RELAX!!!! It's Friday...

[Emily]

Ladies,

I know that we all have a lot of stress in our lives right now. Here
is an article I got today that I thought I would pass along.
Relieving stress also helps your body burn body fat, while chronic
stress causes the body to store it! Good reason to slow down and take
a minute to de-stress. Your boss will also be happy because it will
help your brain refocus so that you can be more productive in the few
hours you have left at work this week! :)

I really like the scrunchie face idea...I knew that all my faces were
helping something!

Have a great weekend. Emily


Speedy Ways to Pull the Plug on Stress
by RealAge |

Stress isn't all bad. In fact, the only time you don't have stress is
when you are 6 feet under. Short-term stress can help you meet a
deadline, turn a double play, or keep your bumper from getting
crumpled.

But when stress lingers like week-old leftovers, or nags like a too-
full desk, it's time to pull the plug. The more you're stressed, the
greater the risk of accidents, infections, and arterial aging. It's
not the desk or the stress that's the trouble; it's your reaction to
it. So while we can't stop your boss from sending work to you, or make
the line at the airport move faster (if only), we can help you learn
how to make stress take less of a toll -- or maybe make it toll-free.
Even if you already have a favorite way to break the tension, whether
that's playing basketball or listening to Mozart, these easy
techniques are great to keep in your back pocket when your first
choice isn't available:

1. Breathe in, lick your lips, and then blow out slowly. The cool air
helps you refocus and slow down.

2. Scrunch your face tightly for 15 seconds and then release. Repeat
several times. Repetitive contraction and relaxation helps release the
tension you hold above the neck.

3. Stop for a second and focus on your breathing. Now, look down. See
anything moving? Probably not. That's because most people take short,
shallow breaths -- the kind that come from your chest. To relax, take
deep, whole breaths. It should take about 5 seconds to inhale and 7
seconds to exhale. And your belly (yes, your belly) should expand as
you breathe in, then flatten as you breathe out. Ahhh . . . that's
better.