Worklife Balance: Reduce Stress by Improving Decisions

To many women the following story will be all too familiar.  After a day of office slog you fetch the kids, listen to their stories, rush to the supermarket, get home, supervise homework, manage bath-time, pack sandwiches and tog bags, cook dinner, have the necessary arguments about who can or can’t do what and finally  you get the little trolls to bed.  Sometime during this treadmill of domestic grind, hubby waltzes in, puts his feet up, watches TV, demands dinner, scoffs it, heads back to the TV and then starts thrusting his crotch at you to let you know that sex is next on his agenda. 

We’ve also heard many an Agony Aunt advising us to improve our planning and time-management or send the kids to friends so that you can fit him in; both literally and figuratively.

I don’t know about you but I get annoyed by the nonsense advocating that women should make more time to keep on meeting everyone else’s needs but their own.  For starters what these well-meaning control-freaks don’t get is that planning or scheduling and organising a date or week-end with him takes more time; the one precious resource that exhausted women are short of.

Never have I heard an Agony Aunt advise women to stop behaving like the family’s slave and only to meet his every need when you too are in the mood.  With almost a quarter of working women bringing home more bacon than their men, isn’t it time we learned that doing it all, to have it all, is too hefty a price to pay for the modicum of financial freedom women have gained? 

It would seem that many women are happy to do things for their children but they draw the line at having to satisfy the regular demands of his broomstick in your back at bedtime. 

When it comes to sex, lots of women develop avoidance strategies about going to bed and invent all sorts of things that need doing so that he will be snoring by the time she gets there.  Alternatively, women get there first and – even if he arrives a few minutes later – they are masters at pushing out zzz’s pretending to be deep in slumber.

If sex is the best fun we can have with or without our clothes on, then why are women developing crafty strategies to avoid the encounter? 

Perhaps matters would improve if women let their men know that males are least sexually desirable when lazing on the sofa while the sports channel deafens the rest of the family.

I’ve often wondered why men endure all that sweat at the gym if that same finely tuned rear-end is hidden by sinking it into the couch cushions thereafter?  It’s time that males learnt that women are turned on by men’s butts but only if those same buns are actively behind the vacuum cleaner or can be admired when he’s up to his elbows in soap-suds at the kitchen sink. 

So if their sexual demands aren’t met then men should be questioning what they are doing to free up their woman’s energy so that she can enjoy an active sex life.

Okay, I know that many women think this is unrealistic and fear that not meeting his demands (like cooking, cleaning and picking up after him) will end in divorce. 

Many are also concerned that by ignoring his sexual needs he may seek keener pastures.  But the truth is that if he’s the type who doesn’t value your mutual commitment, no matter how well serviced he is at home, he’s going to stray anyway.

The more important question is; when are women going to start considering what they are getting out of the relationship.  If he is not an asset physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually then – like another of your children – he is simply a dependent. 

If this is the case then what is there to cling onto in the partnership?

Many women submit to men’s demands because they resign themselves to the lifelong habit of fulfilling society’s unrealistic expectations of what it means to be a woman.  The tradition of sacrificing ones needs and wishes for others harks back to the dark ages.  Since when is it a woman’s responsibility to work like a man and still be a slave to all the unpaid labour at home? 

If women are to strike a better work/life balance then it requires a lot more than some superficial planning and scheduling.  More importantly it’s about making difficult choices. 

The truth is we either live according to society’s demands – and make ourselves unhappy in the process – or please ourselves and put up with other people’s disapproval.  A happy medium is achieved by weighing up our options in each situation and deciding which demands we’re going to follow – our own or those of society.  

Constantly compromising yourself to meet other people’s needs is one of the main causes of depression in women.  On the other hand only considering yourself will make you self-involved and selfish.

Compromising things that matter to you puts your happiness at risk but there’s also no point in constantly taking him to task about his lack of involvement at home. 

When women nag, men retaliate by developing the knack of selective hearing.  They are prepared to put up with the whining because they know that afterwards you will continue doing everything for them. So instead of nattering about his shortcomings stop doing the things that irritate you. 

In a progressive province in India women became so fed up with men’s behaviour that they successfully organised a no-cooking strike for a few days.  There’s nothing like a rumbling tummy to get a man to change his ways and if rolling mass action isn’t for you then declare a personal strike at home.  Of course you may have to put up with a filthy house for a week or two but this is a small price to pay for appreciable change. 

In her presidential campaign Hillary Clinton appropriated the African saying that it takes a village to raise a child and we women could ease our burden by remembering that it is not a condition of being female to be solely responsible for all and sundry in the family. 

Men have the same appendages at the end of their arms as women do and these can be quite handy if put to work at home.  Children too need to learn to live independently and the only way for them to ultimately become self-sufficient is to be given more responsibility over time.

Often women unwittingly make a rod for their backs by doing too much for husbands and children.  They do so in a desperate bid to gain acknowledgement. All that really happens though is the family gets into the habit of seeing you as a doormat so, instead of appreciation, you’ll just be taken for granted. 

By facing difficult choices and not doing the things that exhaust you, you can trade-in the rod you’ve made for your back.  With the energy you retrieve you could then start calling the shots about if, when and how you may wish to take pleasure in his broomstick.

The real estate mantra ‘location, location, location’ could equally well describe the  preoccupation many people have about getting it right in bed; so much so that perfectionism has reduced sex to little more than position, position, position.  This kind of pressure is supposedly all about being creative between the sheets … or should I say on the kitchen table, perhaps with you served up as the whores d’vour?

Starting with ancient sex manuals like the Kama Sutra, much has been written about spicing up your sex life.  But how many of us get turned on by flipping through a manual while trying to crack a hand-stand in pursuit of a new, more imaginative position? 

It stands to reason that the longer you and your partner have been together the more you’re likely to get into the same old habits. But, if the routine satisfies both of you, then what’s the issue with sticking to positions like the missionary, spooning or styles inspired by Fido? 

The missionary got both its name and a bad rep because the idea of male-on-top suited the establishment’s ideas on what was deemed ‘decent’ in the bedroom.  Anyone who has tried it will know that the missionary is one of the hardest positions from which to satisfy a woman and it was only relevant during times when delighting in coitus was considered wicked for women. 

But if the missionary blows your pubic hair back, chuck out the manuals that suggest otherwise and get on with whatever you consider constitutes a good time.

The idea of inventive sex was initiated to break the missionary mould but today the obsession with ‘getting it right’ has made men and women so guarded and self-conscious that it has sucked the creative juices right out of the reality of being satisfactorily laid.  

It’s common knowledge that creativity and perfectionism cannot co-exist, so if you are fixated about which body part may or may not be shaved and whether you are revealing your cellulite or that wobbly bum, then no matter what position you take, sex will just end up being a mission.

The funny thing about vaginas and penises is that both are quite simple tools to operate; neither needs a complicated instruction manual.  The problem is not the tools so much as the workman and, as each of us enjoys different things, the only direction required is to guide your partner to the hotspots that turn you on. 

Humans have been enjoying sex for thousands of years without having to rely upon manuals, toys and faux nurse’s outfits.   So whether you’re getting your rocks off camping in a cave, soaking in a Jacuzzi or having sex on the beach, the only position important to take is to make sure you’re having fun.

Fun and creativity are products of spontaneity and no one can be spontaneous when we plan a strategy as to where, when, how and for how long we’re going to let our hair down.  Structure destroys imagination and when your toes are pinning back your ears, little could be more off-putting than having to turn to page 64 to find out where his arms and legs belong. 

Sex manuals may be good to spark off some new ideas but, once you’re all fired up, put the book down and let your creative urges rise.  It doesn’t really matter what position you land up in as long as you both enjoy getting there.

Do take some precautions though.  I knew a couple who had a preference for backseat bonking at insane hours of the morning.  On one occasion they chose a quiet golf-course parking lot thinking that the only balls in play would be swung by something flimsier than a five-iron.   However, upon reaching the crescendo they were unexpectedly applauded by a group of early-rising caddies who were overjoyed by such an extraordinary hole-in-one.

Laughter releases tension and can also ease awkward moments so, if you want him pitching tents in his Boxers, being naturally playful is more likely to get the big top up than assuming a position.  

Performance anxiety affects both men and women making it difficult for either to rise to the occasion.  Trying too hard will put the kibosh on creativity and this never-ending quest to get sex right is, in fact, the only way to get it really wrong. 

So, for all you’ve ever wanted to know about your position on positions, just ask your fertile imagination and let the hay roll from there on.

______________________________________________________________________________
Stephanie Vermeulen runs seminars on Applied Emotional Intelligence and Women’s Issues in business and public forums as well as being an inspiring speaker, writer and personal coach. Her books, Kill the Princess: Why Women Still Aren’t Free from the Quest for a Fairytale Life‘(USA) / Stitched-up: Who Fashions Women’s Lives?‘ (South Africa) & EQ: Emotional Intelligence for Everyone are available from leading bookstores and online through Amazon.com and Kalahari.net. She can be contacted via her website http://www.eqsa.co.za .

Stephanie Vermeulen
http://www.articlesbase.com/stress-management-articles/worklife-balance-reduce-stress-by-improving-decisions-694766.html

Caught in a Stress Storm?

Imagine you’re on your way to meet friends at a bar. You’re late and stuck behind a slow-moving van when the entire street lurches into darkness. Suddenly that man crossing the street in front of you looks like a potential robber. The cars around you seem to be hemming you in. Everyone and everything appears dangerous. You’ve gone from slightly stressed to completely strung-out in an instant.

When you finally get to the bar, your friends are deep in conversation about blackouts, crime and their plans to leave the country. What should have been a light-hearted, fun-filled evening has turned into one riddled with anxiety.

It’s as though a cloud of dark heaviness is hanging above us right now. Most of us are unaware of the extent to which worrying issues are affecting us. But if a high level of stress continues over a long period, paralyzing feelings of being overwhelmed can set in.
 
Many of us could be in the heart of what is termed as a ’stress storm’. Have you ever been in the situation where, because of stress, you couldn’t remember the name of one of your own family members? Perhaps you’re stuck in a depression, or maybe you’ve accomplished something great but the next morning you don’t want to get out of bed because you’re so down.

These are indications that you are caught in a stress storm – a place filled with fear and confusion, where you’re no longer thinking rationally. If this sounds familiar, read on to understand better what’s happening to you – and how to get to grips with it.

Why are we so Stressed?

In the USA we have a set of stressors to contend with – high crime rates, rising costs of food and gas, and an economic situation in which retrenchments are increasingly common. These compound everyday stressors such as work, family conflicts and financial pressures. We don’t let our bodies or minds relax, and develop distorted perceptions about ourselves – for example, we may think we’re accepted only if we’re performing well.

When people are taxed on so many levels, their resilience rapidly erodes. Most people can deal with one stressful area in their lives – even two – but few people can function optimally when every area of their life is affected by instability and stress.

Stress Poisoning

Our bodies are built to handle stress in short, sharp bursts, but when there is no let-up, stress can in fact be toxic for our bodies. When we’re stressed, our adrenal glands pump out cortisol. This ’stress hormone’ is preparing our muscles for the fight-or-flight response triggered when our lives are in danger. All energy is diverted from other functions, such as digestion, giving our bodies a burst of energy to ensure we can fight or flee if necessary. Modern stressors, however, such as traffic jams, don’t come and go quite as fast as, say, an attacking buffalo. Consequently, the cortisol and adrenaline that our stressors produce never leave our bodies – our lives are constantly turned to a high-alert setting.

On a physical level – which is where symptoms are easiest to detect and treat – stress may show up as migraines, headaches, muscle aches and pains, skin breakouts (acne, psoriasis, eczema) and stomach problems (including irritable bowel syndrome and constipation). Emotionally, we become more prone to outbursts of temper, mood swings and negativity. Mentally, we feel less able to cope. Our outlook becomes distorted and it becomes very difficult to keep our perspective. Highly stressed people become ‘reactive’. This means they react more to everything in their lives, from the lack of milk in the fridge to the geyser bursting. We become so overwhelmed that we literally get ‘beside ourselves’.

Living on Autopilot

Jane, 27, a fashion planner, knows this feeling all too well. While working in a high-pressure corporate fashion job reporting to a demanding boss, she was being pushed to work longer hours and perform tasks she didn’t feel prepared for.

‘As the pressure built up over about five months, I began feeling increasingly anxious. My short-term memory started to let me down and I would forget things I was meant to do. For example, I’d walk into a room and then go blank, forgetting why I was there. I felt confused all the time and began talking more slowly and slurred my words. I lost a lot of weight and at the height of my stress my right arm would get very tense and feel taut. It’s a scary place to be. It can feel as though you don’t know yourself – as though you’re having a mental meltdown.’

This feeling is not uncommon. Stressed people often describe themselves as being on autopilot – as though they’re participating in the show of their own life, but not starring. They’re overwhelmed and often feel clumsy, awkward and off-centre. They may forget names of people or even the names of simple, everyday objects. This is due to the prolonged periods of cortisol production, but also, because we’re trying to remember too many things.

High levels of stress can affect our relationships too. Some people, like Jane, are too tired to go out and socialize, and often feel they’re a burden on other people. ‘Friends tried to help,’ remembers Jane. ‘I’d lost a lot of weight so they could see I was in distress but they didn’t really know how to help other than telling me to chill out’.

Others may drink more to be more sociable or in an attempt to forget, so the glass of wine suddenly turns into a bottle of wine. According to research women could be more prone to developing stress-related addictions (such as cocaine addiction) than men. The good news, though, is that stress is our body’s way of telling us to do something. But what?

The suggestions below are a good start. Don’t knock them for sounding obvious – at least not till you’ve actually tried them.

Stress Busters

Gain Perspective

Understand that there are certain things in your life that you have control over and others that you don’t. If, for example, you are concerned about the political situation, vote. If you’re concerned about crime, join or start a neighborhood-watch program. Be proactive about things you can influence and let go of those you can’t.

Breathe

At work, if you find yourself getting stressed or anxious, go somewhere quiet and concentrate on your breathing. Imagine your breathing is like waves breaking on a beach. Maintain a regular rhythm. Imagine you are breathing all the way down to your toes when you breathe in, and all the way back up again as you breathe out.

Eat Well

Don’t hand your power over to food and drink. That fatty hamburger isn’t going to release your stress. Rather ask, ‘What will this drink or food do to my body over the long term?’ Cut down on sugar. Sugar gives you a temporary lift followed by a downer. If you’re craving something sweet, try eating fruit or a handful of nuts. Drink lots of water. Stress tends to dehydrate the body. Keeping your body hydrated will lessen stress symptoms such as fatigue and headaches.

Exercise More

One of the most effective ways of dealing with stress is to exercise. Try to do some form of exercise at least three times a week for 30 to 60 minutes.

Develop a Positive Internal Dialogue

This is a powerful way to help ourselves when we’re stressed. We tend to feel anxious about things we have no control over (the future, other people), and most of what we fear never happens. Remain in the moment. If you start to stress about tomorrow, remind yourself that you can only live today – tomorrow does not yet exist.

Talk to a Professional

Jane consulted a psychologist, who helped her see that getting through her stress storm meant removing herself from her stressful job. ‘I took three months off, stayed home and just slept, watched TV and did nothing.’ She saw her psychologist for a few months and gradually became her old self again, but this time with the tools to recognize and avoid another stress storm.

Sandra Prior
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/caught-in-a-stress-storm-678171.html

Know The Top Massage Techniques!

Massage is a great way to relax as well as rejuvenate ourselves. Whether you are the one receiving or giving it, a massage can be a good stress reliever to experience. Throughout history man has been using rubbing, kneading and tapping techniques in an effort to ease pain, thus the need and the reason behind the popularity of massages.

In today’s tired and worn out society, massage is like a breath of fresh air that rejuvenates and empowers the mind and body. With the benefits of muscles relaxation, stress relief, eases pain and even inducing sleep, massages have become a necessity to many.

There are numerous massage techniques developed throughout history, and here are some of them: The most popular and often requested massage technique is the Swedish massage. It uses soothing, tapping and kneading strokes to work the entire body, relieving muscle tension and loosening sore joints. Swedish massage uses five techniques or strokes that can be learned by everyone. It is a full body type of massage that centers on the proper circulation of blood flow. On the other hand, for chronic tension in the muscles just below the surface of the body, a Deep Tissue massage is the one that can give you the best cure. It involves slow strokes, direct pressure or friction movements that go across the grain of muscles.

For sports enthusiasts, the Sports massage has gained recognition not only for athletes, coaches of sportsmen. Their effects on of both the pre-event and the post event are have made it an important exercise. They give out a relaxing and soothing effect on the muscles after the event, or can induce of help warm up and prepare the body for the activity.

Rolfing is a massage technique that promotes if not re-educate the body of good posture. Body posture can determine the health of a person, so a bad posture can mean some physical or medical illness. It re-aligns and straighten the tissues that support the body. Meanwhile, Hellerwork is an offshoot of Rolfing that adds both mental and movement re-education to the physical work. It involves instruction on how to break bad posture habits and you also get a massage that focuses on returning your muscles and other tissue to their proper positions.

At the time there may be 200 massage techniques used today. And although they may be exciting to try, you must always remember not all massages are good for your body. Choose the one that is the most suitable for your needs, to prevent further pain or injury.

Teri Plaxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/know-the-top-massage-techniques-93384.html

Holiday Stress Relief

The holiday are just around the corner and with the holidays comes decorating the house, preparing for guests, buying gifts, cleaning house, and cooking, baking, and of course putting on your best smile and staying on top of everything. Along with all of these comes that ugly thing called stress. Many of us have stress in our everyday lives, this has become a normal part of our life, and however, with the holidays on the way, our stress levels can rise. Some of us just expect to deal with everything and roll with the punches, while others are smart enough to learn how to relax.

The best way to relax is by using aromatherapy, light therapy, and sound therapy relaxation systems. The only way to really enjoy the holidays is to learn to relax and stay that way so you do not have to put on a fake smile and can actually enjoy the family reunion instead of worrying if your turkey will be dry.

The most popular aromatherapy product is the electric aromatherapy diffuser. The electric aromatherapy diffuser is very easy to use. All you do is open the lid, add a few drops of essential oils to the dish that is heated dish, and then close the lid. The aromatherapy diffuser comes complete with three vials of Aromaland’s Essential Oil Blends: Relaxing, Energizing Mint, and Prana.

Light therapy is a new concept at least when you are talking about products for your home. Light therapy products are such items like the BioBrite Sunrise Alarm Clock. This unique alarm clock can be set to begin to fade the simulated sunset 30 minutes prior to bed and then 30 minutes prior to waking up so your body has the chance to go to sleep and awaken naturally.

The most popular Sound Therapy Relaxation System on the market today is the Obus Forme Sound Therapy Relaxation System. The system will allow your body and mind unwind with ten different settings that will send your mind to ten different harmonic environments including Rainfall, Ocean Waves, Summer Night, Waterfall, White Noise, Running Stream, Heartbeat, Tropical Forest, Songbirds, and Thunderstorm.

Instead of stressing out this holiday season, take a few moments for yourself, even if you only use one of the products just before going to bed, you will wake up refreshed and calm. Stress can cause all kinds of health problems and lack of sleep is just one of the symptoms of stress. Without proper sleep and stress nipping at your heals, you are just asking for all kinds of health problems. Do yourself a favor and relax.

Melissa Nathans
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/holiday-stress-relief-650464.html

Coping With Unhealthy Stress

Everyone has stress in their lives. Stress is a natural part of life. You feel stress when you’re overworked or eat too much. Emotional stress happens when you get sick, or worry about a loved one or money or have an unpleasant event, such as a death in the family. A lot of things cause stress; natural disasters, personal problems, relationship problems, problems at work, having a policeman stop your car.

While stress is usually adverse or unpleasant, short term stress can be healthy. It helps us perform better, gives us extra energy and helps us complete things on a deadline. Anyone who has done any public speaking or attended a job interview has had a case of the butterflies. Healthy usually stress goes away after the event is over. Stress may be caused by internal or external factors.

Left unrecognized and untreated, stress can make you sick and age you. It’s essential to find out what’s causing and learn how to deal with unwanted stress. The stress goes away soon after the event is over. Unhealthy stress, on the other hand, is continuous and can cause a lot of problems. It can contribute to everything from dry mouth, depression and feelings of tiredness, irritability, disturbed sleep, weight gain or loss and even hair loss. Stress can cause anxiety, depression, hypertension, addiction and a lot of other stress related illness. People suffering from stress can have difficulty concentrating, may be easily irritated and sometimes focus on negative thoughts, avoid interacting with other people and may have a decrease in sex drive.

Stress may be caused by internal or external factors. If you experience several of these symptoms at the same time, you’re may be suffering from a great deal of stress. Stress has the potential to harm your health and emotional well-being. You should consult with your family doctor if you think you may be dealing with stress that is out of your control. The point of dealing with stress is to be pro-active. If you do nothing to reduce or relieve the stress your health may be negatively affected. Left nrecognized and treated, stress can make you sick and age you. It’s essential to ask what’s causing and how to reduce the unwanted stress.

Dealing or coping with stress varies from person to person. Some stress can be a good thing, but sometimes it becomes necessary to find a way to master stress that is causing you to suffer. Sometimes a person has to stop trying to do everything and must learn to just say no.

Stress can be dealt with using medicine, hypnosis, exercise or self-destructive ways such as alcohol or drugs. Meditation Exercise is the most simple, readily available and easiest way to beat stress. In addition to dealing with stress, exercise is a way to loose weight and improve your mental and physical health. Another way to cope is to take an hour every day and engage in some activity that takes your mind off the cause of the stress. Work at a favorite hobby, or get a part-time job as a janitor in a department store (like I did) and sweep floors for several hours at night.

There is a lot of help for people who want to change the stress levels in their life. If you’re dealing with a lot of stress, see your doctor. Find a good listener to talk about things that’s causing you stress. The point is to do something that relieves the stress without resorting to a self-destructive activity.

There’s a lot of good information from the American Heart Association that can help guide you in dealing with unhealthy stress levels. The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency to help reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The point is to do something that will relieve the stress without resorting to a self-destructive activity. Find something that will work to reduce your stress level, work at it and above all, don’t give up.

Marshall Crum
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/coping-with-unhealthy-stress-585823.html

Definition of Anxiety – When Stress Goes Out of Control

In principle anxiety doesn’t have to be bad, we can’t simply jump to the definition of an illness, in fact according to the National Institute Of Mental Health; anxiety is defined as a normal reaction to stress. It usually helps people to deal with a number of stressful situations, for example; a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech, etc. In short we could say that anxiety is good for our survival when it’s present in normal amounts.

But the real problems begin when this normal anxiety starts getting out of control and suddenly you find yourself completely overwhelmed by anxiety feelings, and apparently you can’t find a way out of these feelings and recurrent thoughts, and getting rid of this intimidating sensations presents as an impossible task to do. Once this has happened we know that anxiety as turned into an illness.

From what has been said above, the definition of anxiety, as an illness, can be stated as a medical illness involving the feelings of intense fear, anxiety or worry. This feelings can be associated with specific objects or situations or the feelings can simply appear, apparently from nowhere and causing the patient to modify many of his daily life routines and sometimes seriously impeding the developing of a normal life. In short, an anxiety illness could be defined as the presence of excessive worry and fear without an apparent reason to feel so.

Anxiety disorders can be subject to a sub classification, for example we have: obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias and generalized anxiety disorder. They are all variations of the same out of control anxiety involving your life and your mind plays a big role in letting the feelings stay or get rid of them, you just have to know how to do it. For your surprise it doesn’t have to be hard and can be faster than you think.

N. Young
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/definition-of-anxiety-when-stress-goes-out-of-control-728870.html

Understanding a Child’s Fears and Anxieties

As a parent it is important that we understand what potential problems our child has. Most children have certain things that they worry about or even fear. In this article, I write about the types of fears that this might be and about how we can help our children to cope and to get through life in the best possible and stress-free way.

I am by now a child social worker and what I write within this article is just my own personal opinion. I actually offer a upvc front door service; I am also involved with a company that enables people to make cheap calls and on a weekend I offer personal injury claims advice - rather busy as you can see!

The majority of children are more than capable of being able to pick up on the anxieties of their parents. They may hear arguments about money and can then start to worry themselves about the financial situation their family may be in. I am a parent myself and try where possible to only discuss serious issues with my partner when the children are out or are asleep. If I believe that one of my children has overheard a conversation which I would have rather they hadn’t, I then talk to them to attempt to reassure them that everything is OK.

Children may also worry that their parents may break up and that they will end up living apart. They will no doubt hear that this has happened to their friends and may wonder and stress about how their lives would change if this happened to them.

My children have told me that they worry and that they fear that one of their parents may die in the near future. It is quite difficult to explain to them that this is unlikely to happen as it obviously could. I try and laugh it off which may not be the best policy, by stating that I am still very young and that I have no plans to leave this planet in the near future. I explain to them the age that the average male will live to in our country and that normally, I hope, makes them feel better.

School can be another area of stress for some children. Will they be able to cope and understand the work? Will they be able to obtain a good examination mark and a good report? Will they be able to make their parents proud of them? I have told my own children not to worry about these issues and to just try their best.

Socialising and meeting friends can also bring its own tensions. Children make and break friends at regular intervals, especially during the early teenage years. When friends fall out this can be a very stressful time for any child. When this happens to my children, I make a point of saying that it has been the fourth time in a month that you and Amy as an example, have had a falling out. Your sure to make friends again in the near future.

As children get a bit older there is then the challenge of meeting a member of the opposite sex. We all know the problems and strains that this can bring. At this time I think it is just a matter of being there for your children and getting them through these difficult years the best and easiest way possible.

Technorati Tags: anxiety, children, fear, parents, socialising, stress, stressful, worry

Research In Stress Management :How to write articles? Instant Article Wizard Pro Vs Answer Analyst Which One To Buy?

Article Writing Overview

Article writing has many applications ranging from pure research to marketing.

The first generation of Article Writing Software

Checkout Instant Article Wizard pro for more information

In the last couple of years, I have been able to use Instant Article Wizard Pro for its automated research functionality which saves time and effort.

Until recently I was satisfied that it saved me massive amounts of time in both research and the initial draft of my articles, which are always the most time consuming. So why consider an alternative like Answer Analyst

The next generation of software are All In One (Research, Analysis & Article Writing Software)

Checkout Answer Analyst for more information

So, you may be wondering what is so special about Answer Analyst?

Let’s cover the similarities first: both Instant Article Wizard Pro and Answer Analyst are capable of grabbing the information “from across the web” about any keywords and create coherent and grammatically correct paragraphs for any articles on any subject.

Both software can do this within seconds, whilst the same activity done manually would literally take hours.

Once the research is complete you just need to chose which piece of research to include in your article “Et voila” with a bit of cut and paste you have brand new article complete with research sources.

Now let’s cover the main differences between Instant Article Wizard Pro and Answer Analyst:

Most seasoned internet marketers, would tell you that, “mastering the art of keyword research” is the key to both finding niches which are profitable and understanding what your prospects are really looking for. Now consider this: how much would you value the ability to enter a few keywords in a piece of software (preferably high converting keywords), and then identify the exact questions, which have been asked by real people, to finally use these same questions to carry out your research and write your article automatically?

Would the functionality described in the above section of this article be of interest to you?

Answer Analyst changes the game of on line research and article marketing in one go, it is a game changer, able to be utilized in multiple ways to carry out research, and write articles at unprecedented speed

How does 10 minutes for a unique article of 500 words sound to you?

For the benefits of Marketers out there, I should draw your attention to the fact that writing product reviews, no longer needs to be a chore. Before ending this article I would like to prompt you to watch the video of the software mentioned in this article, and that you give Answer Analyst a try if you are an experienced internet marketer, or if you value a professional on line research facility, whilst Instant Article Wizard Pro should be sufficient to meet the needs of those with less experience.

Watch the Instant Article Wizard Pro video.

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De-Stress with a Warm Tub

If you are an American adult, you’ve stress.  It’s everywhere, all around us; whether it’s the boardroom, the classroom, or the weekly volunteering you do on the city museum, regardless of where you are in existence, you’ve tension.  

Tension can come in all shapes and sizes and for most of us, the options of dealing with our stress arrives within the variety of unhealthy options; drinking, smoking, eating, and so forth.  How can we address our stress without bringing any of the questionable forms of relaxation into the mix, also?  A hot tub will do the trick and you are able to reap the advantages of de-stressing in a hot tub by utilizing it just a handful of times a week for 15-20 minutes.  

It can make you wonder why every American house doesn’t arrive with a hot tub built correct in.  Using the way the popularity from the warm tub is increasing and also the need for us to possess a way to de-stress is always an issue, I wouldn’t be astonished if we were to start seeing just that occur, houses is going to be constructed using the hot tub all ready to go when the proprietor moves in!  

The medical communities have addressed the issue of daily tension and the harm it can do to if it is not taken seriously and dealt with.  It’s broadly recommended for a portion from the day time, if it had been to be spent in a soothing and/or meditative method, the benefits is going to be amazing towards the person.  Just getting into a warm tub can do the work of de-stressing for just about anybody and the great relief in getting in a position to let go of some of the daily tension is priceless.

What can make the thought of de-stressing having a hot tub and not just some quiet time is that whenever you sit in a hot tub, your blood can move a lot more freely inside your expanded veins and capillaries and your system is no longer being affected by 100% gravitational pull.  The truth that your body can have a buoyant impact can take as much as 30% of the pressure you carry around all day time whenever you are not in a buoyant state that adds tension to your physical body all the time.  

There are hot tubs that arrive with lounging chairs and are equipped with jets to blow water and air at any of the ailing components that need the attention.  Any quantity of warm tubs could be specifically and personally equipped to address any locations of your body that are especially stressed.  For some people it’s their neck and back again.  You can find hot tubs with just that de-stressing component in stalled; where the jets that are going to do the perform on these components of your body are custom-fit for any particular seat within the hot tub.

Maybe the issue you’ve is the bottoms of the feet are achy on the end from the day time.  You can find hot tubs that have the jets directly on the floor where you would sit upright and really feel their healing power.  No matter where stress takes its toll, a hot tub can help the de-stressing process.

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Pick Up An Air Guitar And Let Your Imagination Soar!

We live in a left brain world. What does this mean? Well, in a nutshell, the human brain is split down the middle into two halves. There are only small bridges connecting the halves, so they act virtually independently.

The left brain is the one that houses the speech and language centers. We have become so conditioned to rely on speech, logic and other left brain functions that many of us are not even able to easily access the right brain except in our dreams. We even think in words, constantly engaging in an inner dialog with nobody but oneself!

The right brain is the brain of the feelings and the imagination. As a society, we have become so language centered that only musicians and artists remind us that we even have a right brain. Strange as it may seem, many psychologists suggest learning to play air guitar or do some other right brain activity in order to reawaken the creative, feeling side of the brain. Activating the right hemisphere is like taking off a black helmet that has kept you trapped in the small world of the chattering left brain.

It does not matter what media you choose to express yourself with, as long as it is not primarily language based. Music is the language of the right brain and so is an excellent start. Let us take a Dreadnought acoustic guitar as our example and put it to use as a tool for right brain activation.

It goes without saying that you can choose a Takamine acoustic guitar if you prefer. It is an air guitar, after all! Since you are not actually playing the instrument right now, picture your ideal guitar in your mind. Feel it in your hands. Admire its beauty. Now start playing the guitar in your mind. A riff you already know may pop into your head or you might be surprised to find yourself playing something totally new and original!

Can you hear the music playing in your mind? Good! That means you have just activated your right brain. You will probably not play for long before you return to your habitual left brain thinking. A good way to stay in the right brain longer is to fill in the experience with pictures. Imagine yourself playing to an appreciative audience. Fill in the picture with details.

If you have been successful in your imaginary exercise, you will feel refreshed and enlivened after you open your eyes. The right brain is limitless. Give it a chance to speak to you and you will be astounded by what a change it can make in your life!

Technorati Tags: air, guitar, imagination