Archive for the ‘Tips’ Category

Some of the greatest minds in our present and past, people such as Buddha, the Dalai Lama and even Jesus, among many others – have come up with very worthwhile methods in which to ‘deal’ with hardships, which so many people are dealing with today. With the multiple wars, loved ones overseas, scarce jobs and many losing their homes, it is imperative that we learn the best ways of dealing with it all.

Acceptance:

Acceptance is a powerful reaction – that brings peace. Understanding that some things, we just do not have any control over – and there is really nothing you can do about it. Worrying about things will not change the outcome; it will only create stress and anxiety for you, and doing nothing to remedy the situation. Yes, being informed and rational about a specific situation is essential, as well as helpful – but losing sleep, and hand wringing will not change what is happening or has happened.

Health:

Taking care of yourself during a difficult time is really important. In stressful situations and adversities, our health is what will keep us strong for others, and ourselves. Getting plenty of sleep is one of the things that will keep you strong. I know when I am stressed, sleep is sometimes elusive – but even if it means taking a sleeping aid, get your rest.

Eating right, too, seems to be difficult for me as well as most people who face stressful situations. You forget to eat and then realize you are starved – and eat whatever is handy, which is usually non-nutritional. Make sure that you eat the most healthful foods you can, so that your immune system will stay strong, and will fight any illness that might be trying to find its way to you. Healthy foods meaning lots of fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and staying away from sugars and refined foods as much as possible, as they greatly reduce the body’s ability to fight harmful bacteria and viruses.

Meditation:

This activity is one that has been a mainstay with so many wonderful people of our past and present, Buddha being one. Meditation can have a huge impact on every part of your life. It helps you find peace, solitude and quiet time, and is the perfect way to calm your body and your mind. There are a zillion mediation CD’s out there, and websites that actually guide you into a deep relaxation and the quiet place that is so essential to recharging yourself. Find one that fits your liking, and do it every single day. The benefits are proven to be valuable to peace of mind.

Many people have benefitted from this exercise, and if you can’t seem to go within, then at least you have gathered yourself and your strength for 20 minutes or so, per day.

Nature:

I think people who live in the city have lost the ability to absorb the healing benefits of nature. The sound of a creek or stream, with birds singing – and without any city noise can be almost as healing and helpful as meditation, sometimes even more.

Getting outside, amongst wildlife, trees, wildflowers and especially water can be such a peaceful experience that sometimes when I take my forest walks, I come back so refreshed and relaxed and in the most awesome state of mind – I wonder why I don’t do it more often.

It’s something about the quiet and serene beauty that brings you back to yourself and your spirit gets rejuvenated. Grab a picnic lunch, sit by a babbling brook and read a spiritual book, and you will find some peace.

Go Outside Yourself:

A very great man who I have the privilege of knowing, is an author of many books, an Angelical Priest, Oxford Professor, and a Theologian taught me something once that has always stayed with me. When I asked him “What is the secret to finding true happiness” he told me that if you’re searching for inner peace – true joy and happiness – you have to go outside of yourself. His exact words were ‘to be of service’. That is what we are all here for, to help one another – and giving of yourself to others who are in need, will help you to find solace and peace. True joy and peace come from giving to those less fortunate, yes, even animals. It fills your soul and makes you realize how much you really do have to give. And the others, who are less fortunate, will be better because of you. There is no greater feeling.

Note:

There is a fabulous book out there by a pretty impressive man, Eckhart Tolle, who wrote “The Power of Now”– and I recommend that book to anyone who is suffering, dealing with hardships, and burdened with stress and loss. According to Tolle, the power of living in the moment and not stressing and worrying about tomorrow, especially in this uncertain world, can relieve you of so much anguish, that it is worth the read. It is a best seller, and it helped me tremendously find inner peace from the day-to-day commotion that takes away from serenity and peace.

“When your sense of self is no longer tied to thought, is no longer conceptual, there is a depth of feeling, of sensing, of compassion, of loving, that was not there when you were trapped in mental concepts. You are that depth.” – – Eckhart Tolle.

This article has been written for Relaxation Haven by Cathy Reyes.

Cathy is part of the team that manages Credit Card Finder, a complimentary credit card comparison service and a personal finance blog based in Sydney, Australia. Before she joined CCF, she was a staff nurse at Clark Airbase Hospital and conducted lectures on First Aid, Bio-terrorism and Disaster Management.

Studies have shown there can be a direct connection between painting and a reduction of stress levels. Clinical art therapy is commonly used by therapists to encourage self-expression and improve communication between the therapist and a patient who is suffering from a severe mental health condition. Similar benefits can also be gained by individuals affected by anxiety or stress by expressing their creative side and developing painting skills.

There are many different ways to alleviate stress and not every method will work for every single person. Most individuals will need to try a few different methods to discover which one is the most beneficial to them personally.

The Positive Effects of Painting
One of the main reasons that art therapy has proved to be successful is due to the accumulative effects of several well known key benefits associated with the act of painting. These benefits include self-care, distraction and flow:

Self-care means taking care of yourself and taking part in activities purely or partly for the benefit or your own well-being. Merely the act of finding new a hobby can make a person feel more well-balanced in their lifestyle. It is sometimes easy to forget – with all of the responsibilities in life – that most people need and should have some ‘me time’. Dedicating some time on a regular basis to painting can help this to be achieved.

Painting and creating art is a good way of distracting your thoughts from whatever is causing your stressing or anxiety. The distraction is of course only a momentary effect, but many people find that the relaxation gained during a painting session enables them to have a clearer line of thought, which later helps them deal with problems and help put them into perspective.

One further benefit of painting to relieve stress, as it can often enable a person to achieve a positive state of mind known as “Flow”. This is a state of mind which occurs when an individual involved in an activity is totally immersed with strong feelings of involvement and focus.

What Art Supplies are Needed?
Any type of paint can be used for painting to relieve stress, but for anyone taking up painting as a hobby for the first time I would personally recommend using an acrylic paint, such as Liquitex Acrylics. Other equipment needed includes a small selection of artists paint brushes of varying sizes, a pallet and some student quality stretched canvases or canvas boards.

Artists acrylic paint is often the medium of choice for many beginners because of its versatility. It can be used straight from the tube to achieve a similar effect to oil paints or it can be mixed with water and used very much like watercolour paints.

In general, it is very beneficial to set aside some time where you can do something simply for the purpose of self-enjoyment. While there are a number relaxing hobbies and pastimes to choose from the artistic pursuit of painting is certainly one which can be used to help you relax counter the stress which is caused by our hectic modern lifestyles.

Thank you to Mark Jubbs for writing this article for us.

Mark Jubbs is a self taught artist who writes articles for Artists Materials Online – one of the leading independent retailers of art materials and supplies in the UK.

I don’t believe that anyone would argue against the notion that a holiday is good for your health; to get away from the stress balls that you rely on to get through the day. It is all a wonderful way to relax, refocus and put your life into perspective. The problem arrives when to realize this state we must subject ourselves to a seemingly endless ritual of stressful and testing rigors; our holiday can become a break from the act of holiday planning itself rather than from the tumults of life.

This is a phenomenon that all too many people seem to fall victim to, especially when we consider that it is an entirely unnecessary inconvenience. With a little preparation and forethought planning a holiday can be a relatively straightforward and stress free exercise, allowing you to appreciate the experience for what it should be- a truly relaxing and healing process.

When it comes to expelling anxiety and fear the greatest weapon we have at our disposal is of course education. Some people become extremely apprehensive about choosing their holiday destination, particularly if they have not travelled much before or are travelling to a more distant or ‘alien’ culture. One of the most important steps towards a stress free holiday is taking your time and moving at your own speed; try not  to feel under pressures to make your experience ‘the holiday of a lifetime’ as this anxiety will probably do the very opposite. Don’t be rushed into making decisions by a hard-sell travel agent who would as soon send you to Toronto as Timbuktu; organise your vacation on your terms, make a list of the things that you, your partner or the group you are travelling with would like from the holiday and research your proposed destinations. If there is a particular climate that you prefer, activities that you would like to take part in or a landmark that you have always wanted to see then all of these factors can help narrow down your criteria.

The saying goes that money makes the world go round, but make sure that it doesn’t leave your head in a spin too; when it comes to arranging a budget it is always important to underline the amount that you want to spend and stick to it. If you are planning a grand or celebratory holiday then you may decide to spend a little more, but the same sentiment still applies. If you do have certain things in mind that you’d like to do when you are on holiday then you can always conceive a small ‘contingency budget’ for occasions when you want to splash out or pay for something you had not originally considered in the plan. The thing about travel is that it is predictably unpredictable so having a small amount that is saved specifically for use in unforeseen circumstances can be a helpful thing.

If you are the type of person that appreciates structure in your life, then being left to your own devices on holiday may be somewhat testing. A good way to pack in as much, or indeed as little, into your holiday as you would like is to form a daily itinerary. Not only will this aid you in the plotting of your budget but will give a sense of purpose and organisation to your holiday. It is perhaps better to keep these itineraries fairly general and flexible, functioning more as a guide rather than a strict regime.

One of the main stresses many people face when on holiday is the task of tearing themselves away from the office. If you have planned your holiday well in advance then take this time to delegate the work you will not be able to perform to other members of your team or other individuals in the office/workplace. Knowing that any problems and tasks are being handled by a trusted member of the organisation should help put your mind at ease and allow you to relax. If you legitimately do need to stay in contact with your employer or business whilst on holiday then try not to remain glued to the computer screen or smart phone, arrange a time of day that you will check your emails and stick to it; if your office needs to contact you then they will be able to or at the very least leave a message with the reception at your resort.

Everyone has different coping skills for tackling stress and in the run up to your holiday involve yourself in an activity that your have found relaxing in the past. Whether it is yoga or cooking, working out or retail therapy, indulge in a little ‘me’ time and go away in an appropriately soothed state of mind. Remember that along the way you may encounter a few minor problems, the airport transfer is late or the room isn’t quite ready when you arrive at the hotel, but try to take these inconveniences in your stride. In the grand scheme of things they are trivial matters and should not disrupt what ought to be a joyous and memorable occasion.

Finally, after all the organising and arranging, whatever you do and wherever you go, don’t forget to embrace your holiday and have fun!

This article has been kindly written for us by Mark Preston.

Mark is an experienced travel writer and an associate of The Turquoise Holiday Company, experts in tailor made and luxury holidays.