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Try These Tips

Founder of The Oaks at Ojai

Whether you’re reading this sitting at the breakfast table on a bright, sunny morning or you’re stuck in a cubicle that is knee-deep in reports that should have been done last week, you know the truth. Stress is a fact of life. While not all stress is of the bad persuasion, such as the good kind like a better job, a new love in your life, or the arrival of a baby or grandbaby, sometimes even the good kind can take us well over our “legal limit.” It’s happened to me and I’m sure you’ve had your share.

I just discovered a book that might help too, if your stress is the kind that makes you fidgety, unhappy, or fighting a migraine. It’s The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook, Dr. Martha Davis and a staff of medical experts. Check your library or bookstore IF after reading this column you want some extra help.

So, sit still for a moment and review the suggestions below.

*Think about the types of fitness and outdoor fun you had as a kid. What did you enjoy? What made you anxious for school to be over so that you could get out to play? These are the activities that you should try again.

*Take five, that is, five minutes of fitness. A brisk walk, a run around the living room or some strides up and down the street or office hallway will help fight off some stress.

*Swing out. Just stand very tall and slowly swing your arms back and forth. Inhale and exhale. Find a comfortable rhythm and continue until you’re feeling a bit more relaxed.

*Walk outdoors. Even on cloudy or rainy and dismal days, there is something powerful about being out in the fresh and open air. Try this by yourself, as long as you’re safe, and then work on the next one.

*Play with a yo-yo. Bounce a ball or a beach ball.

*Shrug your shoulders and shake all over as if you’re a dog that has been caught in a rainstorm. You may not want to do this in front of friends, colleagues or family, but trust me, it feels so good.

*Give yourself a pep talk. Why are you so stressed? How did you handle stress last time you had THIS much on your shoulders? What will you do next time that you’re stressed out? Oftentimes, I’ve found, we have the answers ourselves.

*Learn to say “no, thanks.” These are hard words. But in challenging times, sometimes we must back away, even from the good stuff that’s offered, such as lunch with the girls or participating in a fund raiser.

*Give your food selections an overhaul. Under stress? Hungry? Reach out for fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat protein like yogurt or fat-free cheese. I’ve found that a small bowl of whole wheat cereal can help fight a snack attack. If there’s a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer screaming your name, have a cold glass of water, walk around the house, do ten push ups or jumping jacks and then have a big spoonful, in a bowl, while you’re sitting down. Most likely you’ll decide if you truly need that ice cream.

*Get at least 7 hours of sleep. If you struggle with sleep issues, talk with your doctor. He or she will probably ask questions about your eating and exercise habits. For example if you are rushed and gulping down food late in the evening, it’s going to be tougher to sleep well. If you think that you can only get in some energetic exercise in the evening near bedtime, but aren’t sleeping well, the fitness routine could be the cause.

*Talk it out. Ask a listening friend if she or he could spend ten minutes with you to “unload” what’s going on in your life. Make sure the friend knows you may not need answers, but rather just a sounding board.

*Sing, pray, or meditate. Do them alone or with like minded people. Check the study shared by the Mayo Clinic, Meditation: Take a stress-reduction break wherever you are, at www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070 to motivate you.

*Love an animal companion. There’s a real connection with petting your feline or pooch and helping to cope with stress. Don’t have a dog or cat? You might want to check out adopting one or with a friend or family member’s permission, “use” that person’s animal companion. If your dog is willing, take her off the sofa and both of you get out for a walk. Visit with your neighbors; people talk to those who are walking dogs.

*Take a mini-mini vacation. Play hooky. Schedule a long lunch hour or cancel or postpone unnecessary appointments and play. Have a pedicure, manicure, or get a new hairstyle. Go window-shopping and let your imagination take you wherever you want.

*Plan a real vacation at a health spa or perhaps to learn a sport like mountain biking or skiing. Of course, IF you plan to take a vacation you must gather and dream over brochures, and figure out when you really can get away.

*Give yourself away. Find opportunities to volunteer You’ll feel great and just maybe become a hero in someone’s eyes.

Stress is a twenty-first century fact of life. You cannot get away from it, but you can learn to cope. The pay off? You’ll be healthier and stay fit for life.

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Sheila Cluff, fitness expert, television celebrity and owner of The Oaks at Ojai, is the author of Take 5: How You Can Benefit from Just Five Minutes of Daily Exercise and The Ultimate Recipe for Fitness by Sheila and Eleanor Brown. Visit Sheila's Spa on the Internet and see all that's happening at the resort: The Oaks at Ojai www.oaksspa.com.