Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Take a Break and Reduce your Stress

Take a Break and Reduce your Stress

I recently read in a paper that over 50% of sick days from work are stress related, it is well documented how damaging stress can be, and with the increasingly hectic lives that we are now living, stress related illnesses are becoming ever more frequent. Stress has been linked to many illnesses including heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, and suppressed immune system that can make you more susceptible to common illnesses; and so it obvious that we must minimise the stress in our lives, in this article, I will try and show you how to so this!

So How Can I Reduce Stress?

  • The first and the best tip for reducing stress levels is through breathing, whether your at your desk at work or sat in front of the television, you can do this anywhere, just really focus on each breath, breathing deeply and slowly. By concentrating on your breathing, any stressful thoughts that may be in your head are removed as you are no longer focusing on the stressful thoughts, but on the breathing, this should help calm you down. This should be done whenever any stressful moment arises, and will stop you dwelling on these negative thoughts!
  • Exercise is my next piece of advice, not only will exercise keep you thin, it is a great way to release endorphins, exercise will help clear your mind of worries while making you feel good about yourself, exercise is a great method from converting you from a bad mood into a good mood. It is recommended that you use exercise as a compliment to other stress reducing methods, not solely by itself.
  • Visualization has been done for many years, for example those cold days in winter when you imagine the nice warm, sandy beach with the waves crashing on the sand with the surf lapping at your feet. Through visualisation in the minds eye, you imagine yourself in some happy, serene, peaceful relaxing environment e.g. the one above or imagine being sat at the edge of a forest over looking a lake with the sun shining through the trees and illuminating the lake while the birds tweet overhead. You get the idea, through this visualisation, by putting yourself in your minds eye into that scenario; you should be aware of everything around you in the image and really immerse yourself into the scenario. As a result, this has a calming affect on your entire body, and relieves your mind of any anxieties or stress that you previously had. If you practise this regularly, you will really notice the affect, and soon will be able to fall into this state of relaxation in a matter of seconds.
  • Talk to a friend or family about what ever problems you may have. Most people find that when they share a problem and get other people's opinions on it, they cope far better. As the cliché says, a problem shared is a problem halved, and this is quite often true. By sharing your problems, you may feel a huge weight lifted off you shoulders, and may even result in you getting the support you really need.
  • If you’re a lady, treat yourself, go for a pedicure or a manicure, not only will this make you look great, give you an extra confidence boost and make you feel good about yourself, it also has great therapeutic effects.
  • Meditation, like deep breathing will send your body into a state of deep relaxation, and help calm and relax your mind and body, This will help your daily worries and stress drift from the forefront of your brain! There are many different types of meditation techniques, so I recommend you have a search round till you find a method that suits you best.

I recommend that you employ a variety of these methods to really relax and make the most of life, and live to the happiest you can be. Otherwise, before you know it, you may be getting dragged down into depression by stress and suffer needlessly, and even die before your time. Good luck, take a step back, and relax.





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Friday, September 08, 2006

Be Happy for a Healthy Life

Sometimes you just have to let go and be happy as this apt article shows. Stress and worries do nothing for your health, so just try to relax and enjoy the moments of happiness that comes your way.

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Happy as You Want to Be by Morris Trahan

Almost everyone have heard the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferiin's simple message surely made a lot of people by telling them not to worry.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well with

Happiness is actually found in everyone, increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.

To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which you can do this. Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.

News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.

A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace.

Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily everyday. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'. Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone. Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time. Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive. Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.

These are the few simple things you can do everyday to be happy.

And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

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Thursday, September 07, 2006

Think More Clearly, Lose Headaches, and Anti Aging

There are many schools of thought in relation to hydration and its effects on the body, but I am on the side that believes to optimise your health, you should keep well hydrated at all times, drinking 8 glasses or more of water a day. Many agree, some disagree, but keep yourself well hydrated, and you'll find that the majority of the time, you'll feel a lot better than if you were dehydrated. Dehydration can also lead to a loss of concentration, so keep hydrated, and you will probably live a more productive life!
For more health and fitness tips visit: http://squidoo.com/health-fitness
For running tips and advice visit: http://runningadvice.blogspot.com

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Benefits of Water Anti Aging by R. Drysdale

Water has been called the elixir of life and when we think about the benefits of water anti aging comes readily to mind. In an ancient Japanese legend, the hero Takenouchi no Sukune drank daily from the waters of a sacred well, and lived to be more than 300 years old. Though we may not expect to live nearly four centuries, many of us believe that regularly consuming good quality water will have a significant impact on health.

To reap the benefits of water anti aging, how much water does one need? A standard answer seems to be eight full glasses of water a day - that's 64 ounces of water. The key to appropriate water intake, however, lies in common sense and moderation. If the weather's hot and dry, if you are very active and sweating a lot, or if you are continually thirsty for some other reason, you will probably need more water than the average person. On the other hand, if you are well hydrated, and the weather is cool and wet, you will probably need less. Too little water leads to dehydration; too much can be life threatening as well.

So don't overdo it. It's not hard to keep yourself properly hydrated and add the benefits of water anti aging to your anti aging routines. Learn to interpret the messages your body is giving you. A slight headache is often the first sign of dehydration; you may also notice that your urine is concentrated and dark in color (some drugs and vitamin supplements can also give the urine a dark color), and that you are urinating less frequently. These are signs that you should drink more water. Symptoms of overhydration include behavioral changes. You may be confused and drowsy, and suffer from blurred vision and muscle cramps (overhydration is quite unusual in healthy people, but it can occur if you consume more water than your body is able to excrete).

Will any water source confer long life and good health? It's no secret that much of the fresh water on earth is contaminated with chemicals, disease causing organisms, and other pollutants. Tap water is usually treated with chemicals to remove many of the impurities, but this results in more chemicals being added to the fresh water that comes out of our taps. None of these things contribute in a positive way to the benefits of water anti aging or health improvement. Again, common sense tells us that the water we drink should be as pure and clean as possible - a belief that has spawned a proliferation of bottled waters in the beverage market.

Bottled water, however, is not necessarily any better than tap water. It still contains chemicals and it is not necessarily sterile. It is simply water in a bottle, and incidentally, more chemicals gradually leach out of the plastic the bottle is made from, adding more impurities to the brew. People who believe bottled water is cleaner and purer than tap water are not getting what they think they are, and they are not getting any special benefits of water anti aging. Similarly, drinking distilled water is likely to do more harm than good because this water is demineralized and will deplete the body of minerals that are needed for proper functioning.

The best source of truly clean water is a water filtration system - one that will remove impurities, chemicals and microbial contaminants but not affect the normal mineral content and pH levels of the water. This is the closest practical equivalent of the legendary pure mountain spring, rising from an underground source that has never seen chemicals or pathogens. This is the water that will give you the maximum benefits of water anti aging and good health - the longevity elixir of Takenouchi no Sukune.


About the Author

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. You can learn more about the benefits of water anti aging on the AntiAging Information site.





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Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Some more tips to help you quit smoking

Its been a while since I covered quitting smoking, so I just thought I'd post a few more tips for those who are looking to quit! These are a few simple steps that you can follow and may give you some help or inspiration to quit smoking. Here is an awesome site to help you quit smoking: Quit Smoking Now Without Gaining Weight!

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Steps You Can Follow To Quit Smoking by Tony James

Smoking addiction is a very serious threat to anybody's health and most of the time, quitting smoking can be a very difficult and frustrating habit to break. As you try to quit smoking and fail, it becomes tougher each time. This is you are actually conditioning your mind to give in more and more. That is why most people need help and support to quit smoking.

Here are some steps which you can follow to quit smoking:

Step one:

Start to prepare to your quit date to kick the habit forever. Start using artificial cigarette (Herbal Cigarette) one month before your quit date. This is to avoid any anxiety or depression as well as to stabilize your blood sugar levels to avoid weight gain.

Pick up a new hobby and start an exercise program to enhance your energy and strength as well as training your mental power.

Step two:

Once the quit date arrive, dispose off all cigarette related items such as ashtrays, lighters and so on. You can continue with your hobby or exercise program. When you quit smoking, put aside a sum of money that you will previously use to buy cigarettes. At the end of the month, reward yourself with that money.

Step three:

Congratulations, you are already a non-smoker. However, to maintain this way is crucially important. After 3 to 4 weeks time, nicotine and other toxins will become clear from your lungs. You will mostly recover from your physical addiction. Unfortunately, the psychological addiction will be there to stay for many years.

Unforeseen circumstances such as stress, problems, anger and frustration will temp and prompt you to smoke almost immediately. Do something about your stress and anxiety. Be on guard at all times because it normally take only one cigarettes to trap you back in the vicious cycle of cigarettes again. Celebrate for every month that you've quit smoking.

About the Author

Tony James is an ex-smoker for 15 years and is currently helping smokers to quit smoking with ease without the discomfort of cravings or withdrawal symptoms.

For more free articles, contents and resources on how to quit smoking:

Click Here Now =>

http://www.easyquitsmokingsecrets.com/Steps-You-Can-Follow-To-Quit-Smoking.html





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Saturday, September 02, 2006

Squeeze Exercise into Your Daily Regime

This article brings up a very good point regarding time, with people increasingly working longer and longer hours, people find it hard to fit exercise into their daily routine. This article demonstrates how necessary exercise is as well as giving you ideas on how to fit it into your day. An interesting read I'm sure you'll find. For more health and fitness advice go to: http://squidoo.com/health-fitness

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Find The Time: There Is No Excuse Not To Exercise by Kimberly Jamieson

Find the Time- There is No Excuse Not to Exercise I know you're thinking that it's so hard to find the time to exercise. I understand, at times it can be very frustrating. I am just like you, and many of my friends struggle with this also. It may be very difficult to drop those unwanted pounds if you do not exercise. Not to mention, it is very important to keep your heart healthy. By exercising you will be strengthening your heart muscle. Yes it is a muscle! And you don't want it to atrophy, and stop pumping properly. Finding time to exercise can be easier than you think. You just need to be a little creative with your time management. This morning I hopped on my bike at 6 am, and believe me this was not an easy task I am not a morning person. But I focused on the result of my exercise, and not the process of doing it. What I mean by this is that I focused and concentrated on how great I will feel, look, and be after my exercise (the result). Many people will focus on the process: I don't feel like getting up, it's too cold outside, or I am too tired (the process). You must focus on the result and not on the process. After my bike ride, I showered and went to work. At lunch time I really needed a pick me up! I was dealing with a lot stressful issues in my business, and I needed the feeling I get from exercising to give me a burst of energy, help me focus and get my thoughts together. I find that when I spend time exercising and riding my bike, I gain clarity and focus. It also allows me time to think. My dearest friend is a marathon runner, and after she goes for a run, she also feels energized and focused. Many people think that there is no way that they can exercise during their lunch time because they will be become sweaty, smelly, and it will be difficult to return to work in that condition. But I am telling you that you can, and the effect of exercise is worth it. After a quick walk at lunch-wipe yourself down with baby wipes. If they work great on a baby's bottom during a diaper change, I feel confident that they will clean up a little sweat! Reapply your deodorant, refresh your lipstick, and spray a little perfume. Try it, and see how you feel. The benefits are worth the effort. To your healthy pain free living lifestyle, Kimberly Jamieson (www.healthypainfreeliving.com) has achieved success in living, maintaining a healthy active lifestyle. She has helped and inspired and motivate thousands to achieve this life. To learn more about aches, pains, healthy weight loss, proper eating habits and exercise tips. Learn to soar and live the ultimate lifestyle visit www.healthypainfreeliving.com

About the Author

Kimberly Jamieson (www.healthypainfreeliving.com) has achieved success in living, maintaining a healthy active lifestyle. She has helped and inspired and motivate thousands to achieve this life. To learn more about aches, pains, healthy weight loss, proper eating habits and exercise tips. Learn to soar and live the ultimate lifestyle visit www.healthypainfreeliving.com






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