52 PROVEN STRESS REDUCERS (PART III)

28. Try the following yoga technique whenever you feel the need to relax. Inhale deeply your nose to the count of eight. Then, with lips puckered, exhale very slowly through your mouth to the count of 16, or for as long as you can. Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10 times.

29. Innoculate yourself against a feared event.

EXAMPLE: before speaking in public, take time to go over every part of the experience in your mind. Imagine what you´ll wear, what the audience will look like, how you will present your talk, what the questions will be and how you will answer them, etc. Visualize the experience the way you would have it be.

You´ll likely find that when the time comes to make the actual presentation, it will be ¨old hat¨and much of your anxiety will have fled.

30. When the stress of having to get a job done gets in the way of getting the job done, diversion - a voluntary change in activity and/or environment - may be just what you need.

31. Talk it out. Discussing your problems with a trusted friend can help clear your mind of confusion so you can concentrate on problem solving.

32. One of the most obvious ways to avoid unnecessary stress is to select an environment (work, home, leisure ) which is in line with your personal needs and desires. If you hate desk jobs, don´t accept a job which requires that you sit at a desk all day. If you hate to talk politics, don´t associate with people who love to talk politics, etc.

33. Learn to live one day at a time.

34. Everyday, do something you really enjoy.

35. Add an ounce of love to everything you do.

36. Take a hot bath or shower ( or a cool one, in summertime) to relieve tension.

37. Do something for somebody else.

38. Focus on understanding rather than on being understood, on loving rather than on being loved.

39. Do something that will improve your appearance.. Looking better can help you feel better.

40. Schedule a realistic day. Avoid the tendency to schedule back-to-back appointments; allow time between appointments for a breathing spell.

NATIONAL HEADACHE FOUNDATION