Quick & Easy Stress Reduction Solutions – Part 1

Stress is a real problem that we must all deal with every day of our lives.  We cannot afford to ignore it because it has real negative effects on our health, relationships, performance, work, and lives in general.  I discussed much of this in book, What Stress Can Do, (available on www.createspace.com/3839220 ).

My next  goal is to give people simple stress solutions so that you can quickly and without much effort rid yourself of the problems stress could cause in your life.

Some stress management programs require a lot of time, commitment, and expense which discourages many people from using them.  People want things that work fast and don’t take much effort.  That is one of the reasons that medications are so popular.  Just take a pill and get better is the message.  Don’t worry about the long list of potential side effects.  Don’t worry about having to continue to take the medication over a long period of time, maybe for the rest of your life.

It can be more effective to go into in-depth training for stress management but if you are not willing to stick with it then you won’t benefit from it.  This is where many people find themselves.    I want you to have several tools that you can use quickly and regularly without working too hard so that you will actually do it and stick with it.  These tools work.  Use them and gain control over stress.  Share them with your family and friends.  Notice the changes in your health, the changes in your life, your work, and relationships.  After a period of putting these tools into practice you will probably have people in your life comment on the changes they see in you.  They will say things like “How can you be so calm while this is going on?” .

Solution #1 – Essential Oils

What could be easier than putting a couple of drops of oil in your palms, rubbing them together, cupping your hands together around your nose, and then inhaling?  It takes only a few seconds to do this and the scent reaches and stimulates your brain almost instantly through your sense of smell.  You can also rub the oils on certain areas of your body including the wrists, the temples, earlobes, or neck.

What are essential oils?  They are oils that are extracted from plants meaning that they are natural.  Any side effects tend to be good.  Many essential oils have more than one positive effect.  Some of the oils that are useful for stress reduction include Lavender, Rose, Frankincense, Bergamot, Marjoram, Vetiver, Chamomile, Lemon, Geranium, Fennel, Rosewood, and Ylang Ylang.

What to do?  Buy and keep a selection of stress reducing essential oils.  Use them in the morning before leaving the house.  A great idea is to use your favorite essential oil instead of perfume or cologne.  Essential oils usually come in small bottles so they are easy to carry with you during the day.  Ladies can keep a bottle in their pocket book.  Guys can carry one in your pocket.  Any time during the day you can take out the bottle and put a drop or two on your neck, wrists, or earlobes.  At coffee break time, lunch time, or when you go to the bathroom are good times to do this.  During your work day you can also use a couple of drops before or after an stressful phone call,  meeting or interaction with a coworker, supervisor, or customer.  This can help you to prepare for or recover from the effects of the stress.

Look for my next simple stress solution soon.

Harry L. Campbell

President, Biofeedback Resources International

Author of the book What Stress Can Do (available on www.Amazon.com )

www.biofeedbackinternational.com