Archive for Stress Relief
Let Go of The Superman Mentality
Posted by: | CommentsWe live in a day in time where work ethic is at an all time high. We find ourselves working sixty to eighty hours a week, operating on lack of sleep. We often find that we don’t have the energy nor the stamina to sustain the task at hand. Our bodies just aren’t meant to run twenty hours a day operating off only four hours of sleep.
I’ll be the first to raise my hand in agreement, there was a time when I felt like I was quote on quote “superman.” I thought, “Oh sure I’m 29 years old, I only need a few hours of sleep to recharge.”
With the hustle and bustle of our busy schedules, we’ve placed such a high demand on ourselves to deliver more work. And we place less importance on getting the proper amounts of rest. In fact, studies show that lack of sleep is one of the major contributors to the sense of grogginess that you may feel.
Do you find yourself operating off a minimal amount of sleep in order to meet the demand of the day?
Well, if this applies to you, you may find yourself in what I like to call “the superman mentality.“
An example of someone who has the superman mentality is someone who simply places a high demand on work and less demand on rest. They fit the description of a work-a-holic who runs and runs and relies on their inner power and will to carry them from day to day.
Those who have the superman mentality often resort to high levels of caffeine intake or energy drinks. They intake large amounts of sugar, which in turn leaves hearts racing and possibly even a sense of anxiety. No wonder we’re more stressed today than ever before.
There’s nothing wrong with having a great work ethic, but a problem arises when we devalue the importance of sleep and substitute it by dosing up on numerous cups of coffee and insanely large cans of Red Bull.
Over a period of time, you are doing yourself a disservice and causing enormous wear and tear on the body. You may say “Well Jarrod, I’m strong willed- I may Read More→
Take Life One Day At a Time
Posted by: | CommentsMany times we sabotage ourselves when we worry too much about the future. If you have a job that is stressful or tends to be overwhelming, you may find yourself thinking about doing the same stressful tasks over and over again tomorrow and the day after that. You may be saying to yourself, “I can’t do this over and over again, this is too unbearable.”
When you think like this you are doing yourself a disservice because for one, It’s negative thinking and it’s poisonous to your mind. And secondly, you’re worrying too much about the future and this isn’t a healthy way of thinking.
You should learn to take life one day at a time. Don’t worry about the overwhelming work load that tomorrow has to bring. You should realize that tomorrow is a brand new day, with brand new mercies.
You only have two hands
You may have worked yourself into the ground and it seems that you’ve given it all you’ve got. You may say to yourself, “I don’t see how I can take another day like this.” But think of it like this… you’ve only got two hands and you can only carry two bag-fulls at once. You may look down your path and see hundreds of bags in sight but you have to over look those bags for the time being.
When your hands are free again, then and only then will be the time to fill them once again. You can only obligate yourself to one task at a time. The thing is, too often we make the dreadful mistake of stressing out over the future, not knowing how were going to be able to deal with the stress that it has to bring.
It’s important to remember to take life one day at a time. God knows how much you can bear, and He wouldn’t put any more on you. Work like it’s your last chance to work and notice the difference this mind-set will bring, as you charge forth on your journey of life.
Photo credit: by chris@APL
25 Occassions Worth Letting Loose and Enjoying The Moment
Posted by: | CommentsThroughout the hustle and bustle of the day, we get stressed out over the wrong things. We may find ourselves focusing too much on the past or the future.
The moments that are worth focusing on, have a tendency to go over our heads. Too often, I have to remind myself to let loose and enjoy the moment. Below, I’ve devised 25 examples that are worth letting loose and enjoying the moment. They come far and few in between, so when you find yourself in one of these moments, be sure to kick back and enjoy.
- The sound of birds chirping at dawn.
- Watching the sun rise.
- Watching the sun set.
- Enjoying the evening breeze.
- A view of the city from the top floor of a 30 story hotel.
- A long relaxing back rub.
- The sound of a nearby fountain.
- The sound of rain on the rooftop at bedtime.
- Inhaling the brisk morning air through an open window.
- Endless laughs with friends.
- Gazing into the sky while lying in a hammock.
- The smell of freshly cut grass.
- A ride on a bridge overlooking a large body of water.
- The sound of the rain-forest.
- Swinging on a swing.
- Watching a fireworks show.
- The sound of nearby wind chimes.
- Catching a shooting star.
- A magnificent view of the earth from the window seat of a plane.
- Watching a live orchestra perform.
- The sound of a baby laughing. Read More→
3 Needed Stress Busters
Posted by: | CommentsStress is our bodies’ way of telling us that it’s being over worked. Without it we just might work ourselves into our own graves. Often enough we over look those signs and overwork ourselves until we just can’t work anymore. I can totally understand, when you’re a go-getter and you’re naturally ambitious, it’s always about getting the most done in the smallest amount of time.
We’ve all heard it before… that famous line that we tell ourselves, “I’ll just work the next ten minutes, then I’m calling it quits.” Well sometimes it doesn’t happen like that. Ten minutes turn into twenty minutes, then thirty minutes, and the next thing you know an hour has gone by and you’ve over worked yourself. You’ve pushed yourself to that last straw.
One of the biggest stress signals that we get are those pounding headaches that come from working ourselves to the limit. Over a period of time, stress starts to manifest itself into our bodies and leaves us with tensed up muscles and overwhelming thoughts. By this time it seems as though it’s too late, we’ve gone overboard in working ourselves.
I always say that life is about balance and the best way to prevent stress is by taken action to neutralize it. Here are three stress busters are helpful in limiting the amount of stress that you will experience.
1. Exercise – Have you ever gone on a short run or did some sort of strenuous exercise and noticed how great you felt afterward? When you exercise, your mind releases neuro-transmitters called endorphins which aid in reducing stress. These endorphins are also partly responsible for making you happy. Exercise is an all the way around Read More→
How To Stay Sane In An Insane World
Posted by: | CommentsIn the world we live in today it can be difficult to keep a positive attitude with so much going on. Many people are becoming so bogged down by the economy and the job layoffs that they are loosing inspiration.
It’s important that we keep a positive outlook no matter how hard the trial because it’s that positive outlook that will influence our decisions. No matter how dark the day know that you will overcome it.
Here are some helpful tips on how to stay sane in an insane world. Read More→
Relieve The Stress by Changing Your Thoughts
Posted by: | CommentsMost of the struggles we face in life can be eliminated by changing our thoughts. When something gets the best of you it’s because you allow it to take control over your life.
Our thoughts are directly tied to our emotions so when we’re upset, sad, tired or discouraged, we don’t think as clearly as we do when our emotions are in a neutral state.
If you get discouraged about something, it’s often harder than normal to come to your senses because the weight of the discouragement is over powering your ability to rationalize.
Therefore, often times our worst mistakes are made when we’re weighing our decisions based on our emotions and not our logic. It’s very easy to give up on our dreams because we get discouraged due to lack of progress and growth.
Many times the discouragement stems from us getting impatient and not putting our faith in God.
You may find yourself looking at the progress of your goals and you might find that you’re not where you want to be. Don’t let that discourage you. Don’t operate based on that emotion of discouragement.
Continue to put your faith in God. The night is always the darkest before dawn. When you’re in your darkest state and it seems like you’ve lost all hope and despair, remember to yet hold on to the promise of God. Read More→
Ten Ways To Develop The Christmas Spirit
Posted by: | CommentsThe holidays are one of the most joyous times of the year. Unfortunately, for some it can be a rather difficult time of year. As we grow older, we find that it’s not as easy to get into the Christmas spirit as it was when we were younger.
We put so much pressure on ourselves during the holidays that we forget what it’s like to have fun during the holidays. Here is a list of things to do during the holidays to help relieve stress and develop the Christmas spirit.
1) Decorate Around The House.
For me one of the best ways to get into the Christmas spirit is putting up the Christmas decorations around the house. Some people might say it’s a chore, but instead, look at it as an opportunity to put all your cares aside and focus on having fun during the Christmas season.
2) Spend Time With Family and Friends.
Throughout the year, it’s can be hard to commit time to family because of our hectic schedules. However, one of the best ways to relax during the Christmas season is to commit time to family and friends. Especially those who you don’t get to see throughout the year. Read More→
The Real Reason For The Season
Posted by: | CommentsAs Christmas draws closer, it can be a rather stressful time trying to meet deadlines. It’s easy to focus on all of the negative aspects of the holidays such as the rush of Christmas shopping, crazy traffic, not knowing what to get friends and family, or even feeling obligated to give to everyone.
Therefore, Christmas can be a stressful time of year. I want to remind you to take a step back and be in the moment this holiday season. As cliche as it sounds, remember the real reason for the season.
Over the years, the world has taken Christ out of Christmas and put the focus on other tangible things. Remember if it wasn’t for the Birth of Christ we would not be saved. We wouldn’t have the right to a tree of life.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Friend, because God sent His son Jesus, our lives are forever changed. We know this because, in John 10:10, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and He says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Read More→
The Difference Between Happiness and Joy
Posted by: | CommentsHappiness is dependent upon people and material things. Many times happiness comes and goes depending on whether our situations are in our favor of not. Happiness is only temporary.
Joy is not based on people or material things, it’s based on the spirit of God within us. Joy is eternal. When you develop the true Joy of the Lord, you make the choice that no matter what comes your way, you will walk in the Lord’s perfect peace.
The bible says that He will keep us in His perfect peace if we keep our mind stayed on Him. You may have so many things hitting you left and right but if you choose to be joyful, and trust that the Lord will keep you in perfect peace, you’ll find life to be a lot less stressful. Joy is something that the world didn’t give and the world can’t take it away.
Notice, I frequently use the word choice. That’s what it all boils down to. It’s your choice to choose a life of peace and joy. Here are some ways to help you establish the joy of the Lord in your heart: Read More→
5 Things To Be Thankful For
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s very easy to fall into a mindset of worry and doubt in this day in time. With the economy being in the state that it is, it’s tough to keep a positive outlook on life.
Sometimes you may find it tough to count your blessings, so just as a reminder, below is a list of 5 things to be thankful for:
1) Be thankful for your health and strength.
God’s grace and mercy is amazing. He continues to wake us up every day, even when we don’t deserve it. Remember there is someone on their death bed or even worse, someone who didn’t wake up this morning. It sounds cliche but be thankful that you have legs to walk and a tongue to talk. No one is promised tomorrow. Read More→
