Managing Stress

• Learn to breathe : Take a really deep breath and hold it for a moment before breathing out through your mouth. Exhale slowly as you count 10 or 15. Focus on relaxing your stomach and shoulder muscles as you breathe out.
• Take one-minute vacation: Pick a favourite mental image, such as holiday location or the face of a loved one. Practise brining this image to mind whenever you need to relax. Give yourself a full minute to enjoy the positive feelings associate with the image.
• Relax your muscles: Tense muscles stop your breathing deeply, so stretch regularly to allow your body and mind to loosen up.
• Expend some energy: An overstimulated brain is programmed to fight or flee - it wants activity. Give your body a chance to use this pent-up energy by walking around the office, as a short-term solution, and making regular exercise a part of your routine.