Instant Relaxation To Reduce Stress

If you need stress relief and you don't have much time try these:

1. Breathe slowly and deeply

2. Stretch

3. Write down your worries - then screw up the piece of paper and toss it away

4. Drink a cup of herbal tea

5. Shrug - vigorously shrug your shoulders

6. Sniff some lavender oil

7. Laugh out loud - you might feel stupid but it works!

8. Roll your neck and shoulders

9. Shut your eyes and imagine that you are in a deeply relaxing place

10. Help someone else - do a good deed

Make yourself comfortable. Sit in a high backed chair with your hands in your lap and your feet firmly on the floor and close your eyes. Allow your breathing to become relaxed.

Tense up all the muscles in your face, hold for a few seconds and then gently release all the muscles. Do this again and feel all the tension leaving your body. Make sure your breathing stays calm and restful.

Then move on to your neck and shoulders. Tense all the muscles here, hold for a few seconds and slowly relax and let them go. Breathe slowly and deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Then focus on your arms and hands. Tense the muscles all the way down, making your hands into a tight fist, hold and release, then repeat.

Bring your attention to the muscles in your upper back and shoulders. As before tense them up, hold for a few seconds and release. Do this again, noticing how much more relaxed you feel with each muscle relaxation. Continue breathing slowly and deeply, releasing any stored up tension with each breath.

Now focus on your tummy and lower back. Again, tense up the muscles in this area, hold and relax. Do it again, and relax the muscles even more.

Now tense up the muscles in your thighs and buttocks, hold these for a few seconds and gently release, letting all the stress float away. Repeat this and feel your muscles get even more loose.

Now move on to your lower legs, ankles and feet. Tense up the muscles feeling any tension lingering here, hold and slowly relax. Repeat this muscle group and remember to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, as you totally relax.

Enjoy feeling calm and relaxed.

Try this really simple stress management technique for when tension is getting the better of you:

1 Become aware of your breathing

2 Close your eyes if you can, it doesn't matter if you can't

3 Inhale deeply and say to yourself "I am"

4 Exhale deeply, saying to yourself "calm"

5 Inhale - "I am"

6 Exhale - "calm"

7 Repeat 10 times