Techniques that Can Help You Relax

 

Relaxing is something most people wish they could do. I find myself always yearning for relaxation, but I always feel tired or stressed. Relaxing seems like it is always out of my grasp. This article will help you learn to deal with stress through visualization, how to cope with worry, and the importance of sleep when searching for true relaxation.

The Tibetan's believe in the "three humours", and each of these areas relate to a type of stress; these three types of stress are known as "wind stress" which causes tense muscles, "stress of the bile" which causes irritability and impatience, and " phlegm stress" which causes "depression and fatigue" (George, 1998, p.14). Stress can and will cause pain, and I find this to be true because many people, including myself, feel sick when they are stressed out. I particularly enjoyed an exercise for dealing with stress that allows you to see your problems disappear. The method described by Roth for dealing with stress is called "stress ballooning", and it calls for the use of a felt tip marker and 2 balloons (1998). This exercise can be done without the balloons, but I enjoyed using them. In order to complete this meditation you must think of what is stressing you out, and you must figure out which one is the most potent. Now take that stress and the emotion behind it and blow it in the balloon until it is filled up with your stress. Now take a pin and pop the balloon; with that the stress and the old reaction to stress is gone. Now fill a new balloon and think positively about the stressful situation. Now write on the new balloon a new positive idea about the situation that is causing you stress. If you can not write it in words draw a picture. Now play with the balloon while thinking about your new positive response. This method was helpful to me because I realized by simply drawing a flower on the positive balloon that I need to find a job that allows me to work outside. I am very excited about my new gardening job, and this exercise definitely helped me to realize that.

Sleep is a very important part of relaxation. Sleep allows the body to "regenerate itself through inactivity" and it allows "dreams to carry out their mysterious exploration of our unconscious" (George, 1998, p. 58). Many people do not sleep enough, and many people sleep too much. I find that I sometimes I sleep way too much, and sometimes I barely sleep at all. This exercise has helped me to find a sleep pattern that is natural to me. The exercise requires going to bed when moderately tired and noting what time it is. Remember not to set an alarm, and meditate before sleep. These ideas will help you drift to sleep calmly, and you will wake up when your body feels it is restored. I found that I sleep for 8 hours before I wake up naturally. I believe that this is the natural amount of sleep that my body needs, and I also believe that I should go to sleep around midnight. I have also found through this practice if I go to sleep earlier and sleep for more than 8 hours I will be tired when I awake, and if I sleep less I will want to take a nap in the afternoon. I know that with my busy life style I will not be able to always get 8 hours of sleep, but I will try. I have also become aware of the energy restoring ability of exercise and I recommend the use of healthy sleeping instead of napping to help restore energy.

Relaxing is not always easy in the world we live in. there are always things to worry about, but these methods have helped me to relax, and I feel that these methods can help others as well. So next time you are stressed out or feel tense try these exercises in order to feel relief.

Time Management Tips to Help Reach Your Educational Goals and Reduce Stress

 

Life is not easy, and we are all way too stressed out, but it does not have to be this way. You can have your cake and eat it too. There are several easy tips you can try to help manage your time, reduce stress, and reach your educational goals, and this article will provide you with many tips to help you do just that!

1. One time management strategy I use to maximize my time and reach my goals is starting with a plan every week. You can try this by creating a calendar for the duration of each class, and using the syllabus to determine what you have due on what day. Organizing your work with a calendar is a great way to utilize your time because it will allow you complete assignments in an organized and timely manner; it will also allow you to see a progression of ideas which will in turn help you better understand the information you are supplied with.

2. Another time management strategy is assembling all the materials you will need ahead of time. You should try to have the syllabus, reading materials, and other important papers printed out and assembled at the beginning of your class. This will allow you to access your learning materials at any time or place. This will also allow you to prepare for my assignments ahead of time, and it will help you save time when assignments are due because you will already have the necessary information and documents available.

3. I think using a personal planner is a great way to stay organized, and everyone should get one. If you do not like using a personal planner there are many other similar options. Many email servers provide you with calendars, and many cell phones also have applications that can serve this purpose. It is important to have all the necessary deadlines organized in an easily accessible place in order to reduce stress and achieve your goals.

4. I enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off of my to-do lists, and I recommend anyone with a lot on their plate to make a list. It is important to have a list because it can be your starting ground for getting things done. If you have a list you can use it to fill out your calendar or planner, and it is uniquely satisfying to cross things that have been accomplished off the list. This simple action can provide you with satisfaction, a sense of relief, and hope.

5. I, like many people, have a habit of procrastinating, and I sometimes try to trick myself by marking assignments done for a day early. This way if I am procrastinating I still won't be late.

6. Another trick I find helpful is writing down many simple things that I need to do that are not an extremely high priority such as file bills, clean closets, and other things that are not super important. I then take these pieces of paper and put them in a jar. When I have a few minutes I pull one out and get it done. This way the bigger things can stay in focus and the little things can still be accomplished.

7. I understand completely that there is never enough time. Just remember that no matter what you do there will always be more to do tomorrow; so when you are stressed out maybe you should take a few minutes just to relax. Take a minute to look at the sky or something else you find peaceful. Just stepping back even if it is only for 1 minute will make it much easier to delve back into the stresses and demands of life.

8. I also think it is important to prioritize, and I relate to learning to say you can't do something. This is something that is hard for me as well, but it is necessary. Make sure you accomplish what is the most important to you before you beat yourself up over the small things. Try to get the really important things done, and if you miss some stuff, well at least be proud of what you did do. Remember some people do as little as possible, and we can only do our best. If you are doing your best you can not be at fault; you can only be proud.

9. It is easy to be tired when you are overwhelmed with the demands of life, but correct time management requires that you schedule in some time for yourself as well. When I am working I take a break every 2 hours, and I do a few different things to help get my energy up. Simply stretching will help bring your energy up, and if you are feeling particularly spunky do some sit ups or push ups. You could also jog for a few minutes or just take a walk around the house. Another easy way to get some energy is to just go outside. The sunlight, change in temperature, and atmosphere will give your body a boost. Next time you are tired do 10 sit ups, and I guarantee you will be much more motivated. If you are not the type of person to work out try standing up and doing some simple stretches like touching your toes or reaching for the sky. It will get your blood moving, and it will revitalize you.

Life is full of stress, but we can take these stresses and turn them into positive things. These easy tips will help you learn how to manage your time effectively, and this management will help you reach your educational goals while reducing your own personal stress.