Electric Relaxation

The New Year has just started yet your stressing out already. There are numerous reasons that reducing stress is critical for your health and wellness. When you’re stressed out your more prone to illness, and high stress over a long period of time can spur ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, migraines, insomnia and ulcers. When you’re stressed, you’re irritable, snappy and agitated. Try these five tips to calm your cute butt down and improve your overall outlook on life.

1. Just breathe and stop: When you’re stressed, we usually forget to breathe because we’re straining ourselves. First take a few deep breaths. Next, give this pranayama technique a try: 1) Inhale deeply. 2) Hold your breath for 4 seconds. 3) Exhale for count of 4 seconds. 4) Repeat. Continue this pattern for about one minute.

2. Shake it Off: Sometimes stress is so habitual that we have to literally shake it off. Try standing up with extended arms and imagine yourself as a soggy wet dog and shake the stress off. Also try going for a short walk and take the scenery.

3. When you’re smiling: Give yourself a happy break. Just like whistling a happy tune, smile to fake a happy mood. Smiling sends a message to your unconscious mind and automatically generates a positive mood and attitude. If you fake happiness long enough, you might just start to believe that it’s true. If that isn’t working, pick up the paper for today’s comic strip or watch a 5-minute funny video on YouTube.

4. Tight like That: Lie flat on the floor. Starting with the feet: tighten and squeeze your feet as much as you can. Then move upward, tense and relax the ankles, calves, knees, thighs and entire body one by one. When you get to your head, lift the head off the ground and squeeze all the muscles of your face. Lie quietly for a minute afterward, noticing the change in your body and basking in the calm.

5. When you’re dreaming: Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Imagine a bright red rose in front of you. Notice the vibrant petals, its color and its texture. See this rose clearly in your minds eye. Take another deep breath and smell the rose. Savor its scent and let it fill your body. Slowly open your eyes. Keep your eyes soft for just a minute longer, lingering on the beautiful rose.

____________________________________________________________

When the New Year comes, you enter January with a list of things you need to change which can be depressing. Why not use what you've got and upgrade them this year? Try these 10 examples to make you feel happier:

1. Since it's winter, buy a year-round flowering plant for your crib so you'll feel lively and springy even if it's freezing outside.

2. Monday morning, upgrade your coffee to a latte.

3. When Wednesday rolls around, celebrate the fact that you've made it midweek, by treating yourself to dessert at lunch. Go ahead and order that cupcake!

4. Rule of thumb: Never go on a date without wearing your sassy panties and matching bra, even if he won't see them, you'll feel sexy and confident.

5. Make a energizing and inspiring play list for your commute to work, then make a calm, relaxing one for your commute back home.

6. After a long day at work, there is nothing like a nice glass of wine. Splurge on a couple snazzy, high end glasses, like Riendel. They are designed to optimize the aroma and flavor of your wine, which can make all the difference.

7. Turn your bathroom into a spa. Fill your bathroom with scented candles in relaxing scents like lavender.

8. Looking forward to your big plans on Friday night? Plan ahead and take the day off. That way you can spend all day primping and relaxing so you'll have a more enjoyable girls night out.

9. Love sleeping in? Make your bed even more comfortable by upgrading the thread count of your sheets. They must be at least 250 count and higher, the higher the number the softer the sheets.

10. Buy cute, flattering gym clothes, you'll actually look forward to sweating.

Need more relaxation? Click the video, A Tribe Called Quest: Electric Relaxation