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It’s really not normal to be stressed!

December 16, 2011

“It’s normal to be stressed” Possibly the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard anyone say!

But who isn’t stressed?

It’s become a competition; who can be the most stressed, who has the most to worry about, who gets the worse symptoms of stress and soldiers on regardless?

The stress competition means no one is sympathetic about it anymore; who cares if someone else is stressed about work, our own deadlines and issues are much more important!

So stress has lost its significance.

Even though we know it contributes to illness, disease and early deaths, collectively as a society we do nothing to stop it. The mere thought of trying to squeeze in some relaxation time into our busy and hectic days is just too stressful to comprehend.

But what if it was normal to be relaxed? What if, in our diaries, each day included something fun, self indulgent and simply lovely!

I bet most of you couldn’t imagine it! I urge you to stop missing out on life and to stop resisting a healthy lifestyle. It’s yours for the taking just reach out and take it!

To be healthy is normal, to feel well is such a great feeling and to be relaxed is so much more fun.

So I’m declaring my own little war against stress, will anyone join me?

Starting with the one hour a day rule. Each day regardless of other commitments, 1 little hour out of 24 must be spent doing something enjoyable and relaxing.

It’s essential to figure out what you find relaxing first so make a list!

To get you thinking in the right direction here’s my Top 10 relaxing quick fixes, (excluding my regular massage and reflexology sessions!):

1. Breathing, controlling your breath is one of the easiest stress management tricks I can think off. And with one little thought, you’re back in control!

2. A Hot Bath, using natural bath salts really helps to sooth aching muscles, if it’s warm enough that big muscle in your head just melts too.

3. A Foot Soak followed by massaging coconut oil into my own feet, if you believe in the principals of reflexology then you’ll understand that by looking after your feet you are having a positive effect on the whole body. All you need is a washing up bowl!

4. Listening to music, it evokes all sorts of emotions and depending on mood we can choose to listen to all different genres. But when I’m humming along to a song, tapping my feet or even dancing round the room the last thing on my mind is work.

5. Making Plans, a lot of my relaxing hours are spent planning things! I like to plan trips and holidays, parties and social events and sometimes I plan the ways I’m going to relax.

6. Meditation, time to be totally within oneself, and a time to learn how to control and ignore pointless thoughts.

7. Yoga, again using controlled breathing pops up but along with that yoga gives me a sense of achievement and I feel as if I’m being really healthy whilst doing it.

8. Getting Creative, once we grow up that wonderful imagination and creativity that was encouraged when we were little is hidden away in a dusty part of our brains. Getting creative by painting and crafting gives my mind something to get lost in and it feels wonderful.

9. Getting warm, it’s really hard to relax when you’re cold so I spend a lot of time making sure I’m warm. If you need to save on the heating invest in a hot water bottle and a soft furry blanket. It’s absolute bliss!

10. Sudoku, I love puzzles, especially when I feel wound up and think I’m not going to sleep! I switch my mind over to puzzle mode and before I know it I’ve forgotten what I was worrying about and I’m snoring with the puzzle book on top of me!

When making your list the following don’t count!

1. Drinking alcohol

2. Eating food

3. Watching TV

So stop living in camp stressed and move over here to camp relaxed! The sun always shines, the grass is green, the sky is full of laughter and the birds are tweeting!

Hope you have a stress free Christmas and plan some amazing relaxation for the New Year!

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