Smart Stress Management Tools for coping in a stressful world

How To Manage Workplace Stress

workplace stressHere are several good ways to manage workplace stress - everything from on the job tactics to ideas for destressing your personal life, which also affects the workplace.

Easy Ideas For Workplace Stress Management | bulgebeater.com

The current day workplace can be an active stress trigger with multiple stress causing situations such as excessive workloads, long working hours and inevitable.

3.5 Ways to Manage Stress in the Workplace Due to Conflict

Studies suggest that workplace stress costs US employers an estimated $200 billion per year. The costs are related to absenteeism, lower productivity, employee turnover, workers' compensation, medical insurance, and other related ...

6 Ways to calm workplace stress

Then, take action by following this list of tips from Dr. Prkachin to see what you can do to get over it and on to a healthier, happier day. One of the leading causes of job stress is feeling powerless over projects, ...

Here's a great video to how to avoid workplace stress, by author and coach Robert Scheinfeld:

How To Avoid Workplace Stress

Meditation For Anxiety

meditation anxiety

Many people these days report feelings of uncontrollable anxiety, as well as depression. In fact, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental conditions facing individuals today. From a broader social point of view, it is an interesting phenomenon.

After all, in privileged developed countries that have high standards of living, you would think that anxiety and depression rates would be low.

Not so! In fact, the opposite is true with many health professionals stating that anxiety and depression are part of the malaise affecting modernized societies across the world.

The problem of depression and anxiety is part and parcel of the failure of modern day materialism and consumerism. Despite having all the things we want and need, people everywhere are still failing to find happiness in their day-to-day lives.

And it isn't surprising really when you consider the costs of our material wealth. Too often these days people are spending more and more of their time working, and losing precious time with their families and friends.

Our urbane existences are hectic, fast-paced and individualized with little opportunity for meaningful social interaction. It's no wonder so many people feel anxious or develop depression. Thankfully, many people who suffer from these conditions are finding meditation a very effective way of treating the signs and symptoms.

1) Do you suffer from an anxiety condition?

But firstly, what are the signs of anxiety conditions? The symptoms of anxiety illnesses are varied and diverse that includes any one (or a combination) of the following problems:
- Breathing problems, or shortness of breath
- Hot flushes or cold sweats
- Numbness or tingling sensations.
- Heart arrhythmia, palpitations or chest pains
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Morbid thoughts, or terror or sudden fear that something terrible will happen.
- A sensation of loss of control
- Agoraphobia
- Inability to socialize
- Avoidance of crowds or open spaces
- General tension and anxiety and an inability to relax most of the time.

2) Do you suffer from depression?

The symptoms that accompany depression include:
- Feelings of sadness, tension, confusion or irritability
- A diminished interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies
- Loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity
- Unusually lowered or increased appetite, with corresponding weight gain or loss
- Over sleeping or insomnia or lack of sleep
- Listlessness, restlessness or feeling slowed down
- Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
- Suicidal ideation

3) How meditation can help both anxiety and depression

Obviously if you experience anxiety or depression-related symptoms in an ongoing way, or in a manner that interferes with normal life, then the very first step is to see a doctor.

There is no doubt that medical attention and treatment is crucial to coping with anxiety or depression. That said, you can use meditation to help alleviate the symptoms and perhaps even cure yourself of both these life-affecting problems.

Unfortunately many people think you have to be part of a particular religion or spiritual tradition to meditate. Indeed meditation is too often associated with unconventional or offbeat eastern or new-age spiritual practices.

This is a common misconception that overlooks the enormous mental benefits that mediation brings to peoples lives every day. You certainly don't have to be a Buddhist or new-age hippie to get the benefits of meditation. In fact, for people suffering from either anxiety or depression, the great weight of medical research suggests that the relaxation techniques taught through meditation are invaluable for coping with the symptoms of both conditions.

4) How do I incorporate meditation into my day?

If you have decided to explore how meditation techniques can help your anxiety or depression, here are a few tips on including meditation into your day.

Start by telling your family that you are going to start practicing meditation every day, at a particular time during which you do not want to be disturbed.

Find a quiet space in your house, preferably a room that can be closed off, giving you maximum privacy and seclusion.

If you wish, you can play soft, relaxing music. Get comfortable either in a cross-legged position or by lying on the floor with your head supported by a pillow or bolster.

Close your eyes and systematically work through every muscle in your body, relaxing each one in turn. Start with your toes, then work up you legs, and so on, relaxing every single muscle so you feel loose, tranquil and as if you are melting into the floor. Even relax your jaw and eyelids!

Once you feel completely relaxed, focus on slow, deliberate breathing. With every in-breath think of a word (for example, "deep") and say to yourself inwardly. In the same way, recite a word inwardly when you exhale (such as "gentle"). Recite these two words as you inhale and exhale ("deep" then "gentle"; "deep" then "gentle" and so on) for approximately 20 minutes.

Control your mind by not letting it slip into analysis, planning or reflection. Simply focus on your breathing, and tune out all other thoughts. This is all it takes to meditate.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, you can help manage your problem by simply incorporating the deep relaxation techniques of meditation.

About the Author:

Tenzin is an accomplished author/publisher who has helped readers from all over the world to get whatever they want out of life using the ancient lost secrets of the mystics and masters. Learn more about the research of Tenzin Message Of A Master, Instant Wishmaker, and "Free Tarot Reading and Other Amazing Destiny Reading Secrets!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How To Deal With Anxiety and Depression With Deep Relaxation Techniques of Meditation

Anxiety Busting Guided Meditation


Indigo Ocean Dreams: 4 Children's Stories Designed to Decrease Stress, Anger and Anxiety while Increasing Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness Indigo Ocean Dreams: 4 Children's Stories Designed to Decrease Stress, Anger and Anxiety while Increasing Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness
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A Time for Relaxation, Vol. 1:  Guided Relaxation Techniques for Wellness A Time for Relaxation, Vol. 1: Guided Relaxation Techniques for Wellness
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Everyone could use a break from the hurry and stress of life. This relaxation training CD features four pleasant, effective relaxation techniques to calm the mind and body:BreathingAwareness of Body RelaxationGuided ImageryLoving Kindness MeditationBeth Freschi's calming voice will guide you through the relaxation techniques, while the beautiful music of composer Nathan Schilz adds a wonderful at...
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Experience four research-based,stress management techniques that are accepted and used by both the traditional medical and holistic communities. You will not find any philosophies, theories or fluff presented here because frankly, we do not have time for that and chances are neither do you. Enjoy and learn four stress-management techniques; diaphragmatic breathing, affirmations, visualizations, an...


Meditation Exercises

meditation exercises

The following exercises range from pretty simple to pretty complicated, but as you develop your abilities you'll eventually find that you can do them all at once and effortlessly. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years to develop this ability, so remember what I said about expectations.

You'll eventually be able to remember how to do these exercises by memory, and then after that you'll get to the point where you just do them without having to think about them.

Grounding

Grounding will always be an important skill, no matter how advanced you become, so take the time to learn this now and to be able to do it effortlessly.

Stand in the "Standing Stake" pose described above. Go through the breathing and Full Body Awareness exercises. Visualize roots growing from your feet down through the core of the earth, just like a tree. In later meditations you can add some variety by seeing the roots flow down to a large crystal at the earth's core. Depending on the effect you want you can vary the crystals and access different energies, but that obviously beyond the scope of the exercise at this point.

As you inhale feel the energy of the earth being drawn up through your roots and up through your body and out through the top of your head. On your exhale, let that energy drop back down through your body and feel all the accumulated stress of your life flow out with it and back down through your roots and into the earth. Feel your muscles relax as the stress flows out. This is a good way to release all your stresses, fears, angers and feelings of inadequacy. Repeat this exercise for awhile, as many times as necessary to clean yourself out.

There's nothing wrong (and a lot of benefit) to stopping at this point and just doing these exercises that I've gone over up to this point, until they become completely effortless. Whenever you feel yourself becoming stressed or angry learn to take a moment and ground yourself and let those feelings just flow out.

Progressive Relaxation

Progressive Relaxation is easy to do and you can do it anywhere and anytime. Assume your meditation position of choice (I like the half-lotus on a zafu) and go through all the exercises I've covered up to this point. Just take a moment and feel the relaxed energy that you should have after grounding and releasing all your stress. Are you ready to get deeper into this feeling?

Feel the energy that flows up through your roots and into your feet. Make fists with your feet by curling your toes in as far as you can until it hurts, then relax. Let that relaxed feeling flow from your toes back over your feet and feel them relax. As you inhale draw that relaxed feeling up over your ankles and feel them relax completely. On the exhale let any residual stress flow back out and down through the earth.

On your next inhale draw that relaxed feeling back up over your calves, letting them relax after walking all day. Draw that relaxed energy up over your thighs with the next inhale. They're the biggest muscles in the body, so let them relax and rest now.

As you inhale feel that relaxed feeling flow up over your hips and buttocks. Feel the stress bleed away. We store a lost of stress here, so take a moment and let this area relax. Draw that relaxed feeling up over your stomach and lower back. Feel the muscles in your back relax and feel your stomach move with your inhale.

Bring the energy up over your chest and the middle of your back. Feel your heart area expand with the relaxed energy and feel all the accumulated stress in between your shoulder blades release and flow out and back down with your exhale.

Draw the feeling of relaxation up over your shoulders and neck. Feel any residual tension flow out with your exhale. Let that relaxed energy flow up and over your head. Let the muscles of your face and those at the base of your skull relax.

Just sit here and feel this relaxed body that you have. Remember this feeling as its how you should feel all the time. Tense muscles store energy, which means that your energy isn't flowing through you, but rather sticking in certain places in your body.

When your muscles are relaxed then your energy flows unimpeded and is continually renewed, leaving you feeling much lighter and more refreshed.

About the Author:

Basic Meditation Exercises is an excerpt from Robert Morgen's book Kundalini Awakening for Personal Mastery (ISBN: 0-9773801-0-6)

His new book Easy Meditation for Martial Artists (ISBN: 978-0-9773801-3-8 ) is also now available.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Basic Meditation Exercises

KRYON channelling by Lee Carroll 11:11


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Artist Liz Cook says she wants this poster to inspire people to "get out there and do some yoga." With the help of Vivekananda trained yoga instructor Michelle Cobbin, she developed this colorful, fun and hopefully inspirational chart of some of the most commonly practiced asanas. Each large posture is accompanied by the common and sanskrit names and an explanation for accomplishing the pose and s...
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For years I've been searching for Yoga Art that is both decorative and depicts the postures in ways that honor and respect the forms of classic asana. I originally stumbled onto this collection while doing research on the physical postures. Surfing the web with the key words "inverted staff pose", I came to the website of The Chicago Yoga Center. They had asked one of their yoga instructors, accom...
Peace -Motivational Yoga Poster- 8''x10'' Peace -Motivational Yoga Poster- 8''x10''
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Text from Poster: Peace My path is one of hamony and tranquility....


The Relaxation Response

the relaxation response

Stress is a natural part of life. The effects of stress on health is actually good for you - if you didn't have stress, what would motivate you to complete a project or reach your next goal? On the other hand, a prolonged exposure to high levels of can have negative impacts on brain function.

The positive effects of stress on health include a release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which boosts brain power. Norepinephrine helps to improve your mood and is a key neurotransmitter in creating new memories. It helps to promote or stimulate creative thinking and can be a powerful tool in achieving your desired outcome.

Another positive effect is that it triggers our basic instinct of "fight or flight." Our body has natural systems for giving us the energy to make it through stressful experiences and then helping us to return to a more natural homeostasis. The sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the "fight or flight" response, provides a mechanism for our bodies to have increased adrenaline when times of stress arise. This is part of our survival instinct. After the initial stress response, your body also has a system for returning to a metabolic equilibrium. The parasympathetic nervous system springs into action and triggers the relaxation response. It is vital that these two systems work together to help manage the effects of emotional stress.

Effects of stress on health, of course, doesn't always yield positive results. Increased stress response over an extended period of time can have a dramatic impact on your mental focus, memory retention and memory recall. This type can also lead to increased physical issues or mental health disorders such as depression. It is important to utilize stress reduction skills so that stress does not have a lasting effect on your physical and emotional well being.

Stress is a natural part of life. By understanding your body's natural stress response, you can be more aware of the need to keep your body in a state of balance. There will be times of stress and relaxation--just make sure that stress doesn't overpower the time your body needs to recover.

Thankfully, there are nutrients that can help combat stress and improve brain function. By using Focus Fast, you can increase your memory, enhance attention, and improve focus in as much as 6 hours. This product contains over 38 scientifically researched ingredients that are manufactured in a state of the art facility. Want to learn more about this safe, effective, and highly recommended product? Click Here

What do stress management techniques do and what is the relaxation response?


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Ten Minutes to Relax: Living The Love Response Ten Minutes to Relax: Living The Love Response
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TAKE JUST 10 MINUTES TO RELAXDr. Eva Selhub is a Senior Physician at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine which was founded by Dr. Herbert Benson, researcher and author of the groundbreaking book The Relaxation Response.Through years of clinical research integrating Eastern and Western practices, Dr. Selhub has taken the Relaxation Response one step further. She discovered that the ex...


Meditation Relaxation Techniques

meditation relaxation techniques

In these times of stressful living, deep relaxation techniques are indeed in demand and, or course, are good ways to combat stress in life. In these times of demanding jobs and busy lifestyle, most of us have probably forgotten how to relax, and this is one major mistake we must correct.

Stress is beneficial in our lives but can be detrimental too - physically, emotionally and psychologically if left unmanaged. Excessive stress in our lives can lead us to many health problems as well as depression and unhappiness. We may not know it but daily stress that we tend to ignore can pile up for long and be the source of our many health problems.

Thankfully, there are easy deep relaxation techniques that you can do to manage stress and live a happier and more fulfilled life. Here are a few of them that you might find useful.

- Meditation. Meditation has been an old practice in calming the mind. Although it has been connected with religious traditions, meditation has also become an effective way to combat stress and has been a technique to relax the mind and the body. Aside from being a stress buster, it also helps you increase concentration and focus which are of course important in your day-to-day living. Deep breathing involved in meditation also helps a lot to attain deeper relaxation.

- Self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is also one of the deep relaxation techniques that can also be useful in managing excessive stress in life. In contrast to hypnosis where you will find a hypnotist to guide you to that heightened state of concentration and focus, you can do self-hypnosis conveniently in a quiet place alone. Visualization is an important part of self-hypnosis too. Most often, you can start self-hypnosis by visualizing the tension and stress being removed from every part of your body. Positive affirmation is also used during self-hypnosis, where you tell yourself positive statements. Self-hypnosis also uses the power of suggestion to help you attain a deeper state of relaxation.

- Imagery. Imagery is also a great technique to help you relax especially your mind. Of course, relaxing your mind can also help you relax your body and overcome the stress you encounter everyday. It can also be a simple exercise to do. You can include deep breathing techniques as well as visualization in to clear your mind and bring yourself to heightened relaxation. Imagery is done by visualizing a place or scene that helps calm your mind - a quiet beach, a peaceful mountainous scenery... and any place your find relaxing. Guided imagery is also a popular technique where you listen to audios that help you picture out a calm scene which also allows you to listen to sounds that will help you put yourself more into relaxation.

Whatever technique you wish to follow, it is important to learn about the technique in detail. The correct way of doing deep relaxation techniques is indeed important to help you achieve that calmness of mind and relaxation of the body. Choose a technique that you can do everyday to manage day-to-day stress. One very important factor in starting with any relaxation technique is to give a few minutes of your time each day to get rid of the all the tension and stress before it will wear you out completely.

Carolyn Anderson loves to share resources to help you manage stress and live a happier life. For a tool to help you achieve deep relaxation, check out this meditation audio. Also check out Quantum Mind Power, a specially designed tape to help you experience deep relaxation and manage stress.

Guided Meditation: Relaxation Techniques with Nawang Khechog


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Relaxation & Breathing for Meditation Relaxation & Breathing for Meditation
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A unique two-part program of supported yoga poses and breathing techniques to bring the body and mind to a state of stillness.PRODUCT DETAILSThe special DVD edition includes the complete two-part practice bonus guided restorative meditation and an in-depth interview with Rodney Yee.System Requirements:Running Time 85 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HEALTH/FITNESS UPC: 029956013209 Manufact...