More STRESS Busters!

Thanks for your feedback over the last two days, I appreciate your guidance. The majority of you want me keep my posts at the same length - short, sharp and to the point knowing that the research has been done.

Over the next four posts I am going to provide you with more 'quick fixes' to manage the pressures of life. Here is the first 10;

1. Smile - The two sets of unique muscles in your face send a signal to your brain that you are happy, your brain responds by releasing neurochemicals such as melatonin and dopamine therefore you will feel happy.
2. Make a decision - if you are struggling to make a decision; write the problem down, list all of the possible the options, write out the pros and cons of each option, and choose the best option to suit you. If that doesn't work, forget about it. The correct decision will eventually come to you when you least expect it (in the shower or at 3am) because you have lodged it into your subconscious which will come up with the right answer.
3. Maintain an emotional journal - writing down how we 'thought and felt' in situations where we have had an emotional response allows us to rationalise what occurred. You must write down both negative AND positive events.
4. Set goals - goal-setting motivates us and keeps us on track. Writing things down also controls our natural tendency to exaggerate under control.
5. Make lists - lists keep us in our left brain (the logical part), allows us to rationalise the many tasks at hand, and ensures that we don't forget things.
6. Stop multi-tasking - multi-tasking is a myth, no one can multi-task with prowess. We all have the ability to hold three thoughts in our frontal lobe and appear to be able to do three things at once. What you are actually doing is three things very badly! Do one thing at a time, deal with it, then move on to the next thing.
7. Stop comparing - Do not compare yourself to others. It is good to have people to look up to, who you want to be like, or to strive to be as great or as kind as. However, comparing yourself to others produces a negative effect and you will soon become despondent. Be yourself and do your best.
8. Meditate - I prefer to see it as sitting, breathing, and thinking. Take 10 minutes out of your busy schedule to sit comfortably, close your eyes, breath deeply and slowly, and listen to the sounds around you. It's as easy as that, you are now meditating.
9. Look for good - our negative bias causes us to add more weight to the negative thoughts, experiences and information that are around us. Concentrate on looking for the positives in every thing and every one. Break the pattern of negativity.
10. Listen to music - similar to smiling, music releases positive neurochemicals such as melatonin and dopamine in the brain thus we become relaxed.