Listen to a one minute stress reduction tip!

•  Pick one or two of these stress management tips each day to improve your life and relieve your stress leaving you relaxed and happy.

• Let them be right. Sometimes people just want to be right...so let them. Instead of arguing what you know will be and endless argument simply say " You know, you may be right about that" Then continue on to do whatever it was your way. After a while you will notice these people no longer telling you what to do and how to do it. Stress will be a thing of the past as relaxation takes hold. :-)
• Actively relax by practicing relaxed breathing exercises. To begin make sure you are taking a deep inhalation. The best way to do this is to fully exhale, that is to blow out all of the air in your lungs. You will the automatically begin to breath naturally from deep within. Try this exercise. Breathe in to the count of four, hold for the count of 7 and then slowly exhale for the count of 8. Make sure you are breathing deeply. If you aren't sure follow this link to learn how to breathe deeply to relieve your stress.
• Gaze at a picture of a smiling face. A recent study shows that by simply looking at a smiling face will lower your cortisol levels. Lower Cortisol= Less Stress!
• Play the awareness game. Notice something nice about everyone you meet today. She has a nice smile, he said thank you, etc. You will find that as you start noticing the positive in people you will be surrounded with positive people.
• Take a walk in nature. 10 or 15 minutes outside soaking up a little sun ( yes a little is good for you! It provides the much needed vitamin D), listening to the birds and letting go of your cares!
• Sit down with your cup-o-joe!  A friend of mine just moved from Germany where she said coffee and tea is served in real mugs not styrofoam. It is naturally assumed that partrons will sit down and enjoy their beverage. Instead of rushing though your favorite coffee shop take a moment today to sit and enjoy your latte. Leave your cell phone in the car and spend ten minutes savoring your beverage with no distractions. Are you worth 10 minutes?
• Visit with a friend. You can visit in person or over the phone. "Just talking on the phone to a friend has the immediate effect of lowering your blood pressure and cortisol levels," says Teresa Seeman, PhD, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at UCLA.
• Write it down! Who said you have to remember everything. Our lives are so busy today that it is almost impossible to remember everything that needs to be done all of the time. Save your brain power for the important jobs not for remembering to pick up toothpaste. :-) Write out a list of both work and personal tasks that need to be done. Then when you find yourself with an extra minute or two you are not racking your brain trying to remember what needs to be done. You simply look at your list and find a task that fits into your time slot and presto! It's done. Check it off and feel the sense of accomplishment. See your productivity soar as you stress decreases.
• Live below your means When you live below your means you have a better sense of control. You have more money in the bank allowing you the freedom to change jobs or even quit one that is not working out. Just knowing that you are not chained to a person or a company will empower you. Lifes little surprises that cause unexpected expenditures will no longer throw you over the edge. You will find youself taking everything in stride, happy and carefree.
• Celebrate!  Every day celebrate what went right. If you can, share your celebrations with someone else, a spouse perhaps. Make it a ritual to spend a few minutes at the end of the day talking and celebrating what worked for you today. It doesn't have to be anything big just notice what went right. No spouse? That's Ok . Call a friend or other loved one or write your celebrations in a journal. You will begin to find stress relief knocking on your door.
• It's not about you! When people behave poorly we often take it personally but it rarely is about you. Simply say to yourself "This is not about me and really has nothing to do with me." Take a moment and just send good thoughts to this person. You will walk away from the situation knowing that you did all you could to help. This one thing will have stress rolling off your shoulders.
• You don't have to do everything yourself. Do what you do best and what you enjoy doing and find someone to help you with the rest. You will not only be helping yourself but by allowing someone else to do a job for you will be helping them also. More relaxation for you = less stress!
• Prepare your will or update it if you already have one. Not only will it save a lot of stress and heartache for your loved ones should anything happen to you but it will also give you peace of mind to know that you have taken care of things. For a thorough, neutral, and easy to understand explanation of Texas probate and estate planning law follow this link.
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• Disconnect from your cell phone, pda, computer, ect. You really do not have to be connected 24/7. Set aside two or three times a day to check your emails and return calls and stick to it. You will discover that you will be more productive and have more time to just relax and enjoy life. Go ahead and let go of that negative stress.
• Stop Complaining  Everytime you complain you are giving away a little more of your power. Join a new movement that is sweeping the world. For 21 days do not allow yourself to complain about anything, not even the weather! It's not easy but when you start to become aware of how many thoughts you are having that aren't beneficial you will begin to focus on what you do want in your life.
• Just say no!  "You function best when your energy is very focused", explains Jim Loehr, E.d.D, co-author of  The Power of Full Engagement. The more you multitask, the more you split your energy signal and dimish your power and effectiveness." Learn to say no when you can. This is a huge stress tip.
• Take a news fast! I promise you you will not miss anything important. If something important happens someone will be sure to let you know. What you will miss is all of the negative feelings associated with hearing or reading about murders, wrecks, rapes, floods, etc. that you have absolutely no control over. All this knowledge will do is destroy your immune system and wreck havok on your life. So take two weeks off. You deserve it. See how you feel after the two weeks. If you use only this one stress tip you will see a huge reduction in your stress.
• Put something away every month for retirement. It doesn't matter if it's a small amount just get in the habit of saving for your future. Knowing that you have a nest egg to fall back on will bring you peace of mind.
• Get out and mingle. Your immune system likes it when you spend time with friends. " We have phenomenal data showing the value of nuturing, social support and camraderie," say neurologist Barry Bittman, MD, CEO of the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa. In one such study, researchers exposed people to a cold virus and then monitored how many contacts those people had with friends, family, co-workers and members of church and community groups. the more social contacts the people had---the more diverse the contacts---the less likely they were to catch the cold. People who have plenty of friends are more relaxed because they have a built in support system. This is one stress tip you don't want to forget!

More ways to reduce stress

• SMILE :-) It is really hard to be stressed when you smile. Try it!
• Create a Vision Board   Get pictures of anything and everything you want to have and/or create in your life. A good relationship, a new car, a nice home,etc. The sky is the limit! Put the pictures and words like joy, laughter, etc on the board. Hang it on the wall where you will see it often. You will find your stress decrease while your joy increases!
• Have a spiritual practice of some sort. Whether it be prayer or meditation or yoga doesn't really matter. All that does matter is that you practice regularly and make it a part of your life. People who have a spiritual practice are more relaxed and confident.

More stress tips and unique ways to reduce stress! :-)

• Set boundaries. It is not your responsibility nor can you make other people happy. Happiness is an inside job. We each have free will to be happy or not. Choose happiness and chances are that people around you will be happier also.
• Volunteer. Help someone else. It's a great boost to your own self esteem. The key is not to go overboard. Volunteer only what you really feel that you can do. Overextending yourself will only cause more stress.
• Hang out with Fido. It's no surprise that pets are great for stress relief. They listen well without ever talking back. :-) Petting an animal has also been proven to release certain hormones into our system to calm and relax us. Dogs and cats are the #1 choice though watching an aquariumn of fish can help you move into a relaxed state also. Don't really want a pet of your own? Consider volunteering at the SPCA or offering to take care of a friends pet while they go out of town.
•  Practice meditation. No you don't have to chant or hum or sit cross- legged on the floor. There are many different styles of meditation,some are affiliated with religions but not all. Meditation is simply a way to calm your mind and clear your head. There are numerous types and styles of meditation. Mainstream Meditation™ is not associated with any religion and is taught in chairs for your comfort. This is really my all time favorite stress tip.
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Yes there are more stress tips!

• Buy Bubble stuff and Blow Bubbles It may sound crazy but it was fun when you were a kid, why not now. I have one executive ( no names mentioned:-) client who keeps a bottle on his desk. His assistant regularly sees bubbles coming out of his office when he is busy creating!
• Listen to a short guided relaxation exercise everyday. Yes you do have time. Instead of watching that TV program when you just want to veg out opt instead to relieve stress with a guided meditation exercise. I created The Gift of Peace  or Garden of Tranquility just for this purpose. Try it for 30 days straight and if you don't find that your life has changed for the better I will gladly refund your money!
• An easy and pleasant to use stress tip is Aromatherapy ,a wonderful way to help reduce your stress. Lavender has long been know for its stress relief powers. Other oils are equally beneficial in relaxing and relieving stress. The great thing is that you do not have to do anything. You can add certain oils to your bath, anoint yourself, diffuse into the air. Discover more about the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy.
• Many people reduce their stress with the wonderful art of Journaling. Nothing more is needed than a pad of paper and a pen. One way is to just pick up the pen and begin to write. Your local bookstore may have guided journals that you can purchase. Learn more about the art of Journaling.
• Start a Gratitude book. Every night list five things that you are grateful for that happened today. Sometimes this may be difficult but keep at it. You can always find five things. As you write down the five things ( more if you want) focus on how each of these things makes you feel. Really get into the joyful and happing  feelings that are associated with each of these things in your life.
• Get a Massage  It will help you to reconnect with your body, mind and spirit. Studies have shown that regular massage can help to boost your immune system. What a delightful stress tip!
• Heart Math is a leading provider in new technologies offering useful tools to help your mind relax.
• Exercise, any kind and way that you can. Move your body to release stress and pent up emotions. Walk, run, practice yoga, dance, go to the gym or move to an exercise DVD. Just move your body some every day. It you are suffering from depression you may have to force yourself. Start small. A walk around the block is better than nothing. If you are at work walk down the hall.
• Use a mantra. A mantra is nothing more than a word or phrase that you repeat over and over such as "calm" or "Each and every day I am getting better and better in every way". You may use a phrase from your religion that has special meaning to you. The act of repetition is calming to the mind. It will replace the negative thoughts you may have been having with a more positive focus. You can repeat the mantra out loud or in your head. Repeating your mantra while practicing breathing exercises will help you move your life back into balance.

 Even more stress tips! :-)

• Do the George Jefferson strut! George was a fictional TV character who was full of himself. He was a very successful businessman who moved up in the world because he believed he could. He held his head high and his shoulders back and strutted across the screen. By changing your physiology you can shift your emotions. It's very hard to feel angry or upset with a big smile on your face. Try it!
• Laugh. Often and hard. Watch a funny movie, play with your children or grandchildren or do whatever makes you laugh. Researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center say laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels and appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels to dilate or expand and increase blood flow. A real belly laugh increases infection fighting antibodies and boosts natural killer cell activity.
•  One of my favorite stress tips is to Hang around positive people who support you. Spend more time in the company of people who think you are great and soon you will begin thinking so also. If your self esteem is low keep a journal of positive comments that others have said about you. When you are having a "down day" pull out the book to remind yourself that you are a worthwhile person!
• Join a class or group that you are interested in. The more passion you have in life the more relaxed and stress free you will find yourself. Learning something new will help you to feel better about yourself.
• Eat right.  What you eat will directly affect how you feel. Not sure how to eat right; visit Dr. Weil for great stress tips and information. One tip I learned from Dr. Weil is to follow the parameters of the store when shopping for your groceries. Avoid the isles and you will be on your way to eating healthier and smarter.

Yes I have more stress tips :-) You really can be stress hardy!

• Focus on what you want! Can you hold a positive vision in your mind and focus on that until to achieve your goal or desire? Most people are unable to reach their goals not because they don't know what to do but because they are unable to stay focused long enough to achieve the end result they are wanting. Learn how to stay focused. 
• Find more time for yourself
  

  The feeling of not having enough freedom to pursue activities that nurture us can leave us feeling stressed and unhappy. So find more time in your schedule for a life that reflects what you'd really like to be doing. Do you value yourself? If you don't, who will? Take a Life Balance class or work with a coach.

•  A really great stress tip is to Make smart money choices
  More money doesn't always bring more happiness, because with increased means often comes increased desires. Cut down on your debt, be smarter with spending, use your money to do what you want and trade old stuff for new experiences.

• A great way to relieve your stress is to learn how to ask for what you want.  Say it in a strong clear voice and make sure you state the request clearly and precisely. Don't hem and haw. You deserve to have what you are wanting and you deserve help in getting it. You will find that when you speak clearly with a strong and steady voice people will listen and will respect your wishes.

• Don't be a martyr. Get the help you need. Whether it be a housekeeper, an accountant or a virtual assistant. Help is available. If your funds are limited ask for help from your church or from a friend. Not asking is denying others the pleasure of helping. You will reduce your stress with this stress tip.

•  Caregivers often suffer from stress because they don't have a good support system in place. Other family members may not offer to help. If you don't get  what you need from the first person you ask just keep on asking. If you can work with a  Life Coach on this.
• Get in the Game Participate, don't sit back and complain about how things are. speak up to the appropriate people and find new solutions. By participating you will feel empowered keeping you stress hardy. Feeling disempowered or victimized can produce enormous distress. Whether you are making a work, health or financial decision, keep your personal power by speaking up and getting involved.