5 New Innovative Approaches to De-Stress

April is national stress awareness month and the Health Resource Network has named April 16th, national stress awareness day. With the recent stock market losses, job layoffs and pending foreclosures there is no time like the present to learn more about strategies to reduce your stress. What follows are five techniques to keep your stress in check.

1. Prioritize with Passion

At the turn of the 19th century, the workplace motto was simple-- work hard." Life was pretty simple and each employee was expected to get the job done with little complaining. As we saw technology emerge in the 70s and 80s the new motto that arose in the work place was --work smart. Employees were expected to find ways to use technology and innovation to become efficient. Today´s motto is neither like the work hard or work smart motto. In this new economy the motto is -- work passionately. Many workers are finding themselves out of a job and are now faced with the opportunity to pursue their own passions whether that means starting their own companies or re-thinking their line of work. An effective way to manage your stress is to find something you are passionate about and spend some time doing it every day. When you free your mind up, even if its only 15 minutes playing the guitar or 30 minutes writing, you shift the energy in your field and attract new experiences and opportunities. The old strategies of "thinking" your way through a situation are of little value, this is your opportunity to pursue your passion.

2. Go to the Experts

The Heart Math organization is a global leader in best practices in handling stress. Heart Math recently developed the mobile emWave™ Personal Stress Reliever. The device uses state-of-the-art technology to show you when you are under stress (and thus not operating at your best). The result takes all sorts of beneficial shapes, including stress reduction; increased energy and resilience; greater mental clarity for decision-making and creativity; enhanced emotional balance and improved listening ability; better, more restful sleep, including better focus; better health; and simply, a more easeful existence. I use the emWave several times a week and have found the product to be highly useful in identifying and reducing stress. In addition to creating the emWave, the Hearth Math organization has developed a wonderful free de-stress kit with many helpful suggestions for stress reduction. For more information visit De-Stress Kit for Changing Times

3. Reprogram Your Unconscious Mind

Candace Pert, is a professor in the School of Medicine at Georgetown University. According to Pert, numerous unsaid words and unfelt feelings can create energy shifts in the body which allow stress to mount and dis-ease to occur. Whether you are facing foreclosure, a messy divorce, final exams or some other unpleasant or stressful situation, you can de-stress your body through sound. Pert has developed a cd entitled Psychosomatic Wellness: An Antidote to Stress. The CD is accompanied by a 10-page illustrated booklet discussing the scientific basis for psychosomatic wellness and how stressful thoughts can be reprogrammed. The CD package is a practical application of new paradigm physiology, scientifically designed to rest and heal your bodymind. Psychosomatic Wellness © was created to help people alleviate stress and complete interrupted cellular healing and I have found great benefit from this product. For more information visit Psychosomatic Wellness Audio CD

4. Read a Novel

One of the best ways to de-stress is to pick up a novel . Novels are full of plot twists and turns and help to remind us that nothing ever stays the same. Your life as it is now may be in a state of flux but you are moving through this stressful time. I recently read All The Way Down by Nick Hornby. The author found the right mix between depression, hope, humor and despair. I found myself laughing out loud and while engrossed in the novel, I had no time to create or focus on anything remotely stressful. Novels are a wonderful way to remind yourself that life is indeed good and that the challenges your are facing will pass.

5. Stop the Racing Thoughts

Limiting your stressful thought's is one of the hardest things to do but can be so effective in turning around almost any situation. You have the opportunity to defuse or accelerate stressful thoughts. For example, if you recently lost your job you may then worry how will I get health insurance? How do I pay my car note? Then how will I pay the mortgage turns into what if I can't pay the mortgage? Pretty soon, you have escalated a single thought into visualizing yourself on the street corner holding a sign that says will work for food. The truth is that you will find work, you will survive the transition, life will go on and chances are good that it won't be nearly as problematic as you can create in your mind. Try to limit the amount of time you give to stressful thoughts and create meaningful experiences with your downtime. A friend of mine recently was out of work for nearly 6 months; however, instead of constantly stressing out he exercised 2 times a day while out of work. He got a better job than he had before and went back into the workforce 20 pounds lighter. You have choices with what you choose to think and do while you are going through transitions, so be good to yourself and choose wisely.

Tonja Steel is a free lance writer in Las Vegas and the author of several books including Hair Today Cure Tomorrow benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation.