Part 2 of a series on simple ways of de-stressing your life

 
Here comes part 2 of my short series of ideas and suggestions for taking some of the stress out of your life and bringing back a better sense of balance and enjoyment.

De-stressing Idea Number 3: Take time out

As your work load and responsibilities increase and your free time is filled with house work, childcare and chores, finding ‘me time’ can feel like an impossibility. You are interrupted all the time through reacting to the needs of others; your brain still buzzes with unfinished business that affects your sleep and you run the risk of exhaustion, which in turn repeats the cycle by increasing the output of stress hormones.

Your time out — maybe just half an hour per day — must be spent doing something you enjoy. My friend Jill likes to read a magazine; Dean likes to do a work-out; Kent goes for a bike ride; and Sonia weeds her yard by the coast.

‘Me’ time can also be . . . nothing. For me sometimes, it is a big chunk of quiet. It is not that I don’t enjoy my work and I love being with my family, but I recognise the need to unplug the mobile phone, keep the TV turned off and just go outside and sit in the garden. On the other ‘me side’ hand, I also love spending time with my friends doing something relatively simple like going out for a movie or coffee — anything that isn’t related to work or responsibilities or sensible ‘to do’ lists.

De-stressing Idea Number 4: Laugh more

It could be a funny picture, a classic sitcom or a good joke told well, but having a heart laugh each day releases endorphins which can reduce certain stress hormones. And while laughter is said to be contagious, it actually improves your immune system rather than decreasing it. In addition to the release of health-improving hormones, having a laugh provides a physical and emotional release.

A good belly laugh can give you a mini workout for your insides. Laughing exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abdominal muscles and even works out the shoulders and the heart, leaving muscles more relaxed.

Haven’t you ever thought, “If I don’t laugh about this, I’ll cry?” On an emotional level, laughter can shift your focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions by giving you a more light-hearted perspective. Laughing elevates your mood so that you can view setbacks and stress as challenges instead of problems. Laughter is also good for your social connections. Because it’s contagious, it helps others around you laugh too, elevating their mood.

De-stressing Idea Number 5: Rediscover romance

You know that a spot of night time ‘nookie’ can strengthen the bonds of your relationship. Experts are now saying that it has a positive effect on reducing stress as well. Still, there’s a lot more to romance and living happily ever after than sexual gymnastics.

Here are a few other things to bring romance back into your life:

Say “Thank You.” Take one minute every day to find at least one thing you want to thank your partner for, no matter how small.
Have breakfast together. It may only be ten minutes; it may involve setting the alarm ten minutes earlier so that you can sit together before the kids wake up; but having a coffee and talking quietly is still quality time.
Meet up for lunch. More and more couples are finding time to spend together during the work day. Try making a lunch date at a place that’s convenient for you both to get to, or meet up straight after work for a drink and a quick meal. For some people it’s the only time they get to see their loved one in their smart work clothes!
Use technology. It takes less than a minute to type out a couple of sentences to your partner (keeping things clean and safe for work, of course) and is an effective way of telling someone how much you love them; how much you appreciated their cooking dinner last night; whatever. SMS can do the same.
Hold TV-free evenings. Turn the telly off tonight. Read together; listen to music, talk. Don’t do any chores, just ‘be’ together. Even one hour together without any other distractions is time to have a decent conversation, a cuddle — or even hit the hay a little earlier to revitalize your sex life.
Go on home dates. These are increasing in popularity as people have mortgages, can’t afford babysitting or don’t have a relative nearby to help out. Wait until the kids are in bed and then have a picnic indoors: get your favourite nibbles — smoked salmon, brie, champagne, strawberries — and share them together.

More tips to come.

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