Stress Management, Diversion and Distraction, alternative medicine, holisticonline.com

Diversion and Distraction

Take a break away from the situations or tasks that are the source of your stress and frustration. Take a vacation or a short walk. This does not solve the root cause. But, it takes away from the source of stress so that you can "catch your breath." It also gives you an opportunity to think about the situation more objectively and may even help you to resolve the situation when looked through a different perspective.

Doctors agree that being physically active--walking, stretching, even working in the garden-is a high-power stress buster.

When I get stressed out I like to pop in a CD of instrumental music, light a candle or two and turn all the lights off except for the one that lights my fish tank.

I'll sit back and watch the delicate fish as they swim around the tank, ducking in and out of the plants and rocks. It's amazing how calming it can be to watch them...they're such beautiful, graceful creatures. I can actually get lost in their world and forget about whatever it is that's causing the stress in my life.

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Stretch yourself

Stretching can help you feel more peaceful and relaxed. As you stretch, imagine the tension leaving your back, neck and other muscles as you gently push them to their comfortable limit.

Walk it off. Walking may be the oldest stress reducer of all. Studies at California State University have shown significant reductions in tension after walks lasting only several minutes. A study by Florida's State Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services found that participants in an eight week walking program were able to reduce the stress they felt at work by 30 percent. Walking not only can provide a needed escape from tension, it also may increase the body's production of mood-elevating brain chemicals called endorphins.

See Also: Nature Walks and Imagery

New Projects/Hobbies to Cope With Stress

Take up a different project everyday to complete. The projects or activity selected should be meaningful to you and completing them makes you feel a sense of accomplishment and makes you proud.

Some of my projects people have used include:

	Organizing CD's and floppy disks.
	Work on a web site.
	Learning computer programs that you have installed on your computer by reading manuals, books, and practicing what you learn.
	Read a chapter in the Bible a day. This has an additional benefit as some of the stories may help you cope with your stress making you realize that each person's problems belongs to them; not you.
	Organizing the address list in your computer.
	Do that painting project you had been postponing for some time.

You can come up with your own projects. These take your attention away from your stress causing situation.

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