's sleep.
Immune Booster
So never underestimate the power of sleep if you value your health and wellbeing. Good quality sleep not only helps us function more effectively, it also boosts our immune system, helping us to stave off viruses and other infections that we would more easily catch with an inferior level and quality of sleep.
Sleep is therefore one of the fundamental pillars of amazing health and wellbeing. Without it we may over time find ourselves not only operating under par but opening ourselves up to chronic exhaustive conditions such as ME, chronic fatigue syndrome, or fibromyalgia. These conditions can be debilitating and could, if not kept in check, leave us either bed bound or wheelchair bound.
So a key way to look after your mental health over the long term is to ensure that you not only get your 7-9 hours but that you ensure that you go to bed at the right time to increase your chances of getting a much better night's sleep.
Carmen Gilfillan is the founder of Stimulus Development & Training. Stimulus specialises in helping people overcome emotional trauma, experience emotional breakthroughs, boost their health naturally and live their best lives. We do this through Life & Wellness Coaching, Emotional Freedom consultations and training in the areas of personal, professional and spiritual growth. Check out our website at http://www.stimulus.uk.com to book your free Emotional Breakthrough consultation.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Carmen_Gilfillan/694789
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10155606
Tuesday, 2 June 2020
Sunday, 31 May 2020
What To Do When You Feel Your Best Isn't Enough
There are essential factors that sustain solid an individual's development and advancement. Do you feel you give life your best, work hard, try hard, but still can't give yourself credit? While it appears to be anything but difficult to grasp mentally, freeing oneself from old negative messages is a journey of recovery which takes some serious work.
There is commonly a great deal of strain t in our way of life. We feel as though there is some kind of problem with us if, for instance, we're still single despite our age, never find another love after a broken marriage, don't make a specific measure of salary, don't have a huge group of friends, or don't look and act a specific path within the sight of others. The rundown could genuinely go on for eternity.
Now and again amidst all the pressures, we still appear to thoroughly overlook all the superb, interesting things about ourselves. We stall out in our minds and permit our inward pundit to totally destroy our confidence until such time that we detest ourselves for being not like everyone else.
Sometimes, we need other people's feedback to make us fully aware of the considerable number of things we beat ourselves up over that don't make a difference. We invest too much energy to get ourselves ahead of others. But still, it's not enough. We still want for more without realizing that we may regret these considerations every time.
We always compare ourselves to others,however, those individuals who appear to have everything don't bother to think about it. At the point when you take a gander at others through a perspective of empathy and seeing as opposed to judgment and desire, you are better ready to perceive the truth about them. They are wonderfully flawed people experiencing a similar general difficulties that we as a whole experience.
There is more right with you than amiss with you. Until you quit breathing, there's more right with you than amiss with you. As somebody who some of the time will in general focus in on the entirety of our apparent imperfections, it assists with recollecting that there are loads of things we like about ourselves as well-like the way that we live and breath and ready to clear new ways at whatever point we pick.
You need love the most when you believe you merit it the least. This was an ongoing revelation of mine, in spite of the fact that I'm certain it's been said commonly previously. I find that it is generally hard to acknowledge love and comprehension from others when I'm in a condition of outrage, disgrace, tension, or discouragement. However, embracing the above truth truly moved my viewpoint and caused me to understand that affection is really the best blessing we can get during such occasions.
We need to completely acknowledge and cause harmony with the present before we can reach and feel happy with what's to come. One thing I've found out about is that you can't completely feel happy with where you're going until you can acknowledge, recognize, and acknowledge where you are. Grasp and make harmony with where you are, and your excursion toward something new will feel significantly more serene, and fulfilling.
Concentrate on progress as opposed to flawlessness and on how far you've come instead of how far you have left to go.One of the greatest reasons for self-hatred is the recklessly determined twisted need to take care of business. We take a stab at flawlessness and achievement, and when we miss the mark, we feel exactly useless. What we fail to acknowledge is that moving in the direction of our objectives and being happy to put ourselves out there are achievements inside themselves, paying little mind to how frequently we fall flat.
Rather than chiding yourself for failing and lurching in reverse, give yourself a gesture of congratulations for having a go at, gaining ground, and coming the extent that you have. You can't despise your way into adoring yourself. Mentioning to yourself what a disappointment you are won't make you any progressively fruitful. Disclosing to yourself you're not satisfying your maximum capacity won't assist you with arriving at a higher potential. Disclosing to yourself you're useless and unlovable won't cause you to feel any increasingly commendable or adorable.
It sounds annoyingly straightforward, yet the best way to develop self esteem is to adore yourself. Pay little heed to what your identity is and where you stand and regardless of whether you realize you need to change. You are sufficient just like what you seem to be. What's more, self esteem is somewhat simpler each time you help yourself to remember that.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rosemarie_Sumalinog_Gonzales/1972656
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10274728
There is commonly a great deal of strain t in our way of life. We feel as though there is some kind of problem with us if, for instance, we're still single despite our age, never find another love after a broken marriage, don't make a specific measure of salary, don't have a huge group of friends, or don't look and act a specific path within the sight of others. The rundown could genuinely go on for eternity.
Now and again amidst all the pressures, we still appear to thoroughly overlook all the superb, interesting things about ourselves. We stall out in our minds and permit our inward pundit to totally destroy our confidence until such time that we detest ourselves for being not like everyone else.
Sometimes, we need other people's feedback to make us fully aware of the considerable number of things we beat ourselves up over that don't make a difference. We invest too much energy to get ourselves ahead of others. But still, it's not enough. We still want for more without realizing that we may regret these considerations every time.
We always compare ourselves to others,however, those individuals who appear to have everything don't bother to think about it. At the point when you take a gander at others through a perspective of empathy and seeing as opposed to judgment and desire, you are better ready to perceive the truth about them. They are wonderfully flawed people experiencing a similar general difficulties that we as a whole experience.
There is more right with you than amiss with you. Until you quit breathing, there's more right with you than amiss with you. As somebody who some of the time will in general focus in on the entirety of our apparent imperfections, it assists with recollecting that there are loads of things we like about ourselves as well-like the way that we live and breath and ready to clear new ways at whatever point we pick.
You need love the most when you believe you merit it the least. This was an ongoing revelation of mine, in spite of the fact that I'm certain it's been said commonly previously. I find that it is generally hard to acknowledge love and comprehension from others when I'm in a condition of outrage, disgrace, tension, or discouragement. However, embracing the above truth truly moved my viewpoint and caused me to understand that affection is really the best blessing we can get during such occasions.
We need to completely acknowledge and cause harmony with the present before we can reach and feel happy with what's to come. One thing I've found out about is that you can't completely feel happy with where you're going until you can acknowledge, recognize, and acknowledge where you are. Grasp and make harmony with where you are, and your excursion toward something new will feel significantly more serene, and fulfilling.
Concentrate on progress as opposed to flawlessness and on how far you've come instead of how far you have left to go.One of the greatest reasons for self-hatred is the recklessly determined twisted need to take care of business. We take a stab at flawlessness and achievement, and when we miss the mark, we feel exactly useless. What we fail to acknowledge is that moving in the direction of our objectives and being happy to put ourselves out there are achievements inside themselves, paying little mind to how frequently we fall flat.
Rather than chiding yourself for failing and lurching in reverse, give yourself a gesture of congratulations for having a go at, gaining ground, and coming the extent that you have. You can't despise your way into adoring yourself. Mentioning to yourself what a disappointment you are won't make you any progressively fruitful. Disclosing to yourself you're not satisfying your maximum capacity won't assist you with arriving at a higher potential. Disclosing to yourself you're useless and unlovable won't cause you to feel any increasingly commendable or adorable.
It sounds annoyingly straightforward, yet the best way to develop self esteem is to adore yourself. Pay little heed to what your identity is and where you stand and regardless of whether you realize you need to change. You are sufficient just like what you seem to be. What's more, self esteem is somewhat simpler each time you help yourself to remember that.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rosemarie_Sumalinog_Gonzales/1972656
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10274728
Friday, 29 May 2020
We Can Do This
As we all struggle with the medical, social and emotional implications of this pandemic, I wanted to reach out and share some thoughts that might be of some assistance in terms of coping and comfort.
First, you are not alone in this. It's easy to say, but not always easy to accept especially after a considerable period of time has passed. Trust me that at some point you are going to start to feel like you're the only one "suffering". In reality, you have an entire network of family, friends and even colleagues that are or will soon be feeling this way. Given the multiple facets of technology, we can more easily stay in touch with people than ever before. And while you might not be able to physically be there a phone call, text, email, Facebook shout-out can go a long way to helping yourself and someone else. So reach out and connect via technology. In addition to your normal circle of BFFs, I'm sure there is a long thought about friend or relative, former classmate, retired colleague or even a personal coach who would love to hear from you. The expression that misery likes company is currently on display in real terms. Staying in touch is the best way to validate that we're not alone.
Second, it's human nature to think about all that we have lost (even temporarily) rather than all that we have. This feeling will become increasingly acute as people are furloughed from their jobs, struggle financially and/or confront this disease on a personal level. It is now that we need to take stock of all our blessings no matter how large or small and be thankful of their existence. The saying that we never "realize what we had until it is gone" tends to ring true in situations like the one we are all facing. So I encourage you to take inventory of what you have, preserve and protect to the best of your ability and cherish each for what it has or will mean to you going forward. It will prove to be a source of great strength now and later down the road.
Third, you might have heard about the concept, Sphere of Control. In a nutshell, it talks about not wasting our resources around those things that are out of our control. Again, one of those concepts that is easy to understand but difficult to apply. Yet it is critical for all of us to keep focused on what we can control (attitudes, beliefs, interactions with others, precautionary steps, etc.) so as not to waste two of our most precious commodities... time and energy. Since we don't really know where this is all going, our immediate future is highly dependent on our ability to stay in the present and not get distracted and dragged down by things beyond our control.
Finally, I want to reiterate just how special we are to each other. We are a community of people who care. We can conquer this situation by sticking together, helping one another and being smart in our personal and professional interactions.
My best wishes for your health, safety and comfort going forward!
John J. Meggiolaro
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Meggiolaro/324493
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10275583https://ezinearticles.com/?We-Can-Do-This&id=10275583
First, you are not alone in this. It's easy to say, but not always easy to accept especially after a considerable period of time has passed. Trust me that at some point you are going to start to feel like you're the only one "suffering". In reality, you have an entire network of family, friends and even colleagues that are or will soon be feeling this way. Given the multiple facets of technology, we can more easily stay in touch with people than ever before. And while you might not be able to physically be there a phone call, text, email, Facebook shout-out can go a long way to helping yourself and someone else. So reach out and connect via technology. In addition to your normal circle of BFFs, I'm sure there is a long thought about friend or relative, former classmate, retired colleague or even a personal coach who would love to hear from you. The expression that misery likes company is currently on display in real terms. Staying in touch is the best way to validate that we're not alone.
Second, it's human nature to think about all that we have lost (even temporarily) rather than all that we have. This feeling will become increasingly acute as people are furloughed from their jobs, struggle financially and/or confront this disease on a personal level. It is now that we need to take stock of all our blessings no matter how large or small and be thankful of their existence. The saying that we never "realize what we had until it is gone" tends to ring true in situations like the one we are all facing. So I encourage you to take inventory of what you have, preserve and protect to the best of your ability and cherish each for what it has or will mean to you going forward. It will prove to be a source of great strength now and later down the road.
Third, you might have heard about the concept, Sphere of Control. In a nutshell, it talks about not wasting our resources around those things that are out of our control. Again, one of those concepts that is easy to understand but difficult to apply. Yet it is critical for all of us to keep focused on what we can control (attitudes, beliefs, interactions with others, precautionary steps, etc.) so as not to waste two of our most precious commodities... time and energy. Since we don't really know where this is all going, our immediate future is highly dependent on our ability to stay in the present and not get distracted and dragged down by things beyond our control.
Finally, I want to reiterate just how special we are to each other. We are a community of people who care. We can conquer this situation by sticking together, helping one another and being smart in our personal and professional interactions.
My best wishes for your health, safety and comfort going forward!
John J. Meggiolaro
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Meggiolaro/324493
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10275583https://ezinearticles.com/?We-Can-Do-This&id=10275583
Thursday, 28 May 2020
How To Remain Motivated Despite Uncertainties
Uncertainty puts my motivation and confidence at risk. The absence of prescience is one of the most widely recognized antecedents of disappointment. Since I knew the issues that might emerge, I was in an incredible situation to get ready for these difficulties and stay away from them by and large.
It's your chance to be proactive. Make an extensive rundown of activity steps you will follow to maintain a strategic distance from potential issues later on, and leave time in your calendar to execute these activity steps. Look for outside assistance when you need it.
Being readied won't just limit your odds of disappointment, yet will spur you to continue endeavoring to accomplish what you want. What might you do if things turned out badly? Try not to concentrate on the undesirable outcomes. Rather, place your consideration of options that would, at last, additionally lead to satisfaction and fulfillment. Remember the ultimate objective is to keep a receptive outlook.
This is an incredible exercise that will temper your sentiment of uncertainty. You will have a sense of security and empowered. You'll realize that a deviation from your original plan isn't a disappointment at all. Rather, it's a chance to investigate an entirely different plan of conceivable outcomes.
Recollect that you have learned and developed as an individual due to life's unlimited surprises. A portion of those shocks will be lovely, and some won't. At last, you are who you are today because of your life experiences. In other words, certainty is a fantasy. This is a significant acknowledgment that will assist you with taking a gander at the future unafraid. Achievement is going from disappointments to disappointments without losing enthusiasm.
In spite of this emphasis on our hankering for conviction, uncertainty has untold force when persuading individuals. Vulnerability about positive results gives us sentiments of energy and delight. We're progressively propelled to arrive at objectives when the prize is dubious than when it's sure. It's even the situation if the dubious prize is more terrible than the specific one!
Vulnerability is awkward for everybody. Regardless of whether it's political unrest or a rearrangement at your organization, workers who are worried about their future are probably going to be When you structure desires, you're setting yourself up for disillusionment. You can direct your tomorrow, yet you can't control the specific result. In the event that you anticipate the most noticeably terrible, you'll likely feel too negative and shut disapproved to see and take advantage of lucky breaks. When you anticipate the best, you'll make a dream that is difficult to satisfy.
Rather than anticipating that the future should give you something explicit, focus around what you'll do to make what you need to experience.distracted and ineffective. The greater part of us feel overpowered, upset, and restless when confronted with uncertainty.
Vulnerability is the main sureness there is, and realizing how to live with instability is the main security. In any event, when you think you've twisted into a comfortable casing of consistency, anything could change instantly. The main steady in life is that it will include change, and attempt as you may to control the future, now and then everything you can do is believe that whatever occurs, you can adjust and make its best.
At the point when form expectations, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. You can manage your tomorrow, however you can't control the specific outcome.
When you anticipate the worst, you'll likely feel too negative and close-minded to see and take advantage of lucky breaks. In the event that you anticipate the best, you'll make a dream that is difficult to satisfy. Rather than anticipating that the future should give you something explicit, focus around what you'll do to make what you need to experience.
The most troublesome piece of vulnerability is the failure to plan and feel in charge. All things considered, it isn't the vulnerability that annoys me; it's my inclination to lose all sense of direction in my sentiments about it. Get certain about your adaptability and sustainability skills. It's increasingly about guaranteeing yourself that you can deal with any trouble that may come.
Use stress reduction methods preemptively. If you're managing vulnerability, you most likely have worry in your body, regardless of whether it's not at the bleeding edge of your musings right now. After some time, that body pressure influences pulse, glucose, muscle strain, cholesterol level, breathing rate, and each organ in your body.
Concentrate on what you can control.Oftentimes, we ignore the seemingly insignificant details we can do to make life simpler while fixating on the large things we can't do. Practice care. At the point when you fixate on a tomorrow you can't control, you're too bustling judging what hasn't occurred at this point to completely encounter what's going on the present moment. Rather than seeing and valuing the excellence at the time, you get caught in a dread driven idea cycle about the potential for inconvenience down the line.
While reflection is the most ideal approach, it isn't the main methodology. If at any time you think you've made a controllable, unsurprising life for yourself, it's just a hallucination. Nothing stays the same forever.
Uncertainty can keep you up all evening, fixating on approaches to shield yourself from anything that may turn out badly. But then again, it might inspire you to acknowledge, live at the moment, and grasp the experience of living.
What's coming tomorrow probably won't be simple. What's certain is that it will come and when it arrives, you'll react to it, gain from it, and move into another tomorrow brimming with unlimited prospects.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rosemarie_Sumalinog_Gonzales/1972656
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10274710
It's your chance to be proactive. Make an extensive rundown of activity steps you will follow to maintain a strategic distance from potential issues later on, and leave time in your calendar to execute these activity steps. Look for outside assistance when you need it.
Being readied won't just limit your odds of disappointment, yet will spur you to continue endeavoring to accomplish what you want. What might you do if things turned out badly? Try not to concentrate on the undesirable outcomes. Rather, place your consideration of options that would, at last, additionally lead to satisfaction and fulfillment. Remember the ultimate objective is to keep a receptive outlook.
This is an incredible exercise that will temper your sentiment of uncertainty. You will have a sense of security and empowered. You'll realize that a deviation from your original plan isn't a disappointment at all. Rather, it's a chance to investigate an entirely different plan of conceivable outcomes.
Recollect that you have learned and developed as an individual due to life's unlimited surprises. A portion of those shocks will be lovely, and some won't. At last, you are who you are today because of your life experiences. In other words, certainty is a fantasy. This is a significant acknowledgment that will assist you with taking a gander at the future unafraid. Achievement is going from disappointments to disappointments without losing enthusiasm.
In spite of this emphasis on our hankering for conviction, uncertainty has untold force when persuading individuals. Vulnerability about positive results gives us sentiments of energy and delight. We're progressively propelled to arrive at objectives when the prize is dubious than when it's sure. It's even the situation if the dubious prize is more terrible than the specific one!
Vulnerability is awkward for everybody. Regardless of whether it's political unrest or a rearrangement at your organization, workers who are worried about their future are probably going to be When you structure desires, you're setting yourself up for disillusionment. You can direct your tomorrow, yet you can't control the specific result. In the event that you anticipate the most noticeably terrible, you'll likely feel too negative and shut disapproved to see and take advantage of lucky breaks. When you anticipate the best, you'll make a dream that is difficult to satisfy.
Rather than anticipating that the future should give you something explicit, focus around what you'll do to make what you need to experience.distracted and ineffective. The greater part of us feel overpowered, upset, and restless when confronted with uncertainty.
Vulnerability is the main sureness there is, and realizing how to live with instability is the main security. In any event, when you think you've twisted into a comfortable casing of consistency, anything could change instantly. The main steady in life is that it will include change, and attempt as you may to control the future, now and then everything you can do is believe that whatever occurs, you can adjust and make its best.
At the point when form expectations, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. You can manage your tomorrow, however you can't control the specific outcome.
When you anticipate the worst, you'll likely feel too negative and close-minded to see and take advantage of lucky breaks. In the event that you anticipate the best, you'll make a dream that is difficult to satisfy. Rather than anticipating that the future should give you something explicit, focus around what you'll do to make what you need to experience.
The most troublesome piece of vulnerability is the failure to plan and feel in charge. All things considered, it isn't the vulnerability that annoys me; it's my inclination to lose all sense of direction in my sentiments about it. Get certain about your adaptability and sustainability skills. It's increasingly about guaranteeing yourself that you can deal with any trouble that may come.
Use stress reduction methods preemptively. If you're managing vulnerability, you most likely have worry in your body, regardless of whether it's not at the bleeding edge of your musings right now. After some time, that body pressure influences pulse, glucose, muscle strain, cholesterol level, breathing rate, and each organ in your body.
Concentrate on what you can control.Oftentimes, we ignore the seemingly insignificant details we can do to make life simpler while fixating on the large things we can't do. Practice care. At the point when you fixate on a tomorrow you can't control, you're too bustling judging what hasn't occurred at this point to completely encounter what's going on the present moment. Rather than seeing and valuing the excellence at the time, you get caught in a dread driven idea cycle about the potential for inconvenience down the line.
While reflection is the most ideal approach, it isn't the main methodology. If at any time you think you've made a controllable, unsurprising life for yourself, it's just a hallucination. Nothing stays the same forever.
Uncertainty can keep you up all evening, fixating on approaches to shield yourself from anything that may turn out badly. But then again, it might inspire you to acknowledge, live at the moment, and grasp the experience of living.
What's coming tomorrow probably won't be simple. What's certain is that it will come and when it arrives, you'll react to it, gain from it, and move into another tomorrow brimming with unlimited prospects.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rosemarie_Sumalinog_Gonzales/1972656
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10274710
Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Sunday, 24 May 2020
Can You Gage Your Level of Subconscious Stress?
Did you know that stress presents itself in different degrees? That it can start by something as simple as daily worries? That it accumulates in us? That it can be silently consuming our subconscious capacities? That it can still be properly handled and managed?
Although stress is quite a modern concept, Hippocrates already discussed anxiety back in the 4th century BC. It is a problem that humanity has had to deal with since the dawn of time. In spite of which, we still seems to know very little about how to handle it.
In my line of work, humanology, I come across a lot of people who suffer from all types of stress and have come to some conclusions that I'd like to share with you here today, together with a few tips and tricks in the hope that they can help you.
Worry, fear, anxiety and panic can be just different forms and degrees of stress: When any of those forms of fear is present in a person's life too often, chances are that they end up escalating into the next level in this progression.
Worry can also become a form of stress when the person can't control it. Those who can't stop worrying over things end up accumulating a lot of cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine, which are slowly released by their system each time they plan to "fix" a problem by getting ready for it. They are regularly preparing their bodies for the "bad something" to come. There are certain trends at this level:
Overthinking is a form of constant worry.Those who can't stop thinking without control, whose thoughts govern them, tend to always think about problems and worries. They can't seem to be able to disconnect from their worries and are therefore constantly releasing stress-based chemicals. Daydreamers are one type of overthinkers. Most daydreamers spend their time also worrying, not enjoying fun or positive imaginations.
The excessive need to control everything is another form of worry.Those who need to have everything under their control, the so-called control freaks, are in a permanent state of worry over their losing such control.
When the worry turns into "what if... " questions, it becomes fear. Worrying over something can grow into fearing it very easily. All "what if... " questions indicate some kind of fear. "What if that doesn't work out the way I want it to? What if that other thing happens? What if that person fails... " all indicate a fear of something happening or not in the future. The worry becomes more focused and the feeling more acute. The person's body segregates bigger amounts of chemicals.
Constant worry and fear have a cumulative stressful effect in us. Being in a constant state of worry or fear leads to an excess of chemicals in our bodies. Those chemicals, if not properly managed and released, will accumulate in a person's body and could grow into silent anxiety.
Worry, fear and anxiety can occupy a huge part of our subconscious capacity. When a person is silently and subconsciously handling worry, fear and anxiety many hours a day, that person's brain is working overtime.
The person is not aware of it. The conscious part of that person's brain will deal with the conscious symptoms of worry, fear and anxiety, whenever aware of them, but the subconscious ones will still grow and multiply, making use of the person's subconscious mechanisms and capacity.
The mind is like an iceberg and our conscious mind is nothing but the very tiny tip. When a person suffers from chronic worry, fear or anxiety, visible, noticeable symptoms will be tackled. Unfortunately, that same person will also be subconsciously working on silent stress, trying to manage it, while it gradually accumulates inside due to a lack of adequate release mechanisms for the non-stop triggers. This reality is one of the main reasons why worry and fear can end up escalating into anxiety.
When the subconscious can't handle it, the conscious mind will release it. The subconscious tries to keep up with the stress, the worry, the fear, mostly by keeping it all bottled up inside, until its mere amount is so huge, that it overflows into the conscious mind in the form of anxiety or panic symptoms. Thus, all those never-released chemicals end up forcing the person to stop and do something. By then, handling them is obviously much harder. There might be years of accumulation and poor handling.
So, then, what can we do? There are some obvious answers to that question. But maybe not so many obvious tools. Let me offer you a couple of both.
Work with a humanologist. That is, of course, the most obvious solution J. Humanologists are experts in human beings and can expand on the understanding and tools beyond the scope of this article. Seek one out to help you recognize your level of stress, your triggers and the personal tools you need to change that trend in you. In the meantime, you can try the following tips as well:
Stop accumulating. Yes, even though that sounds obvious, how is it done? How can an overthinker stop thinking? How can a worrier stop worrying?
Mindfulness: Fear is ALWAYS in the future. What if... always refers to something that hasn't quite happened yet. Therefore, learning to be in the here and the now is key to those people. Learn to return from the future to the present. The more often you get back to the present, the less negative chemicals your system will be releasing. Learn and use mindfulness techniques to force yourself to be in the present as often as possible.
Connect with the world outside. Many people who suffer from worry, fear, anxiety and panic spend their hours inside themselves. They often spend many hours in their heads. And they sometimes forget to connect with the world outside, with their reality. The more time a person spends inside, without a clear connecting line with the world outside, the greater the chance to fall into this stress trap. KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE REALITY at all times. Yes, introspection is great... as long as you are not disconnected from reality. Yes, meditation is great... as long as you are not disconnected from reality. Yes, being inside one's personal sphere is great... as long as you're not disconnected from reality. Then, make the CONSCIOUS effort to remain connected to reality and the outside world, no matter what. Keep on coming out for air and a clear anchor on reality.
Time boxes. Design a certain fixed time to worry every day. Give yourself the chance to really worry for, let's say, an hour a day. AND THAT IS IT! Once the hour is over, any time your worry, fear or anxiety comes calling again, tell it to return tomorrow, for the next time box.
Fight negative with positive. Some other happier chemicals can help you reduce the levels of accumulated cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine in your body: oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and the like. Learn how to release them more often and in greater quantities for two reasons:
They fight the bad guys. Good chemicals will make you feel better and will help you relax almost immediately. Which means that the good ones will target some of the negative chemicals.
When your body is releasing these, it can't be releasing those. Thus, if your body is busy flushing your system with wonderful oxytocin, it can't be producing the nasty products at the same time.
The positive result is therefore double: there are less bad chemicals in you because the good ones are fighting them and you're producing less because you're busy doing something else.
Let them go! Nothing will work if you continue creating more and more of the nasty chemicals. Learn some tools to get rid of the stress you already have inside: exercise, practice laughing, apply the tools mentioned above to counteract and release the nasty bugs, and take control of your own being.
All these tips will help you handle your stress a bit better. Don't let it grow in you until it becomes unmanageable. Seek help now instead of letting it overtake you and control your will. It can be done.
Enjoy life... ALL of it,
Learn more in my book: The Optimist in You https://www.amazon.com/Optimist-You-Optimism-Coaching-Handbook/dp/151161160X
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jessica_J_Lockhart/2431530
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10151274
Although stress is quite a modern concept, Hippocrates already discussed anxiety back in the 4th century BC. It is a problem that humanity has had to deal with since the dawn of time. In spite of which, we still seems to know very little about how to handle it.
In my line of work, humanology, I come across a lot of people who suffer from all types of stress and have come to some conclusions that I'd like to share with you here today, together with a few tips and tricks in the hope that they can help you.
Worry, fear, anxiety and panic can be just different forms and degrees of stress: When any of those forms of fear is present in a person's life too often, chances are that they end up escalating into the next level in this progression.
Worry can also become a form of stress when the person can't control it. Those who can't stop worrying over things end up accumulating a lot of cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine, which are slowly released by their system each time they plan to "fix" a problem by getting ready for it. They are regularly preparing their bodies for the "bad something" to come. There are certain trends at this level:
Overthinking is a form of constant worry.Those who can't stop thinking without control, whose thoughts govern them, tend to always think about problems and worries. They can't seem to be able to disconnect from their worries and are therefore constantly releasing stress-based chemicals. Daydreamers are one type of overthinkers. Most daydreamers spend their time also worrying, not enjoying fun or positive imaginations.
The excessive need to control everything is another form of worry.Those who need to have everything under their control, the so-called control freaks, are in a permanent state of worry over their losing such control.
When the worry turns into "what if... " questions, it becomes fear. Worrying over something can grow into fearing it very easily. All "what if... " questions indicate some kind of fear. "What if that doesn't work out the way I want it to? What if that other thing happens? What if that person fails... " all indicate a fear of something happening or not in the future. The worry becomes more focused and the feeling more acute. The person's body segregates bigger amounts of chemicals.
Constant worry and fear have a cumulative stressful effect in us. Being in a constant state of worry or fear leads to an excess of chemicals in our bodies. Those chemicals, if not properly managed and released, will accumulate in a person's body and could grow into silent anxiety.
Worry, fear and anxiety can occupy a huge part of our subconscious capacity. When a person is silently and subconsciously handling worry, fear and anxiety many hours a day, that person's brain is working overtime.
The person is not aware of it. The conscious part of that person's brain will deal with the conscious symptoms of worry, fear and anxiety, whenever aware of them, but the subconscious ones will still grow and multiply, making use of the person's subconscious mechanisms and capacity.
The mind is like an iceberg and our conscious mind is nothing but the very tiny tip. When a person suffers from chronic worry, fear or anxiety, visible, noticeable symptoms will be tackled. Unfortunately, that same person will also be subconsciously working on silent stress, trying to manage it, while it gradually accumulates inside due to a lack of adequate release mechanisms for the non-stop triggers. This reality is one of the main reasons why worry and fear can end up escalating into anxiety.
When the subconscious can't handle it, the conscious mind will release it. The subconscious tries to keep up with the stress, the worry, the fear, mostly by keeping it all bottled up inside, until its mere amount is so huge, that it overflows into the conscious mind in the form of anxiety or panic symptoms. Thus, all those never-released chemicals end up forcing the person to stop and do something. By then, handling them is obviously much harder. There might be years of accumulation and poor handling.
So, then, what can we do? There are some obvious answers to that question. But maybe not so many obvious tools. Let me offer you a couple of both.
Work with a humanologist. That is, of course, the most obvious solution J. Humanologists are experts in human beings and can expand on the understanding and tools beyond the scope of this article. Seek one out to help you recognize your level of stress, your triggers and the personal tools you need to change that trend in you. In the meantime, you can try the following tips as well:
Stop accumulating. Yes, even though that sounds obvious, how is it done? How can an overthinker stop thinking? How can a worrier stop worrying?
Mindfulness: Fear is ALWAYS in the future. What if... always refers to something that hasn't quite happened yet. Therefore, learning to be in the here and the now is key to those people. Learn to return from the future to the present. The more often you get back to the present, the less negative chemicals your system will be releasing. Learn and use mindfulness techniques to force yourself to be in the present as often as possible.
Connect with the world outside. Many people who suffer from worry, fear, anxiety and panic spend their hours inside themselves. They often spend many hours in their heads. And they sometimes forget to connect with the world outside, with their reality. The more time a person spends inside, without a clear connecting line with the world outside, the greater the chance to fall into this stress trap. KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE REALITY at all times. Yes, introspection is great... as long as you are not disconnected from reality. Yes, meditation is great... as long as you are not disconnected from reality. Yes, being inside one's personal sphere is great... as long as you're not disconnected from reality. Then, make the CONSCIOUS effort to remain connected to reality and the outside world, no matter what. Keep on coming out for air and a clear anchor on reality.
Time boxes. Design a certain fixed time to worry every day. Give yourself the chance to really worry for, let's say, an hour a day. AND THAT IS IT! Once the hour is over, any time your worry, fear or anxiety comes calling again, tell it to return tomorrow, for the next time box.
Fight negative with positive. Some other happier chemicals can help you reduce the levels of accumulated cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine in your body: oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and the like. Learn how to release them more often and in greater quantities for two reasons:
They fight the bad guys. Good chemicals will make you feel better and will help you relax almost immediately. Which means that the good ones will target some of the negative chemicals.
When your body is releasing these, it can't be releasing those. Thus, if your body is busy flushing your system with wonderful oxytocin, it can't be producing the nasty products at the same time.
The positive result is therefore double: there are less bad chemicals in you because the good ones are fighting them and you're producing less because you're busy doing something else.
Let them go! Nothing will work if you continue creating more and more of the nasty chemicals. Learn some tools to get rid of the stress you already have inside: exercise, practice laughing, apply the tools mentioned above to counteract and release the nasty bugs, and take control of your own being.
All these tips will help you handle your stress a bit better. Don't let it grow in you until it becomes unmanageable. Seek help now instead of letting it overtake you and control your will. It can be done.
Enjoy life... ALL of it,
Learn more in my book: The Optimist in You https://www.amazon.com/Optimist-You-Optimism-Coaching-Handbook/dp/151161160X
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jessica_J_Lockhart/2431530
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10151274
Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Monday, 11 May 2020
***How Habitual Stress Affects Our Body And Effective Ways To Beat It
Stress is an emotional and physical response to external factors, and lessening stress is the secret to a longer, healthier, life. We know that stress isn't good for us, and we know that everyone experiences stress every day, but once we're aware of how long-lasting stress impacts our physical body, we realise that it's important to find ways to manage and reduce stress to remain healthy. It doesn't matter how old we are, or whether we're male or female, we're all exposed to numerous daily stressors and if our reactions to those stressors aren't dealt with and managed, the outcome on our physical health is often detrimental.
When we're stressed, the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are created to help us with the 'fight or flight' reaction to any potentially dangerous situations. This hormone creation is useful in the short term as it increases our heart rate enabling us to quickly escape from any potentially dangerous situations. When we're under stress or feeling anxious, our hormones change to help us to manage the stressful or anxiety-causing situation, enabling us to use the natural 'flight or fight' response, but when the stress is constant and long-term it's likely to have a negative influence on our health. These effects range from straightforward recurring problems such as tiredness and depression, to far more severe issues such as heart failure and cancer. Therefore it's vital to find effective ways of dealing with stress.
When stress becomes habitual or long-term, our body naturally responds and continues to send stress hormones into our system. When the stress hormones remain elevated for extended periods we start to see the long-term effects.
The body's stress hormone, cortisol, causes blood sugar to rise, resulting in an acidic blood state. Acidic blood results in many of today's common conditions: diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, along with excess tummy fat. A low glycemic and high protein diet is beneficial to help us keep on top of the effects of stress.
Below are some useful ways to reduce stress:
• Wherever possible, remove yourself from the stressful situation and focus on your breathing for a few moments with the sole intention of calming your mind and body.
• If you're feeling stressed due to overwhelm, break your tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks.
• Look at your diet and eliminate sugar and caffeine:
• Eat oily fish – it contains a high quantity of B vitamins which is great to help you deal with stress. Salmon and tuna are excellent choices, and you should try to consume at least two portions per week.
• Drink plenty of water – it's very important to stay hydrated. Your cells need water to operate properly.
• Drink milk – a bowl of wholegrain cereal with reduced-fat milk every morning is a great way to keep one step ahead of stress as your day begins.
• Eat nuts – nuts are a great source of Vitamin B2 and E, together with magnesium and zinc. Nuts contain (generally) unsaturated fats.
• Eat oranges and kiwi fruits - these are high in vitamin C, which helps to control the release of free-radicals into your system.
• Exercise – this doesn't have to involve a gym membership. A good regular walk or swim will go a long way to reducing stress, especially if you can increase your heart rate as you exercise.
• Tai Chi – Tai Chi is a series of gentle, slow-moving, flowing body movements that help to reduce stress. Its origins are in fighting styles, but now it's used for soothing the thoughts, conditioning the body system and reducing stress.
• Yoga – well-known for its ability to calm the mind, and stretch and relax the body.
• Meditate or use self-hypnosis – this can either be done by yourself at home, or with the guidance of a professional. Only a few moments are needed to immediately feel the weight of the world being lifted from your shoulders.
• If you're feeling stressed due to overwhelm, break your tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks.
• Look at your diet and eliminate sugar and caffeine:
• Eat oily fish – it contains a high quantity of B vitamins which is great to help you deal with stress. Salmon and tuna are excellent choices, and you should try to consume at least two portions per week.
• Drink plenty of water – it's very important to stay hydrated. Your cells need water to operate properly.
• Drink milk – a bowl of wholegrain cereal with reduced-fat milk every morning is a great way to keep one step ahead of stress as your day begins.
• Eat nuts – nuts are a great source of Vitamin B2 and E, together with magnesium and zinc. Nuts contain (generally) unsaturated fats.
• Eat oranges and kiwi fruits - these are high in vitamin C, which helps to control the release of free-radicals into your system.
• Exercise – this doesn't have to involve a gym membership. A good regular walk or swim will go a long way to reducing stress, especially if you can increase your heart rate as you exercise.
• Tai Chi – Tai Chi is a series of gentle, slow-moving, flowing body movements that help to reduce stress. Its origins are in fighting styles, but now it's used for soothing the thoughts, conditioning the body system and reducing stress.
• Yoga – well-known for its ability to calm the mind, and stretch and relax the body.
• Meditate or use self-hypnosis – this can either be done by yourself at home, or with the guidance of a professional. Only a few moments are needed to immediately feel the weight of the world being lifted from your shoulders.
Handling stress means being in control of your thoughts and feelings, schedule, surroundings, money etc, and the methods you use to deal with these things. It's impossible to avoid all daily stress triggers, but it's vital to deal with the stressors and make sure you take some time to relax each day. To overcome both short and long-term stress and the impact it has on our body, it's important to really have the intention to calm ourselves down and, wherever possible, remove ourselves from the stressful situation we're in.
Unfortunately, stress can too easily become habitual and subsequently impact our health. If we can reduce stress by changing our instant reaction to stressful situations, then our our physical and mental health will both improve significantly.
Author's Bio:
If you'd like to try self-hypnosis to reduce stress, then I have an mp3 download available for you. It just takes 30 minutes or so to relax and listen to (preferably through headphones, if possible), and afterwards you'll feel relaxed, rested and in control. The download can be found at: http://www.lyndascrivener.com/stress-relief/
Sunday, 10 May 2020
Feeling Anxious? Then 'Watch' the News!
The human nervous system hasn't changed very much over the last million years. Its purpose is to keep us safe and help us survive; that means looking out for threat and risks that might lead to our demise or cause us harm. Naturally, like other animals, this 'alert' nervous system is crucial to our survival and keeps us scanning for potential danger.
Humans have developed the cognitive ability to use words, language and analysis to make sense of and communicate risk to one another efficiently. Humans can convey these messages about threat or danger with convincing and rich emotional content to highlight their relevance and importance. This superior intellectual ability has allowed humans to prosper and survive by organising communities, achieving social tasks, collaborating and problem-solving.
While living in tribal groups and small communities, our ancestors relied upon this ability to communicate warnings and risks to members of the tribe or community. A danger at the waterhole, poisonous berries, a lurking predator or an invading tribe were all risks that posed an immediate and relevant threat to each member of that tribe. Our nervous system is primed to be alert to such urgent warnings, especially when high emotion is present to convey urgency. Those who failed to attend would face danger and threat to their survival.
Community leaders throughout history disseminated relevant and important information for survival - the Town Crier and Pastors at churches became trusted 'news' bearers delivering information about community illness and death such as the Plague. Humans have learnt to pay attention when an announcement is made and our nervous systems are primed to do so!
The New Era
A lot has changed in the world since the invention of television, telephones and computers. The world is not constrained by geographical borders and tribal word-of-mouth communication. The millennial world features expansive social media influences with 24-hour news broadcasts, news updates to every device, news from every corner of the world, breakfast news, morning news, midday news, afternoon news, early evening news, late night news, and even news updates between the news!
If you are feeling overwhelmed just by reading that, it's obvious what the actual content of all this news is doing to our nervous systems. Physical arousal and stress are triggered by our nervous system's response to announcements and news that goes straight back to our primal need to survive and not necessarily because there is an actual and present threat to our safety.
Understanding the science of this can help us manage our responses to the world's events and to make decisions about protecting our nervous system.
We are inundated with announcements and information that are neither relevant nor an immediate threat to us individually. In doing its job well, the nervous system innocently attends to irrelevant messages, believing all news must be relevant and require urgent attention. In fact, reacting to information regarding a five-car pile-up on an icy motorway on the other side of the world has no immediate survival benefit to us.
While broader lessons can be learnt from the general information, this information can be used and conveyed in more considered and less dramatic ways to improve our society and keep us safe. The way in which this information is conveyed in the news is much more likely to trigger unnecessary and involuntary stress responses.
Tips to Look After Yourself in this World of Frantic News
- Limit your exposure to all news media - TV, radio, newspapers, social media.
- Limit the number of news organisations you follow on social media and notifications you receive.
- Observe and calm your response when you hear the 'news music' or 'breaking news' sound effects.
- Keep an eye on how many stories are being fed to you throughout your day on electronic devices while you are trying to focus on work, socialising or other meaningful tasks.
- Try to listen to less hyped and dramatic versions of the news.
- Follow the local news that is likely to be more relevant to your daily life.
- Be more aware of the emotional content of programs you watch and their impact on your mood, nervous system and thinking. Does it feel like more relevant information conveyed calmly and factually or does it feel more hyped, dramatic and irrelevant to your immediate world?
More resources about anxiety and stress management:
First Aid for Stress: https://www.brisbanecitypsychologist.com.au/first-aid-for-stress/
What to Do When You Are Feeling Overwhelmed: https://www.brisbanecitypsychologist.com.au/what-to-do-when-you-are-feeling-overwhelmed/
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Cherie_Dalton/256515
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9967886
Monday, 4 May 2020
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