365 Ways to Look-and Feel-Younger by Meera Lester & Carolyn Dean

Author:Meera Lester & Carolyn Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Adams Media, Inc.
Published: 2010-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

chapter nine

Lighten Up

179. Do Belly Breathing

”Belly” breathing is abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing. When air is taken in, the diaphragm contracts and the abdomen expands; when air is exhaled, the reverse occurs. You can test yourself for abdominal breathing by laying your hand on your belly as you breathe. If it expands as you inhale, you are breathing with the diaphragm. If it flattens, you are breathing with the chest. To practice abdominal breathing, imagine that your inward breath is filling a balloon in your belly. When the balloon is full, exhale until you feel it is completely empty. Just a few of these deep abdominal breaths will bring relief from tension—and pain is half tension. By slowing the breath and thought, you experience tranquility and happiness.

180. Change Your Environment

Consider the role your work day environment may have on your stress level. Think about what you might change in your office, cubicle, or other work site that could help you relax and feel more serene. Could you increase or decrease the lighting, turn up or turn down the thermostat, open a door or window, put up a poster with a pleasing nature scene, or close a door to mute unwanted noise? Make the necessary adjustments that allow you to feel good when you are at work, whether it’s a corporate setting or a home office. Anything you can do to reduce your stress level will benefit your body and mind.

181. Take a Mental Health Day

Sometimes you just need to change things up a little. Change the scenery. Change the pace. Change your routine. Not taking a mental health day when you are laboring under the deadline of a stressful job and a heavy work load can be detrimental not only to your body but to your mental and emotional well-being. Your productivity drops when you are mentally and physically exhausted. Give yourself the gift of time. What would you do if you didn’t have to be anywhere or do anything? Break your routine and take a day or two or a week, if you need it. Get away from work stress, deadlines, and other job-related challenges and difficulties.

182. Take Your Vacation and Long Weekend Breaks

If you want to be healthier, happier, less moody, and more productive, take a vacation. Resist the urge to take a “working” vacation where the family may cavort on the beach and visit museums while you remain in the hotel working on one or more projects that you brought along. That’s missing the purpose of taking time to rest, relax, recuperate, recharge, and renew your body and mind. Some psychologists recommend taking regular time off to reduce burnout from job and family stresses. If you can’t afford a long vacation, consider scheduling in some long weekends (three to four days) several times a year to strengthen family bonds and establish a better balance between work and play.

183. De-Stress at Your Desk with Simple Stretches

Consider how many times during the workday that you feel irritable, tense, or highly stressed over something a coworker says or a job that your boss just passed off to you.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.