<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" ><channel><title>Good Plum &#187; Health &amp; Sleep</title> <atom:link href="http://goodplum.com/topic/personal-development/health-sleep/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://goodplum.com</link> <description>Internet Marketing, Online Business, Tech &#38; Web</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:44:14 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1</generator> <atom:link rel='hub' href='http://goodplum.com/?pushpress=hub'/> <cloud domain='goodplum.com' port='80' path='/?rsscloud=notify' registerProcedure='' protocol='http-post' /> <item><title>How to Get Rid of Work Stress</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:04:21 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Erin McKellar</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[stress]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://goodplum.com/?p=1231</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>If you have too much stress at work, there are a number of things you can do. Here are six of the most effective tips to rid yourself of it:</p><p><strong>#1) Workout </strong></p><p>This one is rather obvious, but it bears mentioning away. If you go all day without exercising, you are going to be stressed out. Doing non-stop mental work without ever mixing in physical is not an effective strategy for getting things done.</p><p>Also try to work out outdoors. The health benefits of fresh air and sunshine are well documented, so combining this with working out will have a multiple effect on reducing your stress. <span id="more-1231"></span></p><p><strong>#2) Manage your time better</strong></p><p>Spreading yourself thin is a sure method for stress. If you take the time to analyze what you are doing, most of your activities really aren’t necessary.</p><p>Many entrepreneurs have a difficult time letting go of the less important tasks because they don’t think anyone else could do them as well as they can. However, the reality is that you need to focus on the critical few tasks that you are the best at and offload the rest.</p><p>For instance, if you are a great marketer (and this is important), then focus on doing that while outsourcing your web design. This will help you spend less time working, and become more effective when you are.</p><p>Also reduce on your email and phone calls consumption. Try doing them all at one time of the day to increase effectiveness and reduce stress.</p><p><strong>#3) Get to work before everyone else</strong></p><p>If you own a business with employees, there are no doubt distractions when they arrive. The key, therefore, is to get there before everyone else so you get the most important tasks done prior to the distractions beginning.</p><p>#4) Break up your work</p><p>Don’t work for more that two hours without taking a break. Get up and stretch every now and then. It’s generally recommended to get at least twelve minutes of physical activity for every hour of work.</p><p>You can further break it down by stretching for about five minutes to every twenty minutes of work. If you try working for an hour straight without taking rest, your effectiveness will go down considerably.</p><p><strong>#5) Eat more frequently </strong></p><p>The healthier you are, the less stressed out you will be. Eating small but frequent meals throughout the day maintains an even blood sugar level. This is important because low blood sugar can make you feel anxious and irritable, which is often the case with irregular meals.</p><p>Just avoid overeating. While it is good to be eating more frequently, you want to be consuming smaller amounts for each meal.</p><p><strong>#6) Deep breathing exercises</strong></p><p>Every now and then you might want to do some deep breathing to relieve the tension. Just sit upright in your chair, breathe in for a count of four, hold it for the same amount of time, and breathe out for two seconds.</p><p>The bottom line is that there are all kinds of things you can do to minimize your stress levels. Don’t try to implement these tips all at once. Instead, do one at a time and you will be amazed at how much more relaxed and effective you become.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/" title="Dealing with Stressful Business Situations">Dealing with Stressful Business Situations</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/" title="4 Ways to Deal with Stress">4 Ways to Deal with Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/money/career-work/dealing-with-job-insecurity/" title="Dealing with Job Insecurity">Dealing with Job Insecurity</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/music-as-an-emotional-release/" title="Music as an Emotional Release">Music as an Emotional Release</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div><img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2009/08/stress1-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="stress" title="stress" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" />]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2009/08/stress1-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="stress" title="stress" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" /><p></p><p>If you have too much stress at work, there are a number of things you can do. Here are six of the most effective tips to rid yourself of it:</p><p><strong>#1) Workout </strong></p><p>This one is rather obvious, but it bears mentioning away. If you go all day without exercising, you are going to be stressed out. Doing non-stop mental work without ever mixing in physical is not an effective strategy for getting things done.</p><p>Also try to work out outdoors. The health benefits of fresh air and sunshine are well documented, so combining this with working out will have a multiple effect on reducing your stress. <span id="more-1231"></span></p><p><strong>#2) Manage your time better</strong></p><p>Spreading yourself thin is a sure method for stress. If you take the time to analyze what you are doing, most of your activities really aren’t necessary.</p><p>Many entrepreneurs have a difficult time letting go of the less important tasks because they don’t think anyone else could do them as well as they can. However, the reality is that you need to focus on the critical few tasks that you are the best at and offload the rest.</p><p>For instance, if you are a great marketer (and this is important), then focus on doing that while outsourcing your web design. This will help you spend less time working, and become more effective when you are.</p><p>Also reduce on your email and phone calls consumption. Try doing them all at one time of the day to increase effectiveness and reduce stress.</p><p><strong>#3) Get to work before everyone else</strong></p><p>If you own a business with employees, there are no doubt distractions when they arrive. The key, therefore, is to get there before everyone else so you get the most important tasks done prior to the distractions beginning.</p><p>#4) Break up your work</p><p>Don’t work for more that two hours without taking a break. Get up and stretch every now and then. It’s generally recommended to get at least twelve minutes of physical activity for every hour of work.</p><p>You can further break it down by stretching for about five minutes to every twenty minutes of work. If you try working for an hour straight without taking rest, your effectiveness will go down considerably.</p><p><strong>#5) Eat more frequently </strong></p><p>The healthier you are, the less stressed out you will be. Eating small but frequent meals throughout the day maintains an even blood sugar level. This is important because low blood sugar can make you feel anxious and irritable, which is often the case with irregular meals.</p><p>Just avoid overeating. While it is good to be eating more frequently, you want to be consuming smaller amounts for each meal.</p><p><strong>#6) Deep breathing exercises</strong></p><p>Every now and then you might want to do some deep breathing to relieve the tension. Just sit upright in your chair, breathe in for a count of four, hold it for the same amount of time, and breathe out for two seconds.</p><p>The bottom line is that there are all kinds of things you can do to minimize your stress levels. Don’t try to implement these tips all at once. Instead, do one at a time and you will be amazed at how much more relaxed and effective you become.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/" title="Dealing with Stressful Business Situations">Dealing with Stressful Business Situations</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/" title="4 Ways to Deal with Stress">4 Ways to Deal with Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/money/career-work/dealing-with-job-insecurity/" title="Dealing with Job Insecurity">Dealing with Job Insecurity</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/music-as-an-emotional-release/" title="Music as an Emotional Release">Music as an Emotional Release</a></li></ul> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>How to Declutter Your Mind for More Clarity</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/declutter-your-mind/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/declutter-your-mind/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:14:30 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Erin McKellar</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[clarity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[focus]]></category> <category><![CDATA[organization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[peace]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relaxation]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://goodplum.com/?p=1189</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Clarity is something that a mind needs in order to function. Too often, we walk around in a fog thinking of errands that need to be done, chores that need tending to, and family obligations. Obtaining a clear mind is not an easy task, especially if you tend to be a worrier or an anxious person. However, there are tips that are designed to help you to achieve a clear, focused mind.</p><p><strong>* Keep an agenda for the day</strong>. At the end of the day, make a list of errands and chores that need to be accomplished on the next day. List these items in order by priority, most important to least important. The most important items should be the ones that absolutely need to be taken care of such as <span id="more-1189"></span>doctor appointments and important paperwork.</p><p>The least important items are those that, if need be, can be pushed off to the following day. Keeping a list will help to avoid that “I feel like I am forgetting something” feeling that can nag at us until we go insane. This works in professional life as well as home life.</p><p><strong>* Stay focused on you. </strong>Do not allow others to push their chores or errands off on you, especially if you have a full schedule already. While it is okay to help others on a sporadic basis, taking on more, unexpected work will only add to your stress level. Stress is not a good factor for anyone and it does not lead to any level of clarity.</p><p><strong>* Organization is crucial.</strong> This is a true statement for both professional and family lives. Keep a schedule that shows who is responsible for which household duties and also which children have activities on which days. This will help to avoid the last-minute rush when you realize you forgot your daughter’s pageant.</p><p>At work, keep your files organized in a manner such that co-workers can find their way around your desk if you happen to be out. Organization at work will ensure that if you are home sick, you will not be receiving a call from a frantic co-worker who cannot find that check for $10,000 that needs to be overnighted to an important client.</p><p><strong>* Learn to relax.</strong> Drink a cup of tea or a glass of wine; take a nice, hot bath. Most importantly, take time for you because nobody else will. Nothing helps to ease a frazzled mind as much as taking some personal time for yourself when you feel a capillary about to burst. Without a time-out, stress will only increase and that is not good for any aspect of your life.</p><p>The key to clarity is to take control of your life. Keeping an agenda, organizing both home and work life, and relaxing, are all key components that help to ensure a clear, focused mind. And having a clear, focused mind ensures that you are the best person at any given moment, which in itself is a reward.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/tips-and-tricks/how-to-organize-your-desk/" title="How to Organize Your Desk in a Few Easy Steps">How to Organize Your Desk in a Few Easy Steps</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/relationships/get-a-following-on-twitter-by-giving/" title="Get a Following on Twitter by Giving">Get a Following on Twitter by Giving</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/9-proven-principles-for-increasing-productivity-profit-and-peace-of-mind/" title="9 Proven Principles for Increasing Productivity, Profit and Peace of Mind">9 Proven Principles for Increasing Productivity, Profit and Peace of Mind</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div><img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2010/06/mind-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="mind" title="mind" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" />]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2010/06/mind-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="mind" title="mind" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" /><p></p><p>Clarity is something that a mind needs in order to function. Too often, we walk around in a fog thinking of errands that need to be done, chores that need tending to, and family obligations. Obtaining a clear mind is not an easy task, especially if you tend to be a worrier or an anxious person. However, there are tips that are designed to help you to achieve a clear, focused mind.</p><p><strong>* Keep an agenda for the day</strong>. At the end of the day, make a list of errands and chores that need to be accomplished on the next day. List these items in order by priority, most important to least important. The most important items should be the ones that absolutely need to be taken care of such as <span id="more-1189"></span>doctor appointments and important paperwork.</p><p>The least important items are those that, if need be, can be pushed off to the following day. Keeping a list will help to avoid that “I feel like I am forgetting something” feeling that can nag at us until we go insane. This works in professional life as well as home life.</p><p><strong>* Stay focused on you. </strong>Do not allow others to push their chores or errands off on you, especially if you have a full schedule already. While it is okay to help others on a sporadic basis, taking on more, unexpected work will only add to your stress level. Stress is not a good factor for anyone and it does not lead to any level of clarity.</p><p><strong>* Organization is crucial.</strong> This is a true statement for both professional and family lives. Keep a schedule that shows who is responsible for which household duties and also which children have activities on which days. This will help to avoid the last-minute rush when you realize you forgot your daughter’s pageant.</p><p>At work, keep your files organized in a manner such that co-workers can find their way around your desk if you happen to be out. Organization at work will ensure that if you are home sick, you will not be receiving a call from a frantic co-worker who cannot find that check for $10,000 that needs to be overnighted to an important client.</p><p><strong>* Learn to relax.</strong> Drink a cup of tea or a glass of wine; take a nice, hot bath. Most importantly, take time for you because nobody else will. Nothing helps to ease a frazzled mind as much as taking some personal time for yourself when you feel a capillary about to burst. Without a time-out, stress will only increase and that is not good for any aspect of your life.</p><p>The key to clarity is to take control of your life. Keeping an agenda, organizing both home and work life, and relaxing, are all key components that help to ensure a clear, focused mind. And having a clear, focused mind ensures that you are the best person at any given moment, which in itself is a reward.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/tips-and-tricks/how-to-organize-your-desk/" title="How to Organize Your Desk in a Few Easy Steps">How to Organize Your Desk in a Few Easy Steps</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/relationships/get-a-following-on-twitter-by-giving/" title="Get a Following on Twitter by Giving">Get a Following on Twitter by Giving</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/9-proven-principles-for-increasing-productivity-profit-and-peace-of-mind/" title="9 Proven Principles for Increasing Productivity, Profit and Peace of Mind">9 Proven Principles for Increasing Productivity, Profit and Peace of Mind</a></li></ul> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/declutter-your-mind/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Dealing with Stressful Business Situations</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 18:11:06 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Elliott Kosmicki</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relaxing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[stress]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://goodplum.com/?p=961</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>It&#8217;s no secret that work life can be stressful, especially for entrepreneurs who are often solely responsible for their own and their family&#8217;s livelihood. When stressful business situations arise, a few simple steps can keep the stress at bay and help you keep your cool.</p><p>First, identify the source of your stress. Are you worried primarily about a rude email you have just received, or about the presentation you have due tomorrow? Try to pinpoint what is really bothering <span id="more-961"></span>you.</p><p>Next, choose your response. Even if you are powerless to change the source of your stress, <em>you can choose how to respond to it</em>. You can face it head on or ignore it, depending on the answers to several questions:</p><p>* Does it matter? A potential bankruptcy could haunt you for years, but you will soon forget about the idiot who cut you off in traffic. Consider how much the stressor will affect you in the long term.</p><p>* How much control do you have over the situation? You cannot control a traffic jam that&#8217;s causing you to miss your meeting, but you can control the quality of the report you&#8217;re writing.</p><p>* Is the stress&#8217;s source in the past, present, or future? Let go of stressors rooted in the past, respond to present stressors, and prepare for future ones.</p><p>If the situation is beyond your control, you need to find ways to shake it off. Try one or several of these calming methods:</p><p>1) Practice deep-breathing exercises: inhale deeply through your nose, count to five, and exhale slowly as you again count to five. Repeat until the pattern feels comfortable.</p><p>2) Redirect your thoughts: think about something that makes you happy, such as your family or a vacation you have planned. Or concentrate on your plans for the day.</p><p>3) Visualize relaxing things: imagine a beautiful beach or mountain view. Picture even minor details of the scene, and imagine yourself there.</p><p>4) Escape the source: If you can, put physical distance between yourself and the stressor. Go somewhere else to gather your thoughts and put things in perspective.</p><p>5) Get some exercise. Take 10-20 minutes to run, stretch, do calisthenics or yoga, or simply to walk around. Go outdoors if you can. Getting plenty of exercise can help you respond better to stress in the long term, too.</p><p>Now when you&#8217;re finally ready, face your stress head on. Procrastinating will only prolong or intensify your stress. Facing it is the only way to shake it off or resolve the situation.</p><p>If you can change the situation, overcome your fear by taking action as quickly as possible. If you feel paralyzed, start first by making a plan for tackling the situation. Include attainable goals and a time line for reaching them. Then take them on &#8211; one step at a time.</p><p>If your stress continues because you cannot seem to achieve your goals, revise your plan and lower your expectations. If you can&#8217;t, the situation falls into the uncontrollable category. Learn from your experience and let it go.</p><p>Most important in alleviating or avoiding stress is looking at the big picture. When you find yourself getting bogged down in the negative details, take a step back and think about what really matters: your family, your faith, and other intangibles you value. A broader perspective will reveal how little a daily stressor really matters in the grand scheme of life.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/" title="How to Get Rid of Work Stress">How to Get Rid of Work Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/" title="4 Ways to Deal with Stress">4 Ways to Deal with Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/money/career-work/dealing-with-job-insecurity/" title="Dealing with Job Insecurity">Dealing with Job Insecurity</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/music-as-an-emotional-release/" title="Music as an Emotional Release">Music as an Emotional Release</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div><img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2010/05/relax-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="relax" title="relax" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" />]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2010/05/relax-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="relax" title="relax" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" /><p></p><p>It&#8217;s no secret that work life can be stressful, especially for entrepreneurs who are often solely responsible for their own and their family&#8217;s livelihood. When stressful business situations arise, a few simple steps can keep the stress at bay and help you keep your cool.</p><p>First, identify the source of your stress. Are you worried primarily about a rude email you have just received, or about the presentation you have due tomorrow? Try to pinpoint what is really bothering <span id="more-961"></span>you.</p><p>Next, choose your response. Even if you are powerless to change the source of your stress, <em>you can choose how to respond to it</em>. You can face it head on or ignore it, depending on the answers to several questions:</p><p>* Does it matter? A potential bankruptcy could haunt you for years, but you will soon forget about the idiot who cut you off in traffic. Consider how much the stressor will affect you in the long term.</p><p>* How much control do you have over the situation? You cannot control a traffic jam that&#8217;s causing you to miss your meeting, but you can control the quality of the report you&#8217;re writing.</p><p>* Is the stress&#8217;s source in the past, present, or future? Let go of stressors rooted in the past, respond to present stressors, and prepare for future ones.</p><p>If the situation is beyond your control, you need to find ways to shake it off. Try one or several of these calming methods:</p><p>1) Practice deep-breathing exercises: inhale deeply through your nose, count to five, and exhale slowly as you again count to five. Repeat until the pattern feels comfortable.</p><p>2) Redirect your thoughts: think about something that makes you happy, such as your family or a vacation you have planned. Or concentrate on your plans for the day.</p><p>3) Visualize relaxing things: imagine a beautiful beach or mountain view. Picture even minor details of the scene, and imagine yourself there.</p><p>4) Escape the source: If you can, put physical distance between yourself and the stressor. Go somewhere else to gather your thoughts and put things in perspective.</p><p>5) Get some exercise. Take 10-20 minutes to run, stretch, do calisthenics or yoga, or simply to walk around. Go outdoors if you can. Getting plenty of exercise can help you respond better to stress in the long term, too.</p><p>Now when you&#8217;re finally ready, face your stress head on. Procrastinating will only prolong or intensify your stress. Facing it is the only way to shake it off or resolve the situation.</p><p>If you can change the situation, overcome your fear by taking action as quickly as possible. If you feel paralyzed, start first by making a plan for tackling the situation. Include attainable goals and a time line for reaching them. Then take them on &#8211; one step at a time.</p><p>If your stress continues because you cannot seem to achieve your goals, revise your plan and lower your expectations. If you can&#8217;t, the situation falls into the uncontrollable category. Learn from your experience and let it go.</p><p>Most important in alleviating or avoiding stress is looking at the big picture. When you find yourself getting bogged down in the negative details, take a step back and think about what really matters: your family, your faith, and other intangibles you value. A broader perspective will reveal how little a daily stressor really matters in the grand scheme of life.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/" title="How to Get Rid of Work Stress">How to Get Rid of Work Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/" title="4 Ways to Deal with Stress">4 Ways to Deal with Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/money/career-work/dealing-with-job-insecurity/" title="Dealing with Job Insecurity">Dealing with Job Insecurity</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/music-as-an-emotional-release/" title="Music as an Emotional Release">Music as an Emotional Release</a></li></ul> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>4 Ways to Deal with Stress</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 15 May 2010 15:13:01 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Elliott Kosmicki</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[change]]></category> <category><![CDATA[feelings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relax]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[stress]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://goodplum.com/?p=911</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Stress can bring true havoc into your life, both personally and professionally. Symptoms of extreme stress can take both emotional and physical forms.</p><p>Some common physical symptoms include aches and pains, constipation, nausea and/or dizziness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, loss of libido, and frequent colds. Emotional symptoms may include moodiness, irritability or short temper, agitation or inability to relax, feeling overwhelmed, a sense of loneliness and isolation, and depression or general unhappiness. Personally, I know I&#8217;m letting too much stress into my life, when I all of a sudden realize it seems like I&#8217;ve been sick for a week. <span id="more-911"></span></p><p>When feeling overwhelmed by stress, it&#8217;s important to try to identify specific stressors and to examine how you cope with them. You can then work to avoid, alter, adapt to, or accept the stressors in your life.</p><ul><li>To avoid unnecessary stress, <strong>learn how to say no</strong>. Know your limits and stick to them, in both your professional and personal lives. Whenever possible, steer clear of people who cause you stress. Take control of your environment &#8211; if scary movies make you anxious, for example, don&#8217;t watch them. Stay away from hot-button topics like religion or politics if they make you upset or cause conflict. And finally, pare down your to-do list. Separate the &#8220;shoulds&#8221; from the &#8220;musts&#8221; and drop anything that is not truly essential.</li><p></p><li>To alter stressful situations you can&#8217;t avoid, express your feelings rather than bottling them up. If something is bothering you, convey your concerns openly but respectfully. At the same time, remain open to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same so that you can find a happy middle ground.<br /></p><p>In addition, be assertive and deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. And finally, manage your time better. Don&#8217;t stretch yourself too thin and end up running behind.</li><li> If you can&#8217;t avoid or alter the stressor, you can adapt to it. Learn to view stressful situations from a positive perspective. You can reframe a traffic jam, for example, as an opportunity for some reflection time. Also, look at the big picture of a stressful situation. Ask yourself how important the stressor will be in the long run and whether it&#8217;s really worth getting upset over. If not, refocus somewhere else.<br /> <br /> Adjust your standards as well. Don&#8217;t set yourself up for failure by demanding perfection from yourself and others. Focus on the positive by thinking about all of the blessings in your life, including your positive qualities and gifts.</li><p></p><li>A fourth way to deal with stress is to <strong>accept the stress you cannot change</strong>. Don&#8217;t try to control the uncontrollable &#8211; a category that encompasses many aspects of our lives, including other people&#8217;s behavior. Focus instead on things you can control, such as your reactions to problems.<br /> <br /> Again, look for the upside when facing major challenges and try to see them as opportunities for growth. When the stress gets to be too much, confide in someone you trust. Expressing your feelings can be cathartic, even when you&#8217;re powerless to change a situation.</li><p></p><li>Last but not least, learn to forgive &#8211; yourself as well as others. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world, and people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments and move on.</li></ul><p>Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so take time to relax and have fun when you detect symptoms of stress in your life. Set aside to time to rest, spend time with positive people, and do something you enjoy every day. And most of all, keep your sense of humor &#8211; including your ability to laugh at yourself.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/developing-resilience-in-your-business/" title="Developing Resilience in Your Business">Developing Resilience in Your Business</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/" title="How to Get Rid of Work Stress">How to Get Rid of Work Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/" title="Dealing with Stressful Business Situations">Dealing with Stressful Business Situations</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/time-management/change-your-schedule-to-increase-productivity/" title="Change Your Schedule to Increase Productivity">Change Your Schedule to Increase Productivity</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div><img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2009/08/stress1-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="stress" title="stress" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" />]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img width="250" height="250" src="http://cdn.goodplum.com/files/2009/08/stress1-250x250.jpg" class="attachment-square-250 wp-post-image" alt="stress" title="stress" style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;" align="left" /><p></p><p>Stress can bring true havoc into your life, both personally and professionally. Symptoms of extreme stress can take both emotional and physical forms.</p><p>Some common physical symptoms include aches and pains, constipation, nausea and/or dizziness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, loss of libido, and frequent colds. Emotional symptoms may include moodiness, irritability or short temper, agitation or inability to relax, feeling overwhelmed, a sense of loneliness and isolation, and depression or general unhappiness. Personally, I know I&#8217;m letting too much stress into my life, when I all of a sudden realize it seems like I&#8217;ve been sick for a week. <span id="more-911"></span></p><p>When feeling overwhelmed by stress, it&#8217;s important to try to identify specific stressors and to examine how you cope with them. You can then work to avoid, alter, adapt to, or accept the stressors in your life.</p><ul><li>To avoid unnecessary stress, <strong>learn how to say no</strong>. Know your limits and stick to them, in both your professional and personal lives. Whenever possible, steer clear of people who cause you stress. Take control of your environment &#8211; if scary movies make you anxious, for example, don&#8217;t watch them. Stay away from hot-button topics like religion or politics if they make you upset or cause conflict. And finally, pare down your to-do list. Separate the &#8220;shoulds&#8221; from the &#8220;musts&#8221; and drop anything that is not truly essential.</li><p></p><li>To alter stressful situations you can&#8217;t avoid, express your feelings rather than bottling them up. If something is bothering you, convey your concerns openly but respectfully. At the same time, remain open to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same so that you can find a happy middle ground.<br /></p><p>In addition, be assertive and deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. And finally, manage your time better. Don&#8217;t stretch yourself too thin and end up running behind.</li><li> If you can&#8217;t avoid or alter the stressor, you can adapt to it. Learn to view stressful situations from a positive perspective. You can reframe a traffic jam, for example, as an opportunity for some reflection time. Also, look at the big picture of a stressful situation. Ask yourself how important the stressor will be in the long run and whether it&#8217;s really worth getting upset over. If not, refocus somewhere else.<br /> <br /> Adjust your standards as well. Don&#8217;t set yourself up for failure by demanding perfection from yourself and others. Focus on the positive by thinking about all of the blessings in your life, including your positive qualities and gifts.</li><p></p><li>A fourth way to deal with stress is to <strong>accept the stress you cannot change</strong>. Don&#8217;t try to control the uncontrollable &#8211; a category that encompasses many aspects of our lives, including other people&#8217;s behavior. Focus instead on things you can control, such as your reactions to problems.<br /> <br /> Again, look for the upside when facing major challenges and try to see them as opportunities for growth. When the stress gets to be too much, confide in someone you trust. Expressing your feelings can be cathartic, even when you&#8217;re powerless to change a situation.</li><p></p><li>Last but not least, learn to forgive &#8211; yourself as well as others. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world, and people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments and move on.</li></ul><p>Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so take time to relax and have fun when you detect symptoms of stress in your life. Set aside to time to rest, spend time with positive people, and do something you enjoy every day. And most of all, keep your sense of humor &#8211; including your ability to laugh at yourself.</p><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/developing-resilience-in-your-business/" title="Developing Resilience in Your Business">Developing Resilience in Your Business</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/" title="How to Get Rid of Work Stress">How to Get Rid of Work Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/" title="Dealing with Stressful Business Situations">Dealing with Stressful Business Situations</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/time-management/change-your-schedule-to-increase-productivity/" title="Change Your Schedule to Increase Productivity">Change Your Schedule to Increase Productivity</a></li></ul> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Tips for Greener Living</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/tips-for-greener-living/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/tips-for-greener-living/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 17 May 2008 11:53:17 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Erin McKellar</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[going green]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://becomng.com/?p=81</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p><div id="attachment_207" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 200px;  border: 1px solid #dddddd; background-color: #f3f3f3; padding-top: 4px; margin: 10px; text-align:center; float: left;"> <img class="size-full wp-image-207" title="Green [Post]" src="http://goodplum.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/green_200.jpg" alt="Greener Living" width="200" height="200" /><p style=' padding: 0 4px 5px; margin: 0;'  class="wp-caption-text">Greener Living</p></div>Everyone wants to do their part making the environment cleaner and prolonging the lifespan of our earth.  What most people don’t realize is that all they have to do is small little things to make a difference.</p><p>Some people thing that in order to go green, they have to give up too much, or do too much, but this isn’t true.  Here are 20 tips to help you save our planet:</p><p><strong>1.	Have smaller families:</strong><br /> The more people there are, the more pollution we create. Do you really need 15 kids?</p><p><strong>2.	Eat less animals:</strong><br /> Animal waste is a major contributor to the green house effect. Cut down on your meat consumption and you’ll cut down on pollution.<span id="more-149"></span></p><p><strong>3.	Drive alternately fueled vehicles:</strong><br /> Once upon a time this was a harder decision to make because there was so little choice. Now the choice is clear and much easier.</p><p><strong>4.	Turn off appliances when not in use:</strong><br /> Should be a given, but just in case, here’s another reminder.</p><p><strong>5.	Walk instead of driving:</strong><br /> This doesn’t work if your going somewhere like Australia, but if you’re just going to the park or the mall, get some exercise and do the planet a solid at the same time.</p><p><strong>6.	Install ceiling fans, turn down air conditioning</strong><br /> Air conditioners are bad news to the ozone, use only as needed.</p><p><strong>7.	Turn off background TV:</strong><br /> If you are in the kitchen or on the computer, turn the TV off.</p><p><strong>8.	Hang clothes out to dry:</strong><br /> They smell better when they’re hung out to dry anyways.</p><p><strong>9.	Use fluorescent bulbs:</strong><br /> Save on your energy bill and save the planet at the same time; a no-brainer.</p><p><strong>10.	Turn on dishwasher only when full:</strong><br /> Doing half-loads is just wasting energy.</p><p><strong>11.	Buy locally:</strong><br /> Support your local economy.</p><p><strong>12.	Eat vegetarian more often:</strong><br /> You shouldn’t be eating meat all the time anyways. High cholesterol is just the animals’ way of saying: ‘you shouldn’t have eaten me in the first place’.</p><p><strong>13.	Donate electronics you don’t need:</strong><br /> Just because you don’t need it anymore, doesn’t mean it’s useless. Don’t throw it out, give it away.</p><p><strong>14.	Stop idling in your cars:</strong><br /> How hard is it to flick your wrist, and turn the darn thing off?</p><p><strong>15.	Carpooling:</strong><br /> That’s what the carpooling lane is there for.</p><p><strong>16.	Don’t use hazardous insecticide:</strong><br /> If it’s bad for another living, breathing creature, what makes you think it won’t hurt you?</p><p><strong>17.	Get a push mower:</strong><br /> Get exercise and save the planet at the same time. Save cash too!</p><p><strong>18.	Take public transportation:</strong><br /> With the price of car insurance surging ever upward, can you afford not to take public transit?</p><p><strong>19.	Borrow instead of buying:</strong><br /> Stop wasting money on things you can get for free. Less trash = a healthier planet.</p><p><strong>20.	Use the stairs:</strong><br /> It’s better exercise than using an elevator, and stairwells don’t reek like stale perfume.</p><p>It’s the small things that will in the end, make the big difference. Start living green today!<br /><h3>Random Posts</h3><ul class="related_post"></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/tips-for-greener-living/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>10 Tips for a Better Nights Sleep</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/10-tips-for-a-better-nights-sleep/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/10-tips-for-a-better-nights-sleep/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 11 May 2008 12:43:32 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Elliott Roberts</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sleep]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://becomng.com/?p=78</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>There are few things more beneficial for your body than sleep. And unfortunately there is nothing than can replace a good night of sleep.</p><p>Insomnia can often lead to a drop in productivity, a sour mood and poor concentration.  But, everyone goes through bouts of insomnia from time to time, usually because of stress related reasons, and from the anxiety over not being able to sleep.</p><p>If you are having problems sleeping, there are probably many reasons for it. The important thing to know is that there are many ways to overcome this issue.</p><p>10 Tips for sleeping well:<span id="more-146"></span></p><p>1.    The bedroom is only for sleeping:<br /> Having a TV in the bedroom seems like a good idea, but it can be very disruptive to a good night sleep, especially if your partner likes to stay up watching bad late night talk shows or sports.</p><p>2.    Hide your clock:<br /> Out of sight, is out of mind, and not knowing what time it is, is much better than knowing you having been tossing and turning for four hours, and only have two hours left before you have to get up for work, and you have that big presentation in the morning, and you don’t think your ready…</p><p>3.    Keep the bedroom clean and peaceful:<br /> A bedroom should be a warm, comfortable and quiet place for rest and relaxation, so just turn out the lights, close the blinds and forget about those creepy, spying neighbors.</p><p>4.    No napping:<br /> Though napping can feel great at the time, ultimately it will put a serious wrench in your nighttime sleeping pattern, and you’ll stay awake all night thinking about how great your sleep was earlier in the day.</p><p>5.    Keep your sleeping patterns regular:<br /> Try and stay within an hour of your waking and sleeping time every day. This will keep your body in a routine, and bodies love routine. Well, except for routine colonoscopy’s…</p><p>6.    Try some bedroom rituals:<br /> Try new bedroom routines like reading a book or writing in a journal before you hit the sack, it’ll let your mind wind down, while your body starts its own wind down.</p><p>7.    Limit caffeine and alcohol:<br /> If you think this one is bad, then the next tip will kill you.</p><p>8.    Avoid smoking:<br /> Nicotine is a serious stimulant, but any smoker can tell you that, that’s the damn appeal in the first place.</p><p>9.    Go to sleep when you are sleepy:<br /> This may seem obvious, but how many times have you found yourself nodding off on the couch watching a horrible movie, resisting the urge to go to bed, and then when you finally do, you’re not tired anymore because you just caught up on two hours of glorious sleep?</p><p>10.    Avoid “over-the-counter” sleep aids:<br /> Sleep aids are very conducive to addiction, and are dangerous is so many different ways.</p><p>There’s no better remedy for insomnia, then a good nights sleep. Ironic isn’t it?  Let&#8217;s hear what you have to say in the comments.<br /><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/" title="4 Ways to Deal with Stress">4 Ways to Deal with Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/time-management/change-your-schedule-to-increase-productivity/" title="Change Your Schedule to Increase Productivity">Change Your Schedule to Increase Productivity</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/learn-to-accept-your-energy-cycle/" title="Learn to Accept Your Energy Cycle">Learn to Accept Your Energy Cycle</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/10-tips-for-a-better-nights-sleep/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Music as an Emotional Release</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/music-as-an-emotional-release/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/music-as-an-emotional-release/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 13:39:16 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Elliott Roberts</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[emotional release]]></category> <category><![CDATA[music]]></category> <category><![CDATA[stress]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://becomng.com/?p=77</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p><div id="attachment_212" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 200px;  border: 1px solid #dddddd; background-color: #f3f3f3; padding-top: 4px; margin: 10px; text-align:center; float: left;"> <img class="size-full wp-image-212" title="Music [Post]" src="http://goodplum.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/music-post.jpg" alt="An Emotional Release" width="200" height="200" /><p style=' padding: 0 4px 5px; margin: 0;'  class="wp-caption-text">An Emotional Release</p></div>How come so many messed up rock stars and musicians become so successful?  The reason: They have learned to channel their emotions and suffering into their music and their art. And if there is something we as humans understand, and can relate to, it’s suffering. Plus, many of today’s artists have an unlimited supply of angst, childhood trauma to draw from and of course addictions.</p><p>Music for so many individuals has become a release for pent up emotions, by helping get issues off their minds.  Learning to channel your emotions into a positive way can become the greatest way to ease your troubled mind.</p><p>Tips for using music as an emotional release:<span id="more-142"></span></p><p><strong>1.	See a concert:</strong><br /> Seeing music live is the ultimate rush. It can take you from a terrible mood, into a more relaxed state of being almost instantly.<br /> <strong>2.	Write a happy tune:</strong><br /> Sometimes the easiest way to get yourself out of a funk, can be to write a song that is light hearted and poppy. The effort of getting yourself into the mindset that it takes to write a track like that can quickly pull you out of you any emotional cesspool.<br /> <strong>3.	Write a sad song:</strong><br /> Having issues with love and rejection? Stop dwelling on your sadness and bottling up inside, write down how your feeling and turn it into a song that everyone can relate to. We’ve all been hurt before, but people like to know that we are not alone in this and that someone else understands what they are going through.<br /> <strong>4.	Release the anger:</strong><br /> A lot of people relate releasing anger with punk and heavy metal. Yes, these genres are mainly built on those principles, but a song doesn’t have to be aggressive to release anger. Think of the song ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’. Nothing aggressive about that song, but the release in writing those words most have been intense.<br /> <strong>5. Write a love song:</strong><br /> Are you torn with love sickness? Don’t cut off your ear! Write a song about the person who has put you in this emotional state and how they make you feel inside. Pour your emotions out onto the page and feel the lightening of your emotional baggage.</p><p>Music is the ultimate emotional release, and you don’t have to be a great musician experience it.  Next time you are feeling blue, angry or sad, pick up the pen, or a guitar, and just let the words flow out of you. Just watch as your turmoil quickly turns to a feeling of accomplishment at having created something beautiful from your suffering.<br /><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/" title="How to Get Rid of Work Stress">How to Get Rid of Work Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/" title="Dealing with Stressful Business Situations">Dealing with Stressful Business Situations</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/" title="4 Ways to Deal with Stress">4 Ways to Deal with Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/money/career-work/dealing-with-job-insecurity/" title="Dealing with Job Insecurity">Dealing with Job Insecurity</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/music-as-an-emotional-release/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>5 Minutes Daily for Stress Management</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/5-minutes-daily-for-stress-management/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/5-minutes-daily-for-stress-management/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 11:30:57 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Scott Reynolds</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Time Management]]></category> <category><![CDATA[stress]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://becomng.com/?p=76</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>I have a million favorite expressions when it comes to being stressed out, but I wouldn&#8217;t bother naming all of them. When it comes down to it, I think it comes down to how we work &#8211; or even relax for, that matter &#8211; that triggers stress. Ever been stressed even when you&#8217;re well relaxed and bored? I know I have.</p><p>Since errors are unavoidable in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the things that can be done simply &#8211; since life is basically a routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say&#8211; every minute counts.<br /> <span id="more-141"></span><br /> <strong> Managing time</strong></p><p>Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity. This will help reduce your stress.</p><p>To improve your time management:</p><p>- Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself.<br /> - Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time.<br /> - Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you.<br /> - Manage your commitments by not over- or undercommitting. Don&#8217;t commit to what is not important to you.<br /> - Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines.<br /> - Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like.<br /> Build healthy coping strategies</p><p>It is important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how you cope in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.</p><p><strong>Lifestyle</strong></p><p>Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:</p><p>- Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.<br /> - Have a sense of purpose in life.<br /> - Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping.<br /> - Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress.<br /> - Get moderate exercise throughout the week.<br /> - Limit your consumption of alcohol.<br /> - Don&#8217;t smoke.</p><p><strong>Social support</strong></p><p>Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. Social support is the positive support you receive from family, friends, and the community. It is the knowledge that you are cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued. More and more research indicates a strong relationship between social support and better mental and physical health.</p><p><strong>Changing thinking</strong></p><p>When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body&#8217;s stress, just as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.</p><p>- Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help eliminate stress.<br /> - Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an event incorrectly.<br /> - Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it.<br /> - Changing your communication style helps you communicate in a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile, or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style.</p><p>Even writers like me can get stressed even though we&#8217;re just using our hands to do the talking, but having to sit for 7 or 8 hours is already stressful enough and have our own way to relieve stress. Whether you&#8217;re the mail guy, the CEO, or probably the average working parent, stress is one unwanted visitor you would love to boot out of your homes, especially your life.<br /><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/how-to-get-rid-of-work-stress/" title="How to Get Rid of Work Stress">How to Get Rid of Work Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/time-management/7-tips-to-avoid-distraction-and-prevent-interruption/" title="7 Tips to Avoid Distraction and Prevent Interruption">7 Tips to Avoid Distraction and Prevent Interruption</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/stressful-business-situations/" title="Dealing with Stressful Business Situations">Dealing with Stressful Business Situations</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/4-ways-to-deal-with-stress/" title="4 Ways to Deal with Stress">4 Ways to Deal with Stress</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/success/business-success-stress/" title="Business Success Without the Stress">Business Success Without the Stress</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/health-sleep/5-minutes-daily-for-stress-management/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Building Self Esteem &#8211; A Starter Guide To Self Improvement</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/building-self-esteem-a-starter-guide-to-self-improvement/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/building-self-esteem-a-starter-guide-to-self-improvement/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:44:28 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Erin McKellar</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[positivity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[self-esteem]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://becomng.com/?p=64</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>So how do you stay calm, composed and maintain self esteem in a tough environment? Here are some tips you may to consider as a starter guide to self improvement.</p><p>Imagine yourself as a Dart Board. Everything and everyone else around you may become Dart Pins, at one point or another. These dart pins will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you won’t even remember. Don’t let them destroy you, or get the best of you.  So which dart pins should you avoid?</p><p><strong>Dart Pin #1 : Negative Work Environment</strong><br /> Beware of “dog eat dog” theory where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive. No one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch and dinner, and stay up late. Most of the time you get to work too much without getting help from people concerned.  Stay out of this, it will ruin your self esteem. Competition is at stake anywhere. Be healthy enough to compete, but in a healthy competition that is. <span id="more-132"></span></p><p><strong>Dart Pin #2: Other People’s Behavior</strong><br /> Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers… all these kinds of people will pose bad vibes for your self esteem, as well as to your self improvement scheme.</p><p><strong>Dart Pin #3: Changing Environment</strong><br /> You can’t be a green bug on a brown field. Changes challenge our paradigms. It tests our flexibility, adaptability and alters the way we think. Changes will make life difficult for awhile, it may cause stress but it will help us find ways to improve our selves. Change will be there forever, we must be susceptible to it.</p><p><strong>Dart Pin #4: Past Experience</strong><br /> It’s okay to cry and say “ouch!” when we experience pain. But don’t let pain transform itself into fear. It might grab you by the tail and swing you around. Treat each failure and mistake as a lesson.</p><p><strong>Dart Pin #5: Negative World View</strong><br /> Look at what you’re looking at. Don’t wrap yourself up with all the negativities of the world. In building self esteem, we must learn how to make the best out of worst situations.</p><p><strong>Dart Pin #6: Determination Theory</strong><br /> The way you are and your behavioral traits is said to be a mixed end product of your inherited traits (genetics), your upbringing (psychic), and your environmental surroundings such as your spouse, the company, the economy or your circle of friends. You have your own identity. If your father is a failure, it doesn’t mean you have to be a failure too. Learn from other people’s experience, so you’ll never have to encounter the same mistakes.</p><p>Sometimes, you may want to wonder if some people are born leaders or positive thinkers. NO. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing lines for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. God wouldn’t come down from heaven and tell you – “George, you may now have the permission to build self esteem and improve your self.”</p><p>In life, its hard to stay tough specially when things and people around you keep pulling you down. When we get to the battle field, we should choose the right luggage to bring and armors to use, and pick those that are bullet proof. Life’s options give us arrays of more options. Along the battle, we will get hit and bruised. And wearing a bullet proof armor ideally means ‘self change’. The kind of change which comes from within. Voluntarily. Armor or Self Change  changes 3 things: our attitude, our behavior and our way of thinking.</p><p>Building self esteem will eventually lead to self improvement if we start to become responsible for who we are, what we have and what we do. Its like a flame that should gradually spread like a brush fire from inside and out. When we develop self esteem, we take control of our mission, values and discipline.  Self esteem brings about self improvement, true assessment, and determination. So how do you start putting up the building blocks of self esteem? Be positive. Be contented and happy. Be appreciative. Never miss an opportunity to compliment. A positive way of living will help you build self esteem, your starter guide to self improvement.<br /><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/relationships/turn-criticism-into-positive/" title="Techniques to Turn Criticism into Something Positive">Techniques to Turn Criticism into Something Positive</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/the-small-business-owner-perfectionist/" title="The Small Business Owner Perfectionist">The Small Business Owner Perfectionist</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/7-steps-to-self-improvement/" title="7 Steps to Self-Improvement">7 Steps to Self-Improvement</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/the-absolute-power-of-positive-attitude/" title="The Absolute Power of Positive Attitude">The Absolute Power of Positive Attitude</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/productivity/7-steps-to-positive-thinking/" title="7 Steps to Positive Thinking">7 Steps to Positive Thinking</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/building-self-esteem-a-starter-guide-to-self-improvement/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>How To Be Genuinely Happy</title><link>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/how-to-be-genuinely-happy/</link> <comments>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/how-to-be-genuinely-happy/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:42:33 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Scott Reynolds</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Health & Sleep]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category> <category><![CDATA[happiness]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://becomng.com/?p=63</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Genuine Happiness Comes from Within</p><p>Life isn’t the sweetest candy. Sometimes, when I feel like the world is just too heavy, I look around and find people who continued to live fascinating and wonderful lives. And then thoughts come popping into my mind like bubbles from nowhere – “How did their life become so adorably sweet? How come they still can manage to laugh and play around despite a busy stressful life?”  Then I pause and observed for awhile… I figured out that maybe, they start to work on a place called ‘self’.</p><p>So, how does one become genuinely happy? Step 1 is to love yourself.</p><p>My theology professor once said that “loving means accepting.”  To love oneself means to accept that you are not a perfect being, but behind the imperfections must lie a great ounce of courage to be able to discover ways on how to improve your repertoire to recover from our mistakes.</p><p>Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. When you are contented with the job you have, the way you look, with your family, your friends, the place you live in, your car, and all the things you now have – truly, you know the answer to the question “how to be genuinely happy.”<br /> <span id="more-131"></span><br /> When we discover a small start somewhere from within, that small start will eventually lead to something else, and to something else. But if you keep questioning life lit it has never done you any good, you will never be able to find genuine happiness.</p><p>I believe that life is about finding out about right and wrong, trying and failing, wining and losing. These are things that happen as often as you inhale and exhale. Failure, in a person’s life has become as abundant and necessary as air. But this should not hinder us from becoming happy.</p><p>How to be genuinely happy in spite all these? I tell you… every time you exert effort to improve the quality of life and your being, whether it is cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, fail on board exams and trying again, life gives you equivalent points for that.</p><p>Imagine life as a big score board like those which are used in the NFLs. Every time you take a step forward, you make scoring points. Wouldn’t it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think to yourself “Whew! I got a point today. I’m glad I gave it a shot.”, instead of looking at it all blank and murmur “Geez, I didn’t even hit a score today. I wish I had the guts to try out. We could have won!” and then walk away.</p><p>Genuine happiness isn’t about driving the hottest Formula 1 car, nor getting the employee of the year award, earning the highest 13th month pay, or beating the sales quota. Sometimes, the most sought after prizes in life doesn’t always go to the fastest, the strongest, the bravest or not even the best. So, how do you become genuinely happy?  Every one has his own definition of ‘happiness’. Happiness for a writer may mean launching as much best selling books as possible. Happiness for a basketball rookie may mean getting the rookie of the year award. Happiness for a beggar may mean a lot of money. Happiness for a business man may mean success. So, really now, how do we become genuinely happy? Simple. You don’t have to have the best things in this world. Its about doing and making the best out of every single thing. When you find yourself smiling at your own mistake and telling your self “Oh, I’ll do better next time”, you carry with you a flame of strong will power to persevere that may spread out like a brush fire. You possess a willingness to stand up again and try – that will make you a genuinely happy person.</p><p>When you learn to accept yourself and your own faults. You pass step 1 in the project “how to become genuinely happy”.For as long as you know how to accept others, you will also be accepted. For as long as you love and know how to love, you will receive love ten folds back.</p><p>Again, throw me that same question “how to become genuinely happy?”. I’ll refer you to a friend of mine who strongly quoted- “Most of us know that laughter is the best medicine to life’s aches and pain. But most of us don’t know that the best kind of laughter is laughter over self. Coz then you don’t just become happy… you become free.”<br /><h3>You Also Might Like</h3><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/personal-development/relationships/build-a-business-while-building-your-marriage/" title="5 Tips: How to Build a Business While Building Your Marriage">5 Tips: How to Build a Business While Building Your Marriage</a></li><li><a href="http://goodplum.com/money/career-work/living-your-reality/" title="Living Your Reality">Living Your Reality</a></li></ul><div style="display:block"><small><em></em></small></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://goodplum.com/personal-development/how-to-be-genuinely-happy/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>
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