Reducing Stress

Stress Reducing Ideas

Everyone has stress in their life. Stress can be healthy even if you cannot directly control it. It can motivate you, drive up healthy adrenaline for excitement, and eve give you a healthy challenge. But what if stress gets to be too much? What if it starts to weigh you down?

First, you must determine the causes to solve any problem. If it's uncontrollable, such as bills, a different outlook may be the only way of calming yourself. Perhaps you can also make a list and prioritize the spending. It could ease your mind.

Other types of stress are situation in which you can remove yourself if you can. If you are having problems with someone else's affairs or getting involved where it's not for you to be in then the best solution is to back away from it. 

Stress can just sometimes add up and can leave a mark on you or perhaps just make you feel bogged down even after you handle everything you just accomplished. Finding ways to calm down from this is pretty simple, but some people have trouble just letting tension go.

If stress is bottled up too much and you become too surrounded by stress without relieving yourself of it you can affect your health, mental state, relationships, even to the point of ignoring your duties. Practicing stress management everyday may not eliminate all unwanted stress, but it does make it better and easier to cope with.

Ideas to Reduce Stress

1. Start eating healthier and exercising. Take a walk, drink more water, eat proper portions, have more vitamins and minerals in the foods you eat, etc. The body and mind will cope better.

2. Talk about it. If something is stressing you, keeping it in doesn't do any good for anyone. This can effect anyone mentally if it is put back long enough.

3. Be productive. Lot's of people handle stress better when they are keeping busy. It can help clear the mind or take their minds off things for a while. Whether it's cleaning or doing a project, you'll feel better after.

4. Read a book. It's calming, relaxing, and it's like a mini get-away. 

5. Watch T.V. While this seems very unproductive, watching your favorite program or a good movie is a good release for a while. 

6. Get a creative hobby. If you have the money you can sign up for local craft and art groups. If you don't or would rather have time to yourself instead of a social group you can pick up materials from your local art or craft store and begin creating! Great ideas on Pinterest or you can Google any number of tutorials. Or, if your like me, you can just use whatever your imagination gives you.

7. Spirituality. Whether it's church, a religious group, or just looking into scripture from holy books, more often then not you will find what you are looking for that may ease your mind. Connecting with your beliefs is a great way to keep stress at bay.

8. Meditation. You can view my meditation page HERE or you can look up other ways meditation and reflection can calm you. Meditation is a great way to relax!

9. Listen to music. Not only relaxing and a good way to get your mind off things, sometimes you can also connect with the lyrics or feelings behind certain songs that make you feel better overall.

10. Get out of the house! Go connect with nature, take a car ride in a scenic route, go on an adventure! 

11. Learn to say 'no' or ask for help. Everyday tasks will cause stress. But when we overextend ourselves we tend to flip out. Learn to say 'no' if projects are too much on top of the others you are involved in and if a project or task is just too much for you to handle yourself ask for help.

Unhealthy Ways to Cope with Stress

I'm sure some of these are a given, but you would be surprised how many people do these things to manage stress!

1. Drinking or doing drugs. While enjoying a small drink is harmless, in excess it can be dangerous and even escalate feelings of being down. Drugs even in recreational fun are NOT good. Downers, uppers- all play a part on the body, not to mention are expensive to use even if it's legal (weed being legal now in some states). It's much better to be constructive and not waste time or money getting these to manage your stress.

2. Shopping. Ok, ok, sometimes it is awesome for us to shop. But think about it. Just because your stressed will spending money on things you don't need constructive? Buyers remorse sometimes comes after these shopping sprees. Or perhaps you spend more then what you really have out of want. It causes problems. If you are smart about it and you really don't spend a lot for a pick-me-up, then more power to you! But beware if your a habitual spender at stores. Probably isn't a healthy way to deal.

3. Reacting the wrong way. Taking it out on people, causing different types of "crazy" making conversation and destructive talk can ruin relationships. Be aware of how you deal with stress when speaking with others about the confrontations they may be a part of. Be careful and constructive in the way you talk and propose ideas so you can solve the stress.

4.Eating. This isn't making healthy habits- this is someone who eats because of their mood. Ice cream, chocolate and sweets do release a chemical in the brain that makes us feel better, but often afterwards we feel horrible about the choice. If you do this, which many do, find healthy snacks to replace these with. After some time it'll be a healthy habit instead of gorging on something that can impact your health in large amounts.

5.Keeping it to yourself. I sort of explained this before in things to do. It's easier to talk to people then retaining the tension. It could be a friend, a family member, or even a professional. Keeping stress in that you can't manage often festers on the person and makes everything worse. Even if the stress is people-induced, find a calm point to talk rationally about it.

While we all go through some level of stress, you don't need it to rule your life. Prepare a daily routine that takes care of you. It doesn't need to take hours. Sometimes even taking an hour to unwind and calm from the day is enough to make you feel much better!

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Healthier May Equate to Happier

Diet Changing To Better Health 

Seems that fitness and healthier eating are a trend nowadays. While activity and healthier eating may contribute to weight loss and and a better physical feeling, having more vitamins and nutrients may also make one feel more happy with themselves. 

I took a plunge into fitness and healthy eating a couple years ago. I was tired of not finding clothes that fit and the one's that I did want I couldn't find my size. I was hurting all the time even though I had an active job at Disney. I made it a goal of mine to get fit and loss the weight. I paid for a one-on-one personal trainer at a training gym and started eating like I should have been all along. I cut portions, cut calories to about 1200 a day (what I needed for my goal and my activity level)  and lost almost 80 pounds, gained muscle, and felt AMAZING. 15 pounds from my goal I met someone, moved, lost my job and got pregnant. I didn't have the funds even with my new job to always eat right. I still don't at the moment, but the focus is still there. I'm just under 200 now, up from the 165 at my best. When we move in the next couple weeks I will be focusing on my eating habits. Where I am now I have limited room and area to work on good food. It's... a disaster to say the least with the people I live with. I'll update my progress as I start again to better health.

Until then, whether or not you want to lose a little or a lot, it's undeniable the health benefits of eating better. It does make you feel better. Your energy will greater. Your outlook may also improve. You may even save money in the process.

Add some or all of these and watch what happens!

I have been hearing a great idea to cut out some starch and calories all over Pinterest and food shows. I love the idea of mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes! I got this recipe from http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsidedishes/r/cauliflowermash.htm

Ingredients:

• raw Cauliflower - a medium head makes about a pound of florets
• any combination of butter, milk, cream, or whatever you use when you make mashed potatoes - about 1/4 cup
• salt and pepper
• If you have low carb "instant mashed potatoes", add up to 1/4 cup for texture*
• Options: minced garlic (a clove or two); garlic powder (1/2 to 1 teaspoon); cheese

Preparation:

*I like to use instant "potatoes" made for low carb diets, such as Dixie Carb Counters Instant Mashers. Other people use a small amount of real potato or instant potatoes to improve the texture. But you don't need any of these things.

Break the cauliflower up into florets, or just chop. I like to cook it in the microwave in a container that I prepare and serve it in, but you can steam it. Cook it until it's tender -- a fork should easily pierce it.

The easiest thing to do is to add the rest of the ingredients to the container the cauliflower is cooked in, and then use a stick (hand) blender to put it all together. Or you can put it all in a regular blender or food processor.

Assuming 4 servings from a pound of cauliflower, each will have about 3 grams of usable carbohydrate plus three grams of fiber. The calories will depend on what else you add.

Of course, you can add things like some cheese, garlic, or chives! I'm looking forward to this soon.

Be Responsible

Always remember- whatever attitude, demeanor, or focus you have- you are responsible for how you deal with situations and your reactions. Be aware of your energy and let yourself shine!

I also added another page tonight about meditation. Check it out :)

It's The Small Things...

The Small Things Are What Counts...

Yesterday my fiancee told me "I'm always thinking of you when I see little things you would like..." He always brings me small things especially after work. It may be a diet soda I like, some chocolate after mentioning a craving the day before, even the smallest wire chicken planter from a feed store near home that we always pass- and I always commented on how cool they were. (I have a strange fascination with chickens for a kitchen but this planter is awesome for outdoors!) We both have a hard time with his work schedule and with very little spendable money on any sort of fun he tries hard to make me happy in his own way. It's never overlooked. I always thank him. 

We had a fight one night and we didn't have food. Well, he had a frozen meal and I had nothing left. I was peeved and throwing an attitude. He had to go out and get something for the car, but when he returned, my fiancee had a reusable shopping bag full of salad stuff for me. Not only did he know I was indeed need of food, but paid special attention to my need of salads and healthy food I often eat. It was really awesome.

I have always said it was the little things. The little things that make up life, happiness, intrigue, fun... If you wait for the big things to be happy you may always end up disappointed. You could be waiting for a long time passing up opportunities, or the big moments come only to be disappointed that they didn't go as planned.

Again, as many blogs before I mentioned it's those positive things. Seeing the positive, being positive. Almost like being a young kid again. Everything has wonderment. Learn to see the world that way again and people will notice. It may seem silly at first, but when those little things make you happy you begin passing that little bit of energy to those around you and it spreads. Smiles, good deeds, anything. 

I saw The Hobbit finally today and a quote Gandulf said really hit me.

This picture comes from http://www.thereturnedmissionary.com

People often forget they can make a difference even while having little to nothing. Actions are just as valuable and can be bigger then a lump sum to one charity versus good and positive actions that spread and can really hit someone who needs it and changed their day- even life- forever.

Looking for Good Things?

Good Things are Always Around You Somewhere...

Blessings, gifts, what you worked hard for, what you were given. These are little pockets of things in life that we should always remember no matter how little we actually have.

What gives us the best feelings? Is it lots of money, love, possessions? What about yourself? 

People often spend a lot of time worrying about what they don't have instead of looking around at what they do have. Most of us are lucky enough to have food everyday while a good chunk of the world's population has very little food. Most of us are lucky to have a roof over our heads in a home setting. There are plenty of homeless out there in the world that would give anything for a good place of residence. 

Part of being positive comes from your optimism toward your situation. If your unhappy with your settings and your things you have power to change it. Dreams, hard work, networking, dedication. If one is unhappy but refuses to try to even make small changes to be positive and change their situation, then perhaps one must look inward to the roots of themselves. 

Whether it's meditation or prayer- a refection of self- find what is causing such negative balance. Usually, in my experience with people, it's not looking for what one already has that makes a future look so bleak.

Even a person who has their health has something fortunate that many others cannot say they have. Buddhists follow a path in which they will never own anything other then the robes they wear, yet they find peace. This is because possessions, in their faith, bog down the path toward enlightenment and happiness. They have an inner peace knowing who they are and what they work towards.

It's harder in societies like ours. You need money to exchange, a vehicle to commute to make that money, and we feel as if we need luxury items to destress. 

Why not start by looking for the good already in our daily lives? You wake up- that's one thing that billions of others before us cannot say they have. Today. Alive, breathing, seeing such amazing technological advances that a hundred years ago would have never been plausible. Even day to day items that make life faster and easier- even safer! 

You could look around you no matter what your circumstance and think to yourself: I have a bed, blankets, a television, a roof, some mode of transportation or blessed with two legs to get me around, luxuries (game systems, junk foods, designer jeans...) a job, a family, a friend... a chance to change.

Focus on your positive everyday, even if you are satisfied with life. For today it's here but tomorrow is never promised.

Personal Inspiration

My Personal Inspiration for the Day!

Today was overall a good day despite fighting a headache all day and my one year old having tantrums near the end. She had been well all day- very happy even- like she normally is. As normal children do, perhaps, she had her meltdown at grandma's. It was fine, though. She's perked back up!

Since we are getting ready to move into a new place we decided today to scour Lowe's. They had red mulch on sale for a dollar a bag, so we went and picked up 6 of them. We would have gotten more but the left over papers from last nights paper delivery too up too much room in the back.

Well, while walking around and collaborating ideas I happened to find a gold mine in the flooring area. 

I had seen a great idea on Pinterest (yes, I'm a Pinterest fiend. I need to put a button up soon...) to make stepping stones by personalizing them as mosaics. I want this to be one of my first projects for the outside along with getting stuff ready for gardening and just having outdoor plants. Yes, my renters are THAT awesome to us! Anyway, I found where the broken and tile on sale was on shelves in the middle of the tile center- pieces as low as a quarter. How could I pass this up for what I wanted? I even walked down a full isle and picked up 2 black tiles for .30 a piece. The best part: this Lowe's was selling BUCKETS of broken tile for $5.00. YES. $5.00!!!! all in 5 gallon buckets! Some were mixed a little, but each bucket had an inventory of what they included. The one I first liked was almost $20 worth. Great natural colors all around. After I noticed this on the paper on the bucket I looked over the others. There was a bucket worth $200- but only had one type of tile... and I didn't need THAT much of one color. The bucket I got was best for me. It was $98 worth of tile- 3 types- including MARBLE. So, needless to say, I probably don't need any more natural or soft browns for my projects for a while! I'll be sure to post everything once I get going and tweek the How-To a bit ;) Not to bash the blogger who originally put up the tutorial, but I really REALLY have another way of doing it and make them awesome.

The biggest problem we are having with the move so far: The electric provider DOES service the place we are getting- SECO- the renters know for sure, of course, because they have the power on right now. But the address they keep on giving is wrong and the number to the power box is not the one SECO has. Urgh. A minor setback that we need to fix soon with management to sort out. But nonetheless will get done. Who said everything was going to be smooth, eh? It happens and everything will work out. 

My lessons for the day:

Get pumped up about anything happening in your life. It may be as simple as a yummy meal you plan for the end of the week (I do this often) or a project that you are about to do in the coming weeks. You don't need to spend a lot of money to do this, but you can always shop around for items that you think you may need and look for those hidden deals you'll never notice otherwise. Try not to pay full price for everything and you'll likely get more excited about things. For instance, you need shrimp for that meal. It may be an extra stop, but scowering your local market ads you may come across a sharp deal that is lower then it's competitor's that perhaps you shop often. Maybe you want to buy a really nice new shelving unit for a room. Why not see if you can find something similar for cheaper- OR- make it yourself? Even at home improvement centers they can cut boards to the specifications you need. Doing a bit of homework, looking around and doing it yourself can cost you far less then buying it outright if you can. I've got a list going of things we will be doing together that will save us possibly hundreds when it comes time. Until then, I have a small list of things to do very soon and long term to work on as we can get the stuff. And we BOTH are excited about it!

Thoughts on Karma

Thoughts on Karma

Most people in today's society would describe Karma as "what goes around comes around". For some Christian types it's "God's blessings or punishment" and that Karma itself doesn't exist.

Personally, I believe both thoughts to be correct on the subject. Karma is the word to describe both in a much simpler way. 

The word and theology of Karma is rooted in Indian religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and a few others. While each have a slightly different take on Karma, the basics are cause and effect based on actions and deeds. Basically, you do something wrong it'll come back to you. Do something good and good will come back to you.

Other religions have versions of this. Sometimes it's a way to a peaceful afterlife by doing good things, sometimes the effects of the cause are bestowed upon the person in a greater degree. Whatever your personal preference is it's just always good to rack up good Karma. 

It's my belief no one can have good Karma by trying to get it- you have to be doing a good deed without expectation of receiving a prize or something good coming back to you.

Good deeds come in all shapes and sizes and with our previous lesson on positivity you can learn to integrate the two in daily life and just feel better as a person. 

Here are some ideas that you can start doing to get into the habit of selflessly helping others:

1. Hold the door open for anyone coming or going
2. Saying a sincere "thank you" to anyone you meet who gives you a service (sometimes someone really needs to hear that they are appreciated!)
3. Donate to change jars at stores, donate whatever you can- no matter how small- to charities.
4. Give items like old clothes and such to people- not JUST friends- and skipping the thrift store donation box. (Most thrift stores make a profit and still requires someone who may not have enough to fork over cash- but nothing wrong with it if it's a good shop or you have no one to give to!)
5. Give up your time to help someone who asks- even if they aren't the most pleasant person (just use proper judgement if the help would otherwise cripple something of yours if the person is just not a good person... by that I mean you don't want to give a few hundred bucks to a person who says they need money and they spend it poorly and never repays it, or someone who would likely steal your vehicle) A small amount is a better loss then a big one with these types.
6. Give encouragement to those around you. Your positive words bring positive thoughts to others.
7. Always donate a couple cans of food to food drives when possible. They go a long way with what others afford even if a couple cans is all you can.
8. Avoid gossip and talking down about others. Negative thoughts only breed negative things. 
9. Learn to let things go. If someone does you wrong they will get their share of Karma no matter how good they may seem. Planning revenge and even acting on it is negative and puts you in a worse place with Karma.
10. Always aim to ask how someone is doing when they look down. Sometimes all they need is a simple talk and that's it.

I'm also a firm believer that Karma works when you think no one else sees you. If you are doing something behind someone's back without them knowing but it would hurt them if they found out Karma will not be so kind. Whether it's your intent to hurt that person or not, doing something that's wrong typically will still follow you. It's good just to avoid this.

Karma doesn't just affect the person, but the people around if need be, possessions of that person, even the social aspect. In turn, the person receiving the butt end of Karma can endure a lot of frustrations, hurt and pain- even loss. 

All in all, watch out for each other and yourselves. It makes for a better world altogether and it's a lot easier!