Two Keys to REDUCE STRESS

Two Keys to REDUCE STRESS By Christy Geiger

What symptoms do you exhibit when stressed? How do they show up for you? Often stress shows up in a wide variety of ways... physical, mental and emotional. * Pysical signs are headaches, muscle tension, upset stomach, restless sleep, shaky/sweaty hands, fidgeting. * Mental signs are easily distracted/inablity to focus, more forgetful, exaggerated issues, increased dreaming. * Emotional signs are irritability, short temper, exhaustion, paralization/stuck, inablity to make decisions.

How can you relieve or reduce your stress?

TIP #1 - Take Charge. When you feel in control you can RESPOND rather than REACT to your environment. You feel more empowered and better able to manage what comes your way. Begin by looking at what you can control and what you cannot. * List the things I control in my life. * List the things that are TRULY out of my control. * What is my attitude towards the things I control? Toward the things I don't? * What stresses can I say no to, eliminate, reduce or delegate in my life? * What can I add into my life that will counteract stress? (meditation, work out, etc.) * What positive people do I want in my life to support me? * What negative people do I need to spend less time with? * What is most important? * Make a list, prioritize, and commit to remove one thing a day!

TIP #2 - Incorporate Exercise. Regular exercise is one of the best stress reduction techniques out there. It has multipule stress relieving benefits: * IMPROVED HEALTH: "exercise adds life to your years as well as years to your life" through lowered heart rate and reduced risk of heart disease, may prevent certain types of cancer, increase stamina, etc. * IMPROVED MOOD: exercising causes the brain to release opium-like substances which ease pain and produce a natural high - a sense of well being and comfort. It also stimulates the brain to secrete serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrines which act as antidepressants and improves mood (deficiencies can result in depression, anxiety, impulsivity, aggression & increased appetite) * REDUCES BODY TENSION: exercise helps relieve pent-up emotions we hold in our muscles - which a relaxed body allows you to sleep better, have more energy, enhance concentration and memory, quicken your alertness and reaction time, all resulting over-all feeling of well-being.

CREATE A PLAN: 1. How can taking charge and exercise affect my stress level? 2. How do do I want to feel after I have planned and exercised - both physically and emotionally? 3. What can I do to incorperate planning and exercise in my life? Note: What? When? With who? How long?

GET STARTED TODAY: * Find a friend to exercise with through the holidays for the recommended minimum of 20-30 min. 3-5 times a week. Working out with a friend helps to provide a plan for regular routine, accountably, and allows for multi-tasking so you can brainstorm, encourage or share thoughts with a friend while working out. * Get a personal trainer or join a gym. Push yourself to WORK OUT! * Be consious about exercising. Park further away and walk. Take the flight of stairs 2x. Do sit-ups while watching TV. Take the dog for an AM walk before you shower.....

All the benefits of planning and exercise impact your ablilty to be sharper, move faster and feel bettter. Taking time to do this will actually give you more time for the other things you need to do and REDUCE YOUR STRESS! :)

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Christy Geiger is a strategic planning coach and the owner of Synergy Strategies, a business and life-coaching company that works with IBOs and professionals to implement their thousands of great ideas in ways that will maximize time, energy and effort! Through solid vision, goal and strategy planning, clients are able to maximize their personal effectiveness and accomplish their mission! Visit www.synergystrategies.com