I am always looking out for ways to lower my stress levels. This is mainly due to the fact that the world is not as it should be. I don’t have to tell you what’s wrong with the world today. All you have to do is pick up a newspaper or listen to the evening news and you will quickly realize just how stressed out we all are in dealing with today’s realities. There are, to name a few, global terrorism, the war in Iraq, poverty, global genocide, global warming, energy dependence, high taxes, wage stagnation, eroding economic situation, political impotence and continuing decay of civil liberties and rights. Oh, and did I happen to mention an incompetent, nincompoop President? Mix all those together and you have a daily stress level that at times can seem to be unbearable. It certainly has caused me to consider moving to another country. I guess what galls me the most is having to pay taxes to a government that I simply don’t support anymore. So, what to do short of moving to an isolated Caribbean Island? Here are some quick stress solutions that may help you get through your day…

From an article in Parade magazine in the Sunday paper, I came across some very easy solutions for relieving stress. Since stress directly affects the quality of your life, these easy little tips may be just the thing to get you back on your happy trail.

Take a Deep Breath. Meditation and reflection are nature’s way of calming your mind. It can have very beneficial health benefits such as a lower heart rate, less chronic pain, and help with headaches, depression and anxiety. Others may call this “deep breathing” excercises but it is a simple technique that ranges from simply breathing very deeply to coordinating with repetitious verbal sounds or “mantras”. Deep breathing serves the purpose of helping shut out obsessive worries by focusing your mind and body on the present.

Turn Your World Upside Down. This has to do with Yoga positions that literally put you on your head. Of course, not all of us can master the incredibly flexible positions required in Yoga. But what you can do is simply reverse the flow of blood by laying on your back on the floor with your legs propped up on the wall. Or you can lie in bed and just simply raise your legs to the ceiling. These poses combat the effects of gravity on the body and circulatory system. When you coordinate your breath to Yoga positions, you get an even more beneficial affect.

Speak Up. This is a good one. Often times I find that I don’t speak up enough when I know I should. So, letting others know how you feel can relieve the pent up stress felt when you don’t express yourself. Also, having a few close friends who you can confide in is helpful. Just sharing your feelings establishes that human connection that people yearn for. A recent study used MRI brain scans and demonstrated that “putting feelings into words does help reduce distress.” Perhaps, in our modern-day world with email and other digital communications, just picking up the phone may help. And even better, call your funniest friend who you know by just hearing their voice, will offer quick relief.

Make an “I Did It” List. I know you have all heard about the “To Do List”, well this is a little spin on that age old advice. A “To Do List” may in and of itself, cause you more stress. So start patting yourself on the back about stuff that you have actually done which may be more than you think. This gets you going in the direction of “Done” instead of “Will Do”. Before going to sleep at night, just think of three little things that you can think of that made you proud that day. It could be as simple as helping someone across the street. Performing this little ritual will help build self-confidence and self-esteem which is a key factor in combating stress. One thing for sure, it’s a lot better than lying there trying to go to sleep thinking about all the things you didn’t get done that day.

I hope you enjoyed these little tips. I found them all to be very doable and could easily be incorporated into your daily life. Just remember when you feel that pit in your stomach or that tightness in your neck–sit back and relax and try one of the above stress busters. You certainly have nothing to lose and you just may surprise yourself.