Stress-free Change

The only thing constant in life is change. Change can be an exciting part of one’s life or it can be a daunting experience. However, changes can be manageable if you are prepared to handle them. Since change is so much a part of our lives, don’t you think it is a good idea to learn how to manage it without stress?

In life, you can easily recognize change. You either embrace it, or reject it. Acknowledging and accepting change already gets you a long way in accepting change. However, if you are still having difficulties in handling it, here are some suggestions that you can do:

1. Evaluate yourself and try to understand your reactions to change. Are you the type of person who resists change or are you the type who dives in and becomes excited when it comes? If you can understand how you react to change, you can interact with others better during the difficult times.

2. Transition is a part of the process of how you deal with change. It has three stages: a) endings –the grieving stage of the good old days; b) the neutral zone –a stage of ambiguity and not sure of the new way; and, c) new beginnings – a stage when the coast is clear, and you are ready to accept the new things on the way. If you can identify which stage you are in, then you can understand better on what you need to do. It is important to be aware of this because other people might be experiencing also the same change as you have. It is always better to know you are not alone in adjusting to new things. It makes the transition better.

3. Be careful in responding to change and transition. People’s ways are habit-forming and they often develop routines. Disruptions can be nerve-wracking and can stir up emotions – mostly of the negative kind. Ask yourself questions in handling change like: a) purpose – reason for the change and why the changes?; b) picture – result of the change, the destination; c) plan – how to get to the next stage?; and, d) part – the role that you are about to play and where do you position yourself?

4. Help others. Since you know how to handle change in your life, it is time for you to help others who are the same situation and are struggling with the changes in their own lives.

Furthermore, to help you sharpen your ability to handle change and to provide you with some self-help therapies, here are some ways to soothe and calm your nerves:

• Do some physical activities like sports and exercise. This will help release pressure from your body.

• Share feelings and thoughts that cause you stress. If you think your problem is something serious, you may want to ask for professional help from a counselor or psychologist. Be aware of when to ask help.

• Set boundaries. If you think you cannot handle the situation, do not fight it and learn to accept it until the time that you already have the capacity to change it.

• Always remember to take care of yourself. Never neglect what your body needs and learn to read your body’s signals. Eat well and get enough rest.

• Have fun. Do not overwork yourself and schedule some time for recreation. Stop and take time to smell the roses.

• Be a participant. Do some volunteer work in your community to help you divert your attention to something worthwhile. You can also meet new friends along the way.

• Try accomplishing your list of tasks. The tendency for stressed people is to forget about important tasks. List them all down so you do not forget what needs to be done.

• Do not play the Mr. or Ms. Right all the time. Give and take is the best setup you can find at this time.

• If you want to cry; cry. Crying is a healthy way of releasing pressure and stress.

• Relax. If you feel tired of your environment, make that escape by reading a book or creating music to bring a sense of peace and tranquility.

• Never attempt to do self-medication. This can cause more harm than good for you.

Changes in life may leave you burned out but with a little help from yourself can make a whole lot of difference. Indulge yourself once in a while to distress yourself. Accept change and adapt. That is how people live and survive.

I lost my weight by these five Ways to Get Rid of Sadness

Yeap, thats right. I lost my weight by these FREE five "Ways to Get Rid of Sadness"...

Life is so unpredictable.

One moment your face is beaming with a ray of happiness and then the next day you suddenly feel weak, with low energy, and unable to accomplish anything. If you are experiencing the latter, then you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Long ago, the feeling of sadness was closely associated with changing seasons. The transition from summer to winter to spring leads to mood swings. A person switches starts off with a happy mood then becomes depressed and tense.

No person is immune from feeling sad, men or women, young or old, rich or poor, people will always experience sadness.

Here are nine helpful tips that can help you combat sadness:

1. Soak up the morning light. Natural light occurs early in the morning between 6:00 am to 8:00 am. Walk or sit by the window between those times. Staying indoors will keep you from getting natural light. Indoor lights at home or in the office represents only about a tenth of the natural light.

2. Avoid too much alcohol or caffeine. People make the common mistake of taking alcoholic beverages or coffee when they feel sad. While it can provide temporary relief, coffee can cause anxiety, muscle tension, or gastrointestinal disorder. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant. Alcohol can aggravate depression. As much as possible, refrain from using these drugs as a remedy for your sadness or depression.

3. Have regular exercise. While experts admit that there are no concrete studies on the effectiveness of exercise on sadness, there is no harm in trying. The moment you feel depressed, you become less involved in doing things which intensifies as time wears on. With regular exercise, you keep the momentum of having happy disposition.

4. Eat lunch outside. If your lifestyle does not allow you to enjoy morning light, try to do it during your lunch break. While natural light during the morning is most effective, getting it during lunch is better than none at all.

5. Eat foods containing the amino acid trytophan. According to medical experts, people with SAD have decreased secretions of serotonin. Trytophan is a precursor of serotonin and taking food rich in this amino acid can help elevate the production of serotonin. Foods rich in trytophan include turkey, milk, and egg white.

If all else fails and you are still suffering from sadness, then it is time to seek professional help.

Try these five tips and you will no longer feel the urge to sit and pout in one corner of your room.