The 7 secrets to keeping stress at bay

by Lynette Allen

Ok, summer's nearly over, you've probably been on holiday, got a bit of a tan and are feeling somewhat revived and ready to get back into 'work' mode. How can you make sure though that those summer holiday feelings stay with you and don't disappear within minutes of thinking about work, routines and winter dawning? Well it's time to go back to basics and control the inevitable stress before it starts to control you.

Stress itself is not harmful - in fact we need a certain amount of stress to give us our 'get up and go'! Without it, we'd be lifeless, lack enthusiasm, energy and life would be pretty boring!

Stress only becomes a problem when we let it get out of hand. So before you even start to feel stressed, prepare your body and keep it in check by keeping these 7 secrets in your mind this winter:

FUEL - There are 2 types of fuel: quality fuel and false fuel

Quality fuel is what's going to make your body & mind work efficiently. Quality fuel will give you the energy you need to excel in whatever you want to do.

False fuel will give you short bursts of energy. You'll use this energy up in a matter of hours and before you know it, your blood sugar level will drop and your body will need to work harder, just to keep functioning. In the long term, this will damage your health and early illness will set in.

It is important to give your body the good quality food it needs to be able to function, so when you eat, think about what it is that you are actually eating. If you're reaching for the chocolate and coffee, the sugar and caffeine are going to give you short bursts of energy and leave you feeling irritated and unable to concentrate very quickly. Choose a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. Eat regular meals, to give your body the energy boost it needs.

Water

Did you know dehydration can cause:

Poor memory
Confusion
Lack of concentration
IBS
Blurred vision
Lack of energy

Thirst is a very poor indicator of being dehydrated. By the time the body tells you you're thirsty, you've already been dehydrated several hours. Avoid getting dehydrated by drinking 4 - 6 pints (2-3 litres) a day.

Breathing

Be aware of how you breathe. Long, calm breaths are better for you than short, quick breaths. If you sigh a lot, think about how you are breathing. Take several deep breaths, holding your breath for a few seconds at the top of the breath and exhale slowly. This should give your body the oxygen it needs without making you breathless or having to sigh.

Sleep

Everybody's sleep pattern is different; some people can function perfectly well on 6 hours whilst others need 8 or 9. Make sure that your body is getting the rest it needs. A lot of very important functions happen whilst we are asleep. Cells repair themselves, muscles get chance to rest and your brain processes the information you have taken in during the day. If you're a morning person and need to work, do so early in the morning, if you're a night person, you'll function much better concentrating in the evening, don't push your body's limits though - sleep is vital to your health as well as your mood!

Exercise

Exercise strengthens your immune system, it increases your energy, strengthens your diaphragm, so you can use a larger lung capacity per breath and it helps you to sleep better too. Make sure that you exercise in some way during the week, even if it's a run around the block - it's a great stress reliever.

Relaxation

Whatever relaxes you, make sure that somewhere in your schedule you make time for yourself. Have you ever really thought action what exactly makes you feel calm? Here are a few ideas:

Reflexology
Walking the dog
Having a massage
Visiting a Sauna/Jacuzzi suite
Yoga
Reading (not work/study related!)
Taking a bubble bath
Chatting with friends

Space

It is important to have quiet time in your life, time spent daydreaming (as long as it's only 15 minutes) can be very beneficial.

Daydream! Give yourself 15 minutes a day to stare into space!

Daydreaming gives you a chance to listen to your intuition.

Your intuition is a quiet little voice inside your head that knows exactly what's best for you and tries to tell you. But you need to listen to it. It's just a whisper.

Take notice of what it says and act on it. Before you daydream, ask yourself a question. For instance, you can start it with 'What do I need to do to ...?'

• Did a friend you haven't spoken to for ages pop into your mind?
• Did you think of how to do something that's been nagging you?

The earth may not move, you may not even feel a tremor! But sometimes, you'll be amazed at what happens - if you just listen carefully.

Facts about Intuition!!

It may be completely illogical
It is very underrated
Women are generally better at it than men!
It can be very useful indeed

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