3 Ways to Keep Stress in Check

if you're the higher-level executive or professional just embarking on a new career, there is no question that stress at some point will play an important role in your life. According to experts, the Centers for Disease Control and National Institute for occupational safety and health, stress is linked to negative physical and mental health, which resulted in widespread job burnout and depression levels never before seen in the work force. We all know that getting enough exercise and eating well goes a long way toward managing stress, however, there are several other things that I found invaluable in my career that you might think hard:

1 Meditation - When I say "meditation, " people often conjure up strange images of men in the sweat lodge, the women singing, or some bizarre religious ritual. It's not the kind of meditation in which I refer (not that there's anything wrong with that kind). I'm talking about the kind of meditation where you will spend a few minutes each day reconfirming your intentions for success, and allows your mind to continue. I think that I'm not a big emphasis on their own and thus enjoy "guided meditation" - ie, someone speaks softly through how to focus your thoughts with soothing music in the background. I have done some guided meditations that are so trite me laugh out loud (which really defeats the purpose, let me tell you). I prefer not to think of meditation as a religious experience and expression, but rather an opportunity to "be still" for a few minutes each day and see where the silence takes you. OK - if you think about meditating embarrasses you, just download a meditation on his iPod, and go somewhere to sit quietly while you listen. Nobody will even know what you're doing, and you can see for yourself if meditation can be right for you. Do not worry - you do not have to make any sounds correctly meditate! Here are two meditation CD's to go back in time and time again - you can even download them to your iPod from iTunes:

Gael Chiarella - it is my personal favorite, she is the most soothing voice, and I find it very easy to think in your message. My favorite set of her meditation is "Meditations for Emotional Freedom. " others in the vicinity will be the "AM / PM Meditation" Dr. Andrew Weil - my personal favorite is his "8 Meditations for Optimum Health" - his guided meditations are set to famous classical composers, which I find very soothing and makes me feel much less like a hippie than other guided meditation (again, not that there is something wrong with that hippie!)

Yoga - which I like so much about yoga is that unlike racquetball, soccer or basketball, yoga is non-competitive event. In fact - if you're competing against a guy / girl in line ahead of you in yoga class, you are doing wrong. Yoga emphasizes the measure yourself against, and emphasizes doing the best you can and feel good about it. I believe that virtually anyone can do yoga and get benefits from it - whether you are overweight, inactive, non-flexible, the elderly, and so on. I like meditation, I do not think of yoga as a religious experience, but when I focused on myself, my muscles, my thoughts, and stretching. I personally prefer to practice yoga in an actual yoga studio, but the practical value to you in class at the gym, or you bought the DVD for the home. "me" time - this sounds like a cliché, is not it? "I need me time. " You hear this all the time. However, "me time" may not be an hour pedicure, or a long soak in the tub (again, not that there's anything wrong with that!) "me time" may be 15 minutes to enjoy something that truly brings you joy. I learned recently that I actually really enjoy playing games, and then bought a Nintendo DS (my favorite game is "Lost In Blue 3", if you must know). Even if it means sitting on the couch playing video game for 15 minutes after you put the kids to bed, if it's 15 minutes brings you joy, then you've gotten the desired benefit.

I hope that other stress relievers will appear in the form for you (that was my intention to enter my personal top three). The point is, there are times where you have to make a conscious effort to engage in activities that relieve your stress - and the best time to figure out what your favorites are up hope before you are stressed to begin! Make a commitment today to decide three things that give you peace of mind and bring you joy, and in this way, you'll have ammunition in the back pocket for when the next wave of stress is threatening to derail their lives.