Jan

This article, about conquering stress in five minutes, popped into my inbox just in time this afternoon! These tips are from Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., coauthor of Five Good Minutes at Work and director of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program at Duke University’s Center for Integrative Medicine:

Running late?
“So call to let your boss know that you’ll be late and surrender control.” Then take slow, deep breaths and seek solace by letting your mind wander to a better place (like your last vacation) or making a mental list of things you’re grateful for.

Overwhelmed by others’ needs?
Slip away for a moment — either by ducking into an empty room or just closing your eyes — and draw an imaginary circle around yourself to create your own private island. Use your senses to distance yourself from reality: “See” a cloudless blue sky, “feel” the warmth of the sun, and “taste” that creamy piña colada.

Second-guessing yourself?
The next time your inner critic pipes up, follow these steps to silence it: Close your eyes, breathe mindfully, and reflect on a time when you were surprised by your own strength.

To read the rest of the article, from WebMD.com, click here. As for me, I can see a long, warm bath in my immediate future. How do you relieve stress? I’d love to hear your most effective methods!

Healthwise