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Category: Managing Stress Tips

Published on Leave a comment on The Art of Self-Kindness and How it Helps Us Cope with Stress

By Juandri Buitendag and Prof Margareta James - Psychologists

Self-kindness can boost our mental health and help us navigate stressful situations. This is what we can do to nurture more of it.

Importance Of Practicing Some Self-Kindness - An Absolute Must!

Observing the breeze blow gently through the trees, savoring the delicate taste of a morning cuppa and curling up with a diverting novel in hand: far from being an extravagance, as these acts of self-kindness have sometimes been treated, they are in fact the fundamental building blocks of strong mental health.

In a world that is increasingly time-pressured and an economic model that has an unyielding focus on improving efficiency, it is easier than ever to overlook or de-prioritise your personal feelings and needs.

But according to psychologists, the art of self-kindness, although something that can be honed, is not something that should be optional. Whether it be in the realms of the physical, emotional, spiritual, or indeed professional, being conscious and sensitive towards yourself, they say, is key preparation for everything that life throws at us.

“It can change your life massively,” says Juandri Buitendag, a counseling psychologist who founded JB Wellness Dynamics, a London-based psychology therapy practice.…

Published on Leave a comment on What Does Reading Before Bed Do For Our Brain?

By Gemma Curtis – Sleep Matters Club Journalist

Some people can’t sleep without reading, but for others, the bedtime story is left in their child years. Reading before bed is an age-old tradition. Some people can’t sleep without reading, but for others, the bedtime story is left in their childhood. In recent times, reading interest has surged enormously. Whether it’s because people are running out of hobbies to try when they’re stuck at home or because they’re looking to expand their vocabulary is up for debate. Yet, the key question still remains: can the practice of reading before bedtime be beneficial? We explore how it affects the brain and see what the experts have to say.

Bedtime reading reduces stress

Reading before you sleep could relax you significantly. A study highlighted in the Telegraph by the University of Sussex raised a number of participants stress levels and then attempted to reduce them. Cognitive Neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis found that ‘reading worked best, reducing stress levels by 68 per cent’. It was better than listening to music (61%), drinking tea or coffee (54%) and taking a walk (42%). It only took 6 minutes for participants’ stress levels to be reduced.…

Published on Leave a comment on 14 Health Benefits Of Sleeping Early – Do Read!

From The Good Body Website

DON'T MISS THIS, THESE ARE WONDERFUL BENEFITS MANY OF US DON'T EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE'RE LATE OWLS ETC WE WOULD NOT BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE VALUE OF A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP - IT IS NOURISHING TO MIND AND BODY. WHEN PRACTICED CONSISTENTLY, OUR FACULTIES IMPROVE. YOU DON'T NEED MENTAL GYMNASTICS,YOU JUST NEED TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF BETTER MOST TIMES. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS EVEN YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T THINK VERY CLEARLY THESE DAYS, BECAUSE OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION. BE KIND TO YOURSELVES.

There Are Good Benefits In Sleeping Earlier

Science has shown there’s some truth in Benjamin Franklin's words about the importance of hitting the pillow early. This works best in conjunction with getting the recommended 7 - 8 hours sleep each night.

Sleep is a powerful force that dispenses a multitude of life-changing benefits – from making us more productive, to extending our lives.

Check out our top 14 benefits of sleeping early – all backed-up with solid scientific evidence:

1: BETTER SLEEP QUALITY

Be wary of burning the midnight oil because there’s a clear link between sleeping early and improved sleep quality.

Matthew Walker, leading sleep expert (currently Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, as well as founder and director of the Center for Human Sleep Science), in his New York Times bestseller Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams explains the science behind this:

Sleep is made up of 90-minute cycles, during which the brain moves from deep non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep to rapid eye movement (REM).…

Published on Leave a comment on Feeling Down Or Stressed? Try Nature Eco-Therapy.

A Return To Nature – Now Referred To As ECO Therapy

Summer often means spending time outdoors, swimming, camping, taking walks, and just enjoying the great outdoors. These leisure activities are fun and good for you.

That's right. They're good for you!

ECO Nature Therapy Is Good For The Soul

Psychologists in the new field of Eco-Therapy believe that spending time outdoors is important for our health. Connecting more with nature can help improve depression, lower blood pressure, improve self-esteem, help with impulse control, decrease post-operative recovery time, and encourage new social behaviors in patients with dementia, according to ecotherapyheals.com and the book Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind.

Eco-therapists claim that eco-therapy can be especially beneficial for those with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental illnesses. Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, and the incidence of depression has increased every year during the past century. Now, one in six people will experience a depressive episode in their lifetime.

Traditional treatment for depression has focused on medications and individual or group therapy.

Now, Eco-therapists suggest that benefit can be gained with activities such as gardening, walking or other outdoor exercise, or spending time with animals.…

Published on Leave a comment on New Study: Gardening Twice A Week Improves Wellbeing And Cuts Down Stress

A new study reveals a significant association between gardening more frequently and improvements in wellbeing, perceived stress and physical activity.

The study from Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) surveyed more than 6,000 people, and results indicate that those who garden every day have wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who don’t garden at all.

Joys Of Gardening We All Can Experience -
Good For Our Health

RHS Wellbeing Fellow and lead author, Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui says; “This is the first time the ‘dose response’ to gardening has been tested and the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the more frequently you garden—the greater the health benefits.

“In fact gardening every day has the same positive impact on wellbeing as undertaking regular vigorous exercise like cycling or running.

“When gardening, our brains are pleasantly distracted by nature around us. This shifts our focus away from ourselves and our stresses, thereby restoring our minds and reducing negative feelings.”

Respondents who gardened 2-3 times a week had a 4.1% higher wellbeing score and 2.4% lower stress levels compared to people who don’t garden at all. However, gardening fewer than 3 times a month has less of a positive impact.…

Published on Leave a comment on Practice This Mini Form Of Therapeutic Meditation – It Will Help You With Stress

By Brad Aronson

WE NEED TO DE-STRESS FOLKS, WE CAN'T KEEP ACCUMULATING STRESS UNCHECKED EVERY DAY; WEEK BY WEEK; OR EVENT TO EVENT WITHOUT SOME RELIEF STRATEGIES TO WEAKEN THE IMPACT SOMEWHAT. WE ARE NOT MADE OF CAST IRON (So To Speak) TO KEEP ADDING INSULT TO INJURY WHEN WE HAVE BEEN SO STRESSED, Our Mind And Body CAN TAKE SO MUCH BEFORE THEY PLAY UP IN SOME WAY. RELENTLESS STRESS Affects Both Mind And Body SO PLEASE FIND A FEW WAYS OF STOPPING STRESS FROM COMPOUNDING. This Is One Of Them. BE KIND TO YOURSELF AND GIVE IT A TRY. SEE HOW YOU GO. YOU MAY EVEN SAY Why Did I Not Know About This Sooner? YES YOU MAY:)

On this website, I have placed my Simple form of Meditation, just for pleasant thoughts and relaxation. Two days ago, I came across this Mini Therapeutic form by Brad that is much less complex than most therapeutic meditations.

I thought if I include this on Ours Australia, it could benefit a lot of people. Who does not need to cut down on stress these days? So I thought it most appropriate.…

Published on Leave a comment on Less Stress With Internet And Computers – Some Protective Measures

By Janet Vargas - Owner Of This Website

IN THE INTEREST OF HAVING A BETTER INTERNET EXPERIENCE AND PASSING ON WHAT I'VE LEARNED, I HAVE WRITTEN THIS ARTICLE TO HELP MY READERS. THERE'S SO MUCH TO AVOID THESE DAYS, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO THAT'S OK.

Safer PC Experience, Less Stress On The Net, Do Be Protected, Watch For Scams!

THE ADVICE IN THIS POST IS TO HELP YOU TOWARDS LESS STRESSFUL INTERNET AND COMPUTING. THESE DAYS WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS TOWARDS THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF OUR LAPTOPS AND PCs SO THIS POST IS IN THE INTEREST OF HAPPIER COMPUTING and NERVOUS SYSTEM…..MAYBE EVEN YOUR POCKET.

Computers can be stressful with so many unscrupulous vandals out there these days who have nothing better to do than stress us out by upsetting the running of our PC.

Sometimes they put spyware on it to track our activities on the Net – this could be with theft in mind.  Other times, they just like to make our PC crash or run haywire for the sake of it – just some sense of warped satisfaction they get out of it.

I have often said that they could put their talents to better use and get a lot of praise for coming up with some good things that everyone’s happy about.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Foods We Eat Have An Impact On Our Mental Health Often – Especially Over Time

THIS LAST YEAR HAS BROUGHT MANY OF US INTO MORE CONTACT WITH NATURE WHEN HAVING TO DISTANCE OURSELVES SOCIALLY. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TO HEAR THE BIRDS WHEN THEY VISIT NEARBY, WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNINGS, SEE THEM IN THE PARKS, AT THE BEACHES, FLYING IN FORMATIONS ON OCCASSIONS ABOVE THE HOUSES IN MY LOCALITY WHEN I STEP OUTSIDE. I'VE JUST PURCHASED A SECOND BIRDBATH RECENTLY, SO I HAVE A DEEPER ONE OUT THE FRONT FOR THE MAGGIES WHO LOVE TO SPLASH IN IT, AND A SHALLOW ONE FOR THE BACK, SO THE SPARROWS CAN REFRESH THEMSELVES TOO. I CAME HOME THE OTHER DAY TO SEE A PIGEON RESTING PEACEFULLY IN THAT ONE FOR QUITE SOME TIME - NOT SO QUICK TO FLY AWAY, AYE? WITH A LITTLE PATIENCE, YOU CAN BEFRIEND SOME BIRDS A LITTLE - ATLEAST WE CAN MAKE OUR YARDS INVITING AND EXPERIENCE PRECIOUS MOMENTS HERE AND THERE ON DIFFERENT DAYS.

Being Around Birds Makes Us Much Happier Says New Science

By Andy Corbley

We see them nearly everywhere we go, we hear them every day, they live in every environment, and now, two new studies have shown their mere presence makes us happier.…

Published on Leave a comment on When Friendships Are Stressful: Some Things We Can Do That May Help You

By Janet Vargas - Owner Of This Website

Things You Can Do With Difficult Friendships

These are stressful days we are living in – there’s no doubt about that – and many people are becoming “Needs-Orientated” because they don’t have managing skills. These are Life Skills we all need to develop and some mistakenly expect others to have these Life Skills for them. Or worse still, they want to constantly Off-Load their problems on others as their way of coping or complaining about life and that is SIMPLY UNFAIR.

You have come to the right place if you have problematic friendships. I’ve had a few and I found what to do. Of necessity, it was a real awakening in recent years.

Because I was far too Caring, I did not “practice the Principles I needed to” for my sanity (so to speak) and Peace of Mind. Looking back now, that so sapped up my energies, I’ve not been able to do some things I had planned to do because my energies were somewhat drained. They called themselves Friends but they needed a good spanking – they did not take responsibility for mistakes they were making and leaned much of their weight on me!…