When the day has been tough the first thing I want to do is relax. This can be difficult since I have a teenager. Life can be hectic and tricky as the needs of our families always come before out time to relax. Stress management is always on the top of my "to do" list. I often wonder how I can find the time to relieve stress but somehow I manage.
First off, I make sure I get my "me" time. It does not matter if I seem to have the world crashing down around me I will always take the time to just relax on the couch and watch a little television. Notice I said a "little". Busy people just cannot sit in front of the television all the time. Making it a point to just be in peace for a little while, however, can rejuvenate and calm at the same time.
Without the luxury of having enough time to relax when and where we want to we will have to find alternative was to relieve our stress. It might sound clich but a nice bubble bath with some lit candles and soft music will work wonders. If you are so inclined, add a glass of wine to the mix. It is ok to do this in the middle of the week. In fact, it may just be a very important part of any stress management routine.
Exercise is something else that we should add to the list. Exercising, especially weight training, is a great way to relieve stress. I have found that the more I work out the more I feel relieved. This is especially true if there is one person who is stressing me out. I just think of that person and what they did and lift, punch, kick or whatever it is that I am doing. For some reason, this helps tremendously. Visualizing your source of stress and beating it down is an awesome feeling.
Stress can creep up on you faster than you can blink your eye. Most times it only takes a few seconds to get our stress under control. Ever hear the saying "just count to 10"? Sometimes counting to 10 really does work. So does going for a brisk walk or even a slow walk. I think the quickest way to relieve instant stress is to just walk away from the situation for a few moments.
While trying different stress management techniques always remember to breathe properly. Breathing is so important as if you do not breathe properly you can negate the whole thing. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth slowly is important. This is especially true during exercise. In fact, sometimes just taking deep breaths slowly can relieve stress.
Whatever stress management technique you choose remember to do them properly and often. No matter what, stick to your guns and do not let anyone draw you away from your time with you. If some of my suggestions do not seem to fit to your lifestyle there are numerous online sites offering "courses" on stress management and how to relieve tension. Your local gym will also be a great resource for finding advice and teaching you various stress management techniques.
JMD