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Stress Erasers for Busy Small Business Owners: Increase Health & Productivity By Marnie Pehrson | Date Submitted: 05/13/08 - PROOF THIS ARTICLE Keywords: stress erasers, reduce stress, relax, get organized, bliss breaks, letting go of perfection, delegation, getting focused More Details about stress erasers here. Summary: Seven tips for reducing stress and increasing creativity, productivity and your health. =========================================================================== Stress affects our bodies in various ways including insomnia, headaches, bowel problems, weight, depression, anxiety, diabetes, and fertility. It can even increase the risk of asthma and arthritis flare-ups. It also affects our state of mind, causing sadness, anger and depression. (Stress & Your Health, womenshealth.gov) Take Bliss Breaks None of these side effects are conducive to small business success. Stress kills creativity and creativity is critical for the entrepreneur. I have my own methods for reducing stress, one of which is taking "bliss breaks" throughout the day. These are 10-15 minute intervals where I do something I enjoy like take a walk in nature or listen to music and dance. One of my favorite breaks is when my kids walk in the door and the littlest one climbs up in my lap for hugs and tells me about his day. Whatever brings you joy, sprinkle it throughout your day in three or four "bliss breaks." You'll be amazed at the aerial perspective it gives you on life and your troubles. Get Focused Speaking of perspective, it's important to start with your focus. Phillip Davis, branding and naming expert explains, "Many times stress comes from unexamined beliefs and expectations. Many of us have been taught to strive and excel in every area of our lives, i.e. spiritual, mental, physical, emotional, etc. This sets us up for failure and frustration. When facing stress, take a moment to ask yourself, 'What goal am I really trying to attain?' If you get quiet, you may find you are trying to attain several competing goals all at once. No amount of organization will take you to five destinations at once. Decide which goal is most important and then align your life around that unifying principle. This also holds true in the world of branding... internally congruent companies attract clients naturally. By realizing what's truly most important in your life, you can release self created demands that don't resonate with who you are. This release will bring new found energy and focus into your life." Let Go of Perfection Self-employment expert, Terri Zwierzynski, gives three rules that work for her when life gets stressful. "1) If you aren't making mistakes, you aren't moving fast enough. This really helps me temper my perfectionist tendencies! 2) It doesn't *have* to be done today. Most of my deadlines are self-imposed -- no one else really cares! A stressed mind doesn't function as clearly as a relaxed one -- so why not take off the pressure and see what happens? 3) It will get done when it is supposed to get done. It's amazing how when I finally get around to doing something I've procrastinated about for a while, something else aligns that makes the task easier and sometimes gives a better result than if I'd done it earlier!" Step Back Relationship expert, Nancy Gerber, advises: "There's an ancient saying from the Tao: 'Do that which consists in taking no action and order will prevail.' When I get stuck in any kind of a rut - emotional overwhelm, unsure of my next action, a project stalled - sometimes the best next step is to DO NOTHING -- just let go for a little while and wait. "If I'm smart, I get out and go for a walk in as beautiful a setting as I can access quickly. Just breathing the fresh air, seeing the sky, hearing the birds and the wind in the trees, watching squirrels romp and dogs play, and moving through it all on my own steam shifts my perspective. Getting out of my brain and into my body helps me regain more calm and focus. As little as 10 minutes can make a huge difference. Sometimes I literally have to force myself out the door, and I'm always glad I did." Drop Activities that Aren't Necessary Parenting teens expert, Sarah Newton, suggests that stress is an indicator that you may be off course. "I sometimes think stress is an indication to us that we are not doing something that feels good to us, and for me is always a way to say, 'Whoa stop a minute. Do I really want to do this?' If the answer is no, then stop doing it. If the answer is yes, then ask how you can find a less stressful way to make it happen. Sometimes stress is just a state of mind and our intuition telling us we are out of alignment. See stress as an opening to a bigger conversation." Be in the Moment Busy Manhattan real estate broker, Kathy Gulrich, observes, "Ever notice how stress - and its cousin overwhelm - are usually all about the future? 'What'll happen when...' 'How you'll feel if you can't...' 'How horrible it'll be if you don't...' 'What you'll need to do after...' To reduce your stress - fast - forget about the future. Instead, take a deep breath, and get a feel for where you are now. Where are you sitting? What's around you? Are there any particular sensations in your body? Are you warm, or cool? Can you see outside? Are you alone? With others? Notice what's going on right now. In this moment. And from this space, think of the projects on your plate. (Chances are they'll be a lot less stressful, and not at all overwhelming.)" Get Organized Beyond mindset, entrepreneurial expert Stephanie Chandler suggests a practical approach to alleviating stress. "Get organized! So much time is wasted when you can't locate information on your desk or your email inbox is overflowing. Not only does it limit productivity, but it is emotionally taxing. Put processes in place to organize paperwork. Try to only touch email once. Set up filters on your email so messages are automatically routed to folders that you can read when you have time. When all else fails, hire a professional organizer. The small investment in services like these can pay off big time in the long run. Imagine what can happen if you recovered an hour each day! Isn't that worth the investment?" Customer service expert, Gail the Digital Info Diva, gives another tip for organizing your business. "Always create folders on your computer to save important information so you can find it. Doesn't it stress you out when you're looking for an important document and can't find it? This is easily resolved by creating general categories of folders and sub-category folders within your general category folder. As an example, there are probably many software programs you download for your business. Create a folder for each type on your desktop: 1) Utility Software - I put all my utility functions here like my FTP program, Norton Ghost program, Good Keywords program, and shortcut to printer software. 2) Application Programs - In this folder are all the direct links and shortcuts to software I need to run my business: AdwordAnalyzer, Copernic, GIMP, Keyword Elite, QuickBooks, SEO Elite, SnagIt, etc. 3) Computer Protection Software - Although I have antivirus running in real-time, I also use other software to do deep scans on my whole computer. So this folder contains SpySweeper, BidDefender, AdAware, etc. 4) Article Software - Instead of searching for which software I need, I store them all in this folder such as ArticleSubmitter, InstantArticleWizardPro, WebsiteArticleWizard, ArticleRecon, etc." Delegate Once you get organized, you'll soon see that it's easier to delegate some of the overwhelming tasks off your plate. Small business expert Sandy Reed suggests, "When it becomes obvious that you've bit off more than you can chew, Virtual Assistants can come to the rescue. Although I like to know how to do things myself, that doesn't mean I should always do them... I can be much more productive writing articles and contacting potential clients than updating my website and redesigning my blog. I have used V.A.'s from companies such as www.rentacoder.com and www.elance.com with great success. Don't be afraid to get help when you need it. These companies are very affordable." These are just a few suggestions for alleviating stress in your hectic life as a small businessperson. Select a few and begin today. Your mind and body will be happy you did! marnie@pwgroup.com Author's URL: http://www.MarniePehrson.com Marnie Pehrson, a mother of 6, has been highlighting truth and talent for 15 years. Whether it's writing a novel that spotlights individuals who've made a difference in the world or helping a talented entrepreneur create a platform for his life's work, Marnie underscores truth and talent in innovative and compelling ways. She is the creator of www.IdeaMarketers.com and helps experts promote their products and services online. For more information on her various projects and books, visit http://www.pwgroup.com. =========================================================================== _ Asthmatics Have Been Numbered In The Millions, Not Counting Heart Attack, Infertility, Asthma, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Disease _ Asthma Is One Of The Most Common Diseases In The World And Is On The Rise, Especially Among Children _ If You Are Prone To Asthma Or Anyone In Your Family For That Matter Or Skin Allergies Then You Should Look At The Water Running Through Your Taps With _ Over Time, Excessive Levels Of Cortisol Can Cause Sleeplessness, Loss Of Bone Mass And Osteoporosis, Allergies, Asthma, Acid Reflux, Ulcers, Low Sperm Count _ It Is Used In Assured Countries In A Medicinal Sense As A "bronchodilator" In The Handling Of Asthma _ The Asthma Is Caused By Airway Hyper Responsiveness To Various Stimuli Such As A Virus, Allergen And Exercise 27 _ _ If Left Untreated, Sinusitis Can Lead To Asthma, Bronchitis, Pharyngitis, Laryngitis, Pneumonia Or Other Respiratory Disorders _ Asthma Is A Chronic Disease That Causes The Airways The Tubes That Carry Air In And Out Of Your Lungs To Become Sore And Swollen _ Shower Filters Help People With Asthma _ These Individuals May Suffer From Headaches, Asthma Attacks, _ This Explains The Causes Of Asthma And Some Herbs And Supplements Needed By The Body To Heal It _ But It Involves An Abnormal Over Activation Of The Immune System In A Person With Underlying Bronchospastic Lung Disease (asthma) _ Therefore, The People Who Are Suffering From The Heath Problems Like Asthma, Heart Attacks And Menopausal Symptoms, The Mustard Greens Are Very _ This Helped Us To Understand Asthma And Other Allergies Too, Because They Work In A Similar Way _ Studies Have Shown That Children Who Drink Raw Milk Have Lower Rates Of Allergies And Asthma 17 _ One Of The Most Common Health Issues It Can Cause Is Asthma, Other Than Several Respiratory Problems _ Many Liver Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Thyroid Disorders, Psoriasis, Pancreatitis, Allergies, Asthma And Diseases Of The Immune System, 16 _ Here Is A List Of Things They You Need To Know About It You What To Keep Your Asthma In Check 12 _ It's A Major Allergen And Causes Many Rashes And Hives And Can Occasionally Trigger Asthma _ Improve Breathing If You Have Already Been Diagnosed With Allergy, Asthma, Emphysema, Or Other Respiratory Problems, Clean Air Will Help Decrease Acute _ Asthma And Allergies _ Research On Asthma, Skin Conditions And Scalp Issues Are Also Promising _ It Has Successfully Been Employed In The Treatment Of Quinsy, Asthma, Colds, And Coughs _ Up To 30 Percent Of People In The Baking Industry Is Believed To Have Developed Occupation Asthma Because Of Allergies Or Intolerance To Wheat And Flower _ In The Meantime, My Daughter's Asthma Got Worse _ The Noises Will Sound Like The Dog Is Choking, Suffering A Case Of Emphysema Or Asthma _ Read About Stress Relief, Anxiety Relief Also Read About Symptoms Of Asthma And Benefits Of Wheat Grass _ Unsurprisingly, She Suffered From Asthma For Most Of Her Life And Died Of Cancer At Only 63 Looking Frail And Old For Her Years 13 18 34 |
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