Stress, if left to manifest, can do your body a great deal of harm. In extreme cases it can kill you. Enough said. We all have stress but some more than others. Do as much as you can to reduce yours by making time for yourself each day to recharge. Start with just a few minutes. Learn to switch off from work and responsibility in the evening.
Everyone needs to relax - some more than others. Without allowing yourself time for relaxation you are putting your body and mind under a great deal of pressure, allowing stress to simmer away until it reaches boiling point, resulting in high blood pressure, palpitations and potentially far worse symptoms.
How much 'me' time do you give yourself? Not much, probably. Learn to relax. Take time out to sit, reflect and view the world from a different perspective. You'll be amazed how energising this experience can be, and it doesn't take long - just a few minutes at first.
Relaxation doesn't have to involve lighting candles, meditating or burning incense. The simplest things can make a difference to your moods, feelings and general outlook on life. Just a few minutes to yourself each day can help you forget about the stresses encountered during your day and bring you back from boiling point.
Listen to your favourite CD, read a magazine, or a book unrelated to work, watch comedy on the TV, catch up with friends. the list of options is endless. The one Scorcheren rule is that you don't talk about work and you don't have the 'healthy distraction' on in the background while doing other things. Just sit for 5 minutes and focus on something totally unrelated to your everyday life.
Learn to appreciate and fully immerse yourself in any 'me' time that you give yourself. If you're fed up being cooped up indoors then get outside and go for a stroll. A change of scene is often all that is needed to refresh your thoughts, and recharge your energy.
© Fitstreet 2005
