Our daily lives are imbued with stress. Some amount of "good" stress is necessary to help us get out of bed, plan the tasks of the day and focus on the high priority items that will help us reach our goals and make us feel good. However, with the overwhelming list of things that must be done on a daily basis, and the press of unexpected interruptions and irritations that stem from various sources, there is no surprise that "good" stress quickly reaches unhealthy levels. A state of continued high, unhealthy stress is the root of many deadly diseases. Getting to the root and take action is essential.
- First, one must set limitations of what is key and what is not. It is not as easy as it sounds. Focusing on the important means cutting out unimportant stuff.
- Make time to do the small things that fill your life with joy. It can be any hobby like gardening or playing with the puppy or going for a walk. Often, these are the ones that drop off our list first. Keep them.
- Set aside a "Magic Time" when you must not be disturbed. Value this time. Don't allow email, FB, twitter or other social networks to distract you. Focus on what you must get done during this time. Your #1 priority. Regular focus, say for two hours daily, will help you make steady progress -- instead of a last minute marathon session that will exhaust you.
- Take up Yoga or Meditation. It is a great stress reliever. Or listen to inspirational messages. Read a book. Listen to Music. Relax.
- Be grateful for the small stuff. It is a good practice to remember 5 things daily that make you feel grateful - even that small hot cup of coffee counts!
- Feel connected to the universe as you go about your day. You are not an island. The innate trust that the universe has your back, and everything is unfolding as it should, is a big help to diffuse a sudden build-up of stress. Remember when we were kids? We did not worry as much, because we never felt so stressfully responsible -- we did our thing, and our parents were there for us. It's that same feeling we need to recapture -- to keep doing our best, and let the universe carry the load of the world: not us :-)
Our brain is made up of billions of brain cells called neurons, which use electricity to communicate with each other. The combination of millions of neurons sending signals produces an enormous amount of electrical activity in the brain. Scientists call these "Brain waves" because of its cyclic, 'wave-like' nature. Our mind regulates its activities by means these electric waves which are registered in the brain. Beta waves occur during our waking state and Delta waves occur during deep sleep. For relaxation, the other two types of waves, the Alpha and Theta brainwave frequencies, are of specific interest.
- Alpha occurs when we are in a state of physical and mental relaxation, mildly aware of what is happening around us: its frequency are around 7 to 13 pulses per second.
- Theta occurs at more or less 4 to 7 pulses and it is a state of somnolence with reduced consciousness.
We attain these states of mind during sleep - as we approach the state of deep sleep. If we are able to achieve these states consciously, then we have learned the technique to reduce stress significantly. The question is… how to achieve this state of mind during waking consciousness?
Organizing our day, setting limits, making time to do the things we enjoy, taking time to relax, regular practice of Yoga and Meditation, listening to music and inspirational messages helps. Remembering to smile often and being grateful for the small things has a magical effect too. In other words, taking control of our day, and introducing small changes that will help our mind slow down a bit and relax, will go a long way in helping us to reduce stress and live a full, healthy life -- and achieve more in the long run. The best thing we can do for ourselves is not drive our minds insane with incessant activity from endless to-do lists. Inject some white space too -- via relaxation techniques that work best for you.
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