Most smokers argue that they smoke in order to relax. However it is easily shown that smoking actually does the opposite.

Studies show that the stress levels in smokers are generally higher than those in non-smokers. Smokers typically experience what they perceive as normal moods during smoking and worsening moods between cigarettes. The apparent relaxant effect of smoking is actually only a reversal of the tension and irritability that develop during nicotine withdrawal. In simple terms, a lack of cigarettes for a smoker causes stress, that is then reduced by smoking.

Psychologist Andy Parrott, Ph.D., of the University of East London agrees that evidence shows that the apparent relaxant effect of smoking only reflects the reversal of the tension and irritability that develop during lack of nicotine. He comments that “Regular smokers, therefore, experience periods of heightened stress between cigarettes, and smoking briefly restores their stress levels to normal,”

However I would argue that cigarettes don’t even restore stress levels back to ‘normal’. Cigarettes are well known to increase the heart rate and the blood pressure, which exacerbates stress. It would seem plausible to say that a lack cigarettes causes stress, which is only partially remedied by smoking. A cigarette will probably not even quite get you back to normal relaxed levels, although it may feel like it because of the stress it has caused. Most smokers are fooled, or want to be fooled, into thinking that cigarettes are good for helping them deal with stress.

Probably the biggest relaxation benefits a cigarette can provide is the taking 5 minutes out, and the deep breathing from smoking. You must stop what you are doing in order to smoke a cigarette, plus you must take in slow deep breaths when drawing from it. These things are known to greatly help stress levels. However you don’t need to smoke to do this. When you are feeling stressed, simply stop what you are doing for a minute or two, and take a few slow deep breaths. It’s really simple, but highly effective. Try it right now. Put down whatever it is you’re doing and take 5 or 6 slow deep breaths. Close your eyes if this helps.

Doesn’t that feel better?

All you need to do is keep reminding yourself when you are starting to feel a bit stressed to stop what you are doing for a few minutes, and take a few slow deep breaths. 4 or 5 mini breaks like this during your day will make a very profound difference to your stress levels – whether you are a smoker or a non-smoker.

But if you are a smoker, don’t keep kidding yourself into thinking that smoking aids stress, because it doesn’t. The truth is that whilst you are a smoker, those greedy cigarette companies are controlling your stress levels. They are playing with your mind, trying to force you to smoke. They have got you on a cycle of dependency that must be broken. The product they are selling to you is not providing you with anything. And how much are you paying? Instead it takes from you, and gives you some back when you use their product. But it actually leaves you worse off, and you are allowing that to happen.

Do yourself a favour – Become a non-smoker today. Take your life in your own hands, and be happier, healthier, and save cash as well.

If you want help quitting smoking, then I REALLY recommend Quit Smoking Hypnotherapy. It has recently done a great job helping both my Mum and Dad quit smoking after a combination of 72 years as smokers. They have not smoked for more than two months so far, and although they are giving each other great support, they both admit they couldn’t have done it without Quit Smoking Hypnosis. They are already happier and healthier than I have seen them for years. A real source of inspiration to show that it can be done at ANY age, no matter how long you have been smoking.

We all know that stress at work can be as aggravating as an online dating site promising to find your true love. It can be gruelling, time-consuming and overwhelming to say the least. If you’re experiencing a lot of stress at work, why not try aromatherapy. Aromatherapy techniques have been shown to reduce stress and turn on the pleasure receptors in our brains. Unfortunately, stress is all around us; but it’s how we handle it that can make the difference.

Try Out an Aromatherapy USB Oil Burner

Turn your cubicle into a safe haven of pleasing scents and plug in to de-stress. The nice thing about working in a cubicle (if there is any) is that using aromatherapy scents can be a subtle and unassuming way to reduce stress without bothering anyone around you and it can be more effective than you might think. You can actually use your USB power to warm up aromatherapy oil. All you need is one drop of your favorite oil and you’ll be on your way to feeling better in no time. Jasmine oil is a great stress reliever oil and packs a punch to knock out brain fog and worrisome stress. Jasmine is referred to as the “snap out of it oil” and over a million flowers go into making just one bottle of Jasmine oil.

De-clutter your Cubicle

It’s important to try and keep a clean cubicle that is free of clutter and debris. The cleaner and more organized your work space is, the more relaxing it is to sit in. Take the time to collect any stray papers or files and put them in their respective space. In the long run, it will save you time and needless aggravation when you can’t find something.

Grab a Bouquet of Flowers

A bouquet of cheery flowers is sure to make anyone smile as they are visually appealing and inviting to the eye. Flowers have the power to brighten up that boring old corner of your desk and they smell fantastic!

Sachet Your Way Throughout the Day

Believe it or not, sachets aren’t just reserved for underwear drawers. Consider placing a small lilac or orange sachet in each office drawer, so that when the drawer is pulled open each time, a subtle scent will come out to relax and invigorate you.

Stay Hydrated with Facial Mist

Spray your stress away with hydrating Eucalyptus or Lemon facial mist. Facial mist will make you feel energized and ready to tackle your next project. Lemon Eucalyptus is a great therapeutic oil that is used to not only clarify and cleanse the face, but to soothe frazzled nerves and awaken the mind.

Author Bio

Tiersa Buckley is a freelance writer who has written on a myriad of health and wellness topics at www.TiersaBuckley.com, as well as relationship articles and advice for www.DatingSite.org.

When you feel like your life is getting difficult to handle, you probably want to avoid adding any more activities to your “to do” list. And when you’re stressed and anxious, it might not be a natural reaction for you to want to write about it. But consider that taking up the activity of writing may actually help you to greatly reduce your stress and anxiety levels. And if it can help, it’s certainly worth at least giving it a shot. Here are some of the potential benefits to writing, and how you can use writing to reduce the stress and anxiety in your life.

Release of Emotions
Sometimes we are stressed or anxious because we don’t have any way to let go of what we’re feeling. If we keep our emotions bottled up inside, they will only grow and get worse. If we release our emotions in unhealthy ways like yelling or drinking, we will only bring more stress upon ourselves. Talking to a friend or doing fun physical activities are some positive ways of releasing emotions, and writing is another. Just transferring our thoughts to paper helps us get them out.

Problem-Solving
You can use writing to help yourself problem solve. Writing can be a way to brainstorm ideas that will improve your life. Sometimes a problem can seem very overwhelming, but if you start writing about it, a solution can begin to take shape. Try writing everything you’re thinking about a particular issue, and then reread what you’ve written to try and see it from a different perspective. You might find that your problem isn’t as bad as it seems once it’s on paper, or you may discover a new way to approach it. You can also create lists of pros and cons, which can actually be very helpful tools when making a decision.

Awareness
When you write about things that are bothering you and your stressful experiences, it is a great way to gain awareness. You can become aware about the way you react to things that occur in your life. Do you respond in a positive way? Or do you over-react or respond negatively? With awareness, you can make improvements. You can also gain insight into what things trigger your anxiety the most or cause the biggest spikes in your stress level. Overtime, you will notice patterns and common threads in your writing. Use your new awareness to determine new methods of reducing your stress and anxiety, or improve your coping abilities.

Escape
Everyone needs to get away from the stress of daily life once in a while. And when you’re stressed out it is definitely more than okay to take a break – it’s essential. If you really enjoy writing, you can use it as a means of escape. Use your writing to transport you somewhere else and forget about the things that are bothering you. You could use your imagination and write creative stories or poems, or write about anything that makes you happy. Record joyful memories or events that you can go back and read when you need a pick-me-up. Sometimes just giving yourself a breather and focusing on something other than what is making you anxious will help you calm down and feel better.

Encouragement
Words of self-affirmation can do a world of good. Clipping inspirational stories and writing quotes of beauty filled with kind words can help greatly in reinforcing positive thinking and enhancing your mental health. Also go beyond self, consider writing a little note to someone experiencing similar struggles. Externals acts of kindness always build us up.

Get started writing with…Grammarly grammar checker and their team of writers encourage you to write with beauty and excellence in mind. Visit grammar rules and learn all you need to know about grammar.