International Stress-Reduction Tips!

Stress is evil...plain and simple! And I am always on the lookout for different relaxation methods. I've actually tried several things, which have generally had favorable results: spinning...running...ditching my cell phone...each of these have been effective in the past, but I am always open to new things!

The truth is that being a professional and dealing with the everyday ups and downs of Corporate America usually brings unintended and unwanted stress. Unfortunately, too much stress can have negative effects on your physical, emotional, and mental health. For example, chronic stress can trigger headaches, chest pain, and elevated blood pressure. Additionally, stress can be attributed to insomnia and alcohol/substance abuse, as well as physical aches and pains. And for professional women of child-bearing age, stress can also be a contributing factor in infertility.

Needless to say, it is imperative that professional women find ways to avoid and relieve the daily stress we encounter, both at home and in the work place. As a constant seeker of stress-reduction methods, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across an article in the Huffington Post entitled "Stress-Reduction Tips From Around the World." I was all in! The article took a look at stress reduction methods from Sweden (taking a few coffee breaks), India (head massages), Japan (going shoeless at work), Finland (sweating it out in a sauna), and West Africa (dancing). The article is highly interesting, so in the interest of sharing I am passing it on to you! Do yourself a favor and check it out!

What are some of the methods you use to destress? 

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Need to De-stress? Ditch Your Work Phone!

Now, I know I lost most of you with the title of this post, but please hear me out! Like many professionals, my company has provided me with a cell phone so I can access my work emails while away from the office. I also use this phone to compose and respond to emails, open and edit work documents, and bill my time spent working on projects. As a result, my work phone has become my third arm. I feel naked without it, and I check it incessantly. Naturally, I didn't see anything wrong with my behavior...until I came across an article in Women's Health Magazine stating that our cell phones are a big source of everyday stress. Wait...what! 

My regular Chronicle readers know that I am always searching for ways to destress. As I have said in the past, being a professional and dealing with the everyday ups and downs of Corporate America usually brings unintended and unwanted stress. We all know that stress can have negative effects on your physical, emotional, and mental health, and I'm not with that! So I am open to any and all suggestions to alleviate stress, including entertaining the claims in the Women's Health article. 

After reading the article, I started thinking about the correlation between my work phone and stress. I then realized that treating my work phone like it is a third arm is sought of like working all day long...I am always "on." Even in those moments when I am supposed to be relaxing. And then it clicked...I need to cut off my third arm...not completely, but a little more than I have been in the past.

 

That being said, I started thinking of ways to cut back, and I came up with a few ideas that I believe will help me, and you, to minimize our stress and provide some much needed detachment from our work phones. In the interest of sharing, I have outlined my ideas below so that we can all work on destressing and taking a break from our work phones. Take them or leave them....but I'm willing to bet you'll be less stressed if you take them!

1. Revoke your phone's access to the breakfast, lunch, and dinner tables - A quick way to mess up the digestion process is to read an email that reinforces just how busy you are, or are going to be, at work. Use your meal time to relax and eat without checking your mail. Ideally, you can give yourself at least 2 hours per day when you are not focusing on your email and work.

2. Put the phone out of reach when it's time to go to bed - You can't read emails while you sleep, so don't have your phone within reach when you head to bed. I'll admit, I do keep my personal cell phone on my nightstand, primarily because I use my phone as an alarm clock. But my work phone is always tucked away in my work bag...on silent! 

3. Keep the phone out of the bathroom - Let's face it, having your phone in the bathroom is not the most sanitary practice. Also, just about anything you do in your bathroom can be a relaxing and relieving experience. Why ruin this time by checking your work email! Instead of inviting your phone to share a bubble bath with you, take a magazine or a book or your iPod. Anything to help you chill out!

4. In the morning, try not to check the phone until you get to the office (if possible) - I don't know about you, but I use the time it takes me to get ready for work in the morning to get my mind right for the day ahead. If you're heading to the office anyway, why not wait until you get there to check your email. I always say that if someone needs to reach you urgently, they can always call. Give yourself the morning to get it together before heading into the office.

5. Don't check the phone while driving - Not only is it illegal in many states to use your cell phone while driving, but it is also dangerous. Leave your phone in your work bag or pocket until you are done driving...no checking your email. Instead, use your drive to listen to music or relax in silence. The best part about my commute is the chance it affords me to listen to my music, and sing to the top of my lungs, and not care if the person in the car next to me is looking at me like I'm crazy. It's sort of like therapy!

That's all I got for now! Can you think of any additional times and/or places where you should ditch your work phone? Share in the comments below!

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6 Easy Ways to Alleviate Stress That You Probably Haven’t Thought Of!

Greetings Divas! I am highly optimistic that your work week has gotten off to a great start! Mine has been pretty fantastic so far. Although I’ve been busy this week, I do not feel stressed. Many of my long-time readers are aware that one of the primary reasons I decided to start the Martini Chronicles was to relieve stress. I have said many times, being a professional and dealing with the everyday ups and downs of Corporate America usually brings unintended and unwanted stress. I have also noted that stress can have many negative effects on one’s physical, emotions, and mental health. In addition to headaches, chest pain, and elevated blood pressure, chronic stress can also trigger insomnia, alcohol/substance abuse, and physical aches and pains.

Needless to say, it is imperative that professional women find ways to relieve stress. Last year, I shared a list of 6 ways to deal with stress (See Stress and the Professional Woman). Today, I want to share 6 more! But these are not your ordinary, run of the mill stress relievers…nope! These are simple and easy ways to alleviate stress. In fact, you probably already do some of these things and are completely unaware of their stress relieving properties…go figure! I hope you like the new list, and I hope that at least one of these items help you. As always, if you have other suggestions, please share!

1. Hit That Happy Playlist – Remember a few months back when I shared my Happy Playlist with you all? As I explained then I am highly motivated by music, and I often listen to music throughout the day to relax me. As such, I began creating Happy Playlists on my iPod. My Happy Playlists contain songs that make me feel happy when I hear them. Sounds corny right? Corny as it is, I make it a point to listen to tracks on these playlists during my drive to work. This simple practice has resulted in me feeling more relaxed once I arrive at work, and happier as I go throughout my day…even when I encounter the most stressful situations. If you are a person motivated by music, I encourage you to create a few Happy Playlists to get you through the day. It’s worth a try!

  

2. Watch Reality T.V. – I am the biggest abuser of reality television…I can admit that. And I’m not ashamed to admit it because reality T.V. has become one of my most effective methods of relieving stress. There’s something soothing and entertaining about watching other folks tackle this little journey we call life. My shows of choice: Real Housewives of Anywhere, the Biggest Loser, Top Chef, Project Runway, and (I’m embarrassed to say) Love and Hip Hop…yeah I said it! In sum, watching reality T.V. temporarily takes my mind off of my stress. With results like that, you really can’t judge me can you?

3. Play Video Games – Confession time. Back in December I went to the mall to do a little Christmas shopping. As I headed to Express to pick up a new outfit for myself my mom, I came across a Nintento Wii setup and saw that there was a small crowd gathering. What was the crowd looking at you ask? There were four mall goers dancing in front of a big flat screen television…they were playing Just Dance 3! I don’t know what possessed me to volunteer to play this game in the middle of the mall with a crowd of people watching me, but I was all in! The song: Dynamite by Taio Cruz. My opponents: a 7-year old boy, a 10 year-old girl, and a 25 year-old woman. The winner: ME! Yes ma’am! I had the most points at the end of the song, and I won my very own Just Dance 3 video game. Now, the 7-year old boy was not pleased that I won, and threw the most ridiculous tantrum…I ended up giving him my game. The point of this diatribe is that these new breed of video games are great! They are fun and interactive, and completely capable of helping you forget about the presentation you have to give at work the next day. Back when we were kids, playing video games made everything right…I challenge you to take this same simple approach as an adult. Unfortunately the Stud did not get me a Just Dance 3 for Christmas, but I’m hoping he is reading this post and catches the hint!

4. Get Hooked on Pinterests – Yes…I drank the Kool-Aid! I am officially addicted to Pinterests. Sigh! Who knew that sitting on the couch and looking at pins could make you forget your stress! It’s actually amazing how time just seems to fly by when I’m pinning. But you know what else flies by when I’m pinning…stress! For those of you out there who have judged the simplicity and fun of pinning, believe me when I tell you it is soooooooo relaxing! Can some of my fellow pinners please back me up here!

5. Watch Kevin Hart’s “Laugh At My Pain” – I’m not going to give you a review of Kevin Hart’s latest comedy show. All I’m going to say is that Mr. Hart is hilarious, and you are doing yourself a great disservice. Trust me, and go watch it…you will completely forget (for at least an hour) that your boss succeeded in getting on your last nerve…I promise!

6. Hug Someone You Love – By far the simplest item on this list! Sometimes a long, meaningful hug from someone you love can melt away any pent up stress. Just find that loved-one, open your arms, ask him or her to come in for the real thing, and commence to hugging. Just that simple. And don’t just hug for a couple of seconds and let go….GO IN on the hug! A 2 to 3 minute hug is not unreasonable….just go in. In fact, stop reading this post right now, and go hug someone…I’ll wait……

 

Now that you’re back from you hug, I just want to remind you all that taking care of yourself is a must! If you are chronically stressed and mentally and emotionally frazzled, you are no good to yourself or others. So, what do you think of the list? What are some of the ways you deal with stress?

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Stress and the Professional Woman

I have a confession to make. We’ve known each other for a while, so I feel like I can be honest with my fellow Divas. One of the primary reasons I decided to start the Martini Chronicles was to relieve stress. There, I said it! The truth is that being a professional and dealing with the everyday ups and downs of Corporate America usually brings unintended and unwanted stress. Not good! Stress can have negative effects on your physical, emotional, and mental health. For example, chronic stress can trigger headaches, chest pain, and elevated blood pressure. Additionally, stress can be attributed to insomnia and alcohol/substance abuse, as well as physical aches and pains. For professional women of child-bearing age, like me, stress can also be a contributing factor in infertility.

Needless to say, it is imperative that professional women find ways to avoid and relieve the daily stress we encounter, both at home and in the work place. In the spirit of sharing, as always, I wanted to share some of the ways I have chosen to deal with stress (as well as some that I intend to try). My hope is that at least one of these stress-relievers will help you. If you have other suggestions, please share!

1. Write It Out! – Starting the Martini Chronicles has been so therapeutic! The practice of writing my feelings down on paper has allowed me to express, in words, those things that bother me, or worry me, or stress me. Also, because I am determined to share the most current and accurate information with my readers and followers, the Chronicles have forced me to research some of these bothersome issues and learn more about them (i.e. stress). All in all, writing has given me an outlet to express myself and relieve some stress. Try it!

2. Walk It Out! – Right outside my house, there is a huge park…complete with walking trails, a track, an ice skating rink, a pond, and ducks! Moreover, this park is absolutely beautiful in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. During these times, I strap up my beloved dog and my trusty iPod, and I go walking in the park. There’s something relaxing about nature that relieves my stress; that and the tunes playing on my iPod. Strangely, I get my best ideas when I’m walking in the park…like the idea for this post!

3. Work It Out! – It is a scientific fact that exercising releases endorphins, which triggers feeling of happiness and well being. Happiness is a great way to relieve stress! And you’d be really happy when you fit into a smaller dress size as a result of all the exercise. Remember, any type of exercise will do…running, walking, cycling, dancing, weight lifting, etc.

4. Soak It Out! – Grab your favorite bubble bath, pour it in warm, running bath water, get in the bath, and…that’s it! Do nothing! Just sit in a warm bubble bath, and relax away your stress. Want to bump it up a notch? Before getting in the bath, light a few scented candles, dim the lights, and turn on some soothing music. Don’t forget your eye mask and a towel to rest your head on while soaking.

5. Yoga It Out! – Sign up for a yoga class. I haven’t done so yet, but I’m thinking about it! My fellow Divas who have taken yoga rave about its relaxation and meditative properties. They all have said that doing yoga 2 to 3 times a week have improved their flexibility, and have also managed to help them clear their heads. Perfect! I think it’s worth a try!

6. Drive It Out! – Sometimes, a nice long drive may help to relieve stress. Now I’m not talking about driving during rush hour in New York City traffic; take a drive outside of a major city on a country or back road with the windows open (weather permitting). Pop in your favorite CD, or listen to the sound of the wind whipping through your hair. Either way, relax and drive your stress away. Remember to abide by the speed limit and all traffic laws (the lawyer in me made me say it).

When all is said and done, you have to take care of yourself. If you are all stressed out and mentally and emotionally frazzled, you are no good to yourself or others. I now recognize the importance of distressing….so I’m working on it. I’ll let you know how it goes!

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