“5 Tips For Less Stress
And More Happiness”

     Long workweeks and crazy hours have become as common as voicemail and Palm pilots in today's workplace.

     The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 1999 that three in ten managers and professionals worked 49 hours or more in a week.

     Likewise, the National Study of the Changing Workforce, states, "Jobs have become more demanding- more time consuming and more hectic- making it increasingly difficult to achieve a balance."

     But don't despair; even if you feel chained to your desk, simple stress- relief strategies can ease day-to-day tension. The following five tips alleviate stress and integrate much needed breathing time into the hard- working woman's regular schedule.

     1. Arrange to telecommute regularly or on occasion.

     Lots of companies are warming up to this once-radical idea, which allows the at-home worker to be in charge of her schedule and eases stress by providing a chance for high productivity on her own terms.

     2. Utilize lunch breaks for personal recreation.

     Short timeouts during the day, whether they're brisk walks around the block or trips to the gym, can help reduce stress and improve functioning the rest of the day.

     Even a throwing a Nerf ball around or doing five minutes of yoga can let the air out of an over inflated schedule.

     3. Capitalize on minor holidays or floating vacation days.

     Easily forgotten holidays such as Columbus Day or a floating vacation day away from work really can make a difference in your stress level- if you know how to make the most of those 24 hours.

     Sleeping late is great, but the trick is to put the PRIORITY on stress reduction, and take purposeful steps in that direction.

     4. Take minutes out of every hour to stand up and stretch.

     Small breathers that involve simply getting up and moving around can improve how the body and mind feel, in turn alleviating stress. The body simply wasn't designed to sit all day long, day after day, so NON-desk time is crucial.

     5. Make use of flex time and flexible scheduling.

     In today's office culture, a majority of companies allow employees to tailor their schedules according to their individual needs, as long as eight hours of work get done.

     Taking ownership of your time cuts down stress by allowing you to have a more flexible timetable for taking care of life's obligations.

     Talk to your boss about the possibilities of a flexible schedule, and come prepared with a list of why it would work.

     Although the areas above focus on de-stressing while holding a full-time or part-time job, there are other ways you can de-stress while working from home either in a home-based business or doing the most tiring of all jobs- being a stay at home mom!

     Here are 5 tips that can help you right away:

     1. Move around!

     According to many psychologists, motion creates an emotion in all of us. You might notice that when you are idle, it is easier to become depressed. Your heart rate slows, less oxygen travels to the brain and the air flow from your mouth to your lungs slows.

     The challenge for you today is to get up right now, no matter how you are feeling, and walk around at a fast pace. Even jumping up and down will help. It all may sound a little silly, but the results speak for themselves.

     Try it now and tell me it doesn't work like magic.

     2. Smell the Roses!

     So... How do you do THAT exactly? Well, there are many ways. Invest some money into a trip that you've been dreaming about for some time. Visit a country with lots of exotic places to jolt your imagination and spur your creativity.

     Human beings, especially women, need to detach from their daily activities and venture out a little bit into the big world.

     3. Get Some Good Company...

     A lot of working women or stay-at-home moms develop a nice network of acquaintances but most of us only have a few true friends. This isn't because you're an introvert but rather because women, on a whole, can be very selective about who enters our universe.

     Once you develop a close group of friends who you can call, use that telephone or pop by their place when you are feeling down. Ask their advice or their input. While their suggestions may be helpful, putting your issues into will make you feel better.

     4. Help Others With Their Issues...

     When you help others cope with problems in their own lives, it can be very therapeutic. You usually end up engrossed in the situation and you will be surprised at how many people's problems are worse than those you may be facing.

     When you are down, DON'T curl up in bed and let your depression and stress take over. Get out of your house and help somebody. There are many charitable organizations that could use a helping hand right now.

     There are usually soup kitchens or shelters in your nearest city that accept volunteer assistance for things like making beds, serving meals, etc. Helping somebody else can be one of the best de-stressors in the world.

     5. Laugh, Laugh, Laugh!

     We've all heard that laughter is a good internal medicine. It relieves tension and loosens the muscle and will cause your blood to flow to the heart and brain. More importantly, laughter will release a chemical to your body that rids the body of pains.

     So if you are sitting at home thinking that you could use a good dose of belly-shaking laughter, what are you waiting for? Go out to a comedy club with your friends or rent some really funny movies.

     So, whether you are at work or at home, there are many ways to relieve stress and simplify your life.

     To find out more about how you can improve the quality of your life, check out my breakthrough book, "Get Gorgeous Now."

     This guide will give you practical tips for maximizing your inner and outer beauty potential... and for becoming a more confident woman.

     Achieve your relationship goals, your career goals, your family goals, and your PERSONAL goals using this proven set of foundational tools.

     Grab your copy today, just click here:

     Get Gorgeous Now Beauty System

     Wishing you the best.

     Your Friend,

     
     Sarah Jane

     P.S. If you'd like to send me a success story, question, or comment, please follow these guidelines:

     1) Keep it short and to the point. Two or three paragraphs max.

     2) Be specific about what's working for you and what you need help on.

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     4) Send it to me at: sarah@newyouadvice.com

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