Miscellaneous

This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of massage careers.  She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

Our world is a busy one to say the least.  This is why we must find ways to manage our stress and time in order to be more effective and productive individuals.  It can seem like a daunting task to make changes that will impact our lives in a profound way that will ultimately make things better, but rest assured that it is not as difficult as it sounds.  What follows is a brief list of ways to help manage stress on a daily level and become a more productive individual in the process.

Find a Balance Between Work and Personal Life

This may sound difficult, because many of us see ourselves as full-time representatives of our professions.  Though this may be partly true, it is important not to let work bleed into personal time, or vice-versa.  Allowing work to take over all of your time will only serve to alienate others from you, which will only hurt more later on down the road.  Balance your life so that you know you are doing your best on all fronts.

Practice Deep Breathing

When things feel like they are getting out of control, practice deep breathing.  Inhale slowly and deliberately through your nose, then try and exhale for twice as long through your mouth.  Doing this ten times when you feel overwhelmed will help bring you back to the present moment and will bring about feelings of relief and relaxation in the process.

Live in the Moment

Living in the moment is something that many people have trouble with.  When you are at work, you may be thinking about problems at home, car trouble, or any number of things from your past or upcoming events in your future.  This is simply wasted time; you cannot be in two places at once.  Why not re-focus to get back to the task at hand while you can.  If not, you may be sitting at home later, thinking about all the work you could have finished when you were there.  Live in the moment and you will feel better sooner rather than later.

Know When to Take a Step Back

This can be just as important as living in the moment, if not more so.  If you are unable to regain focus or if something is really bothering you, you may need to take some time to gather your thoughts.  Take a break, go for a walk, or call and talk with a close friend.  Many times whatever is bothering us will melt away if we can just remove ourselves from a situation temporarily.  Get back to things as soon as you have found your center once again.

Make Time for Yourself

No one can go on forever only fulfilling the needs of those around them.  You need to make sure and have some you time, where you meet your own needs and can take time to recharge, rest, and relax.  Spending time doing the things you enjoy will help make sure that feelings of resentment don???t grow to an alarming scale and will help you maintain your identity.