Top Ten Stress Busting Tips Revealed By Personal Trainer in Fort Collins

Let us face it. Stress is inevitable. As someone who has a good job, is happily married, is involved in many interests and hobbies and lives in Fort Collins, CO, it always feels like there is never enough time, money or energy. Constant stress is not a healthy partner. Read on to discover easy ways to bring your stress level off in the red zone and the zone of Zen.



1. Breathe! Research shows that most Americans breathe from the chest and not their stomachs. Deep breathing almost instantaneously relieves stress (people with anger issues should practice taking a deep breath when they feel like they are going to explode). Relax. Breathe deeply through your nose, and exhale through the mouth. Place both hands on your abdominals. Watch them rise and fall with each breath. If you do not see the hands moving, you need to work on deep breathing.



2. Discover laughter! It is as easy as that. Whoever said that laughter is the best medicine was really a forward thinker. See your favorite online comics or call a trusted friend with a bad sense of humor to bring you out of your doldrums. Another way to laugh is to watch your favorite sitcom. Laugh freely and drops in blood pressure will become normal.



3. Sleep! Studies show that, in principle, that the majority of Americans have sleep problems. Without adequate sleep (at least 7 hours), our brains are blurry, we become more easily frustrated, we risk losing our temper and, of course, feel more stressed. Log off the computer, turn off the television and try to hit the sack to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Your body (and brain) will thank you.



4. Get a life! Get passionate about something. Find a hobby you love. Think back to your childhood and how you didn’t have a care in the world. Play! Investigate local charities and to invest time, energy and money to one or more of them. Ironically, it often allows you to concentrate on you and others.



5. Exercise! So now you are breathing deeply, laughing, sleeping well, and volunteering once a month to Habitat for Humanity. What is next? Make a habit of exercise. Exert some physical effort, release some endorphins and gain a sense of accomplishment.



6. Release your thoughts by writing in a journal. Keeping a journal is a wonderful way to relax. Put your feelings (good, bad and the ugly) on paper or in a personal blog. Write at night, especially after a particularly stressful day to get rid of your stress. Express yourself freely. No censorship.



7. Eat healthy! If you are stressed, having a diet that is rich in sugar and sodium does not help. Stress affects us physiologically, by increasing your heartbeat and increasing your blood pressure. Do not add salt to the wound. Eating junk food, increasing your caffeine intake and choosing foods chock full of additives, hydrogenated oils, dyes and salt only serve to weaken your already stressed immune system. Choose organic foods or local and seasonal produce whenever possible. Eating fruits and vegetables helps keep in check all the free radicals from stress. Drink plenty of water and give your body what it needs.



8. Accept what you cannot change and move forward. This is a tremendous job but a must in order to decrease your levels of stress. But we can go ahead and accept this universal truth of our control. By making this admission, we also reduce the level of stress. If we can stop the chronic worrying, stress has also expired.



9. Say hello to a stranger. A simple smile or wave to a total stranger goes a long way. It feels good, like a breath of fresh air and is contagious.



10. Change internal thoughts. Saying things such as " I am no good" or "I will never amount to anything," only increases your stress levels and lowers your self-esteem. By retraining your brain to think positively, you will not worry and have less stress.





You can learn more about Dennis at http://www.fortcollinsfitnesscoach.com