Instant stress busters

How to go from crazed to calm

Yesterday, I stormed out of the drugstore without waiting for my prescription. True, the elder woman in front of me was painstakingly paying for her order in loose coins. But it was obvious that stress was getting to me. Our bodies are hardwired to respond to tense situations. It’s a survival thing, left over from the days when we needed to do a battle with beasts. A flood of stress hormones courses through the bloodstream, triggering a rise in blood pressure and heart rate and the causing the intestinal muscles to contract, explains Bruce Rabin, M.D., of the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. My problem, though, was that I’d lost the ability to distinguish between the threat posed by a hungry tiger and that of a tiresome customer who didn’t realize there was a long line behind her.

You can’t prevent stressful events. But you can control your perception of them. “You can fool your brain in to thinking you’re in some degree of control, and that will decrease the stress response.” Says Esther Sternberg M.D., of the National Institute of Mental Health.So how do you fool your brain? The most effective way is to interrupt the cycle responses. Try the following”

      Breathe!

When road construction has slowed traffic to two miles an hour and you need to be at your child’s school in ten minutes, you’ll probably taking rapids, shallow breaths using your chest. What’s required are deep abdominal breaths, which will suck large amounts of air into your lungs. (To achieve this, breathe so that you puff out your tummy as you inhale.) Your brain detects the increased oxygen and lowers the flow of stress hormones, Oxygen also triggers longer, calmer brain waves, the kind that are associated with relaxation. Take three to five deep breaths – no more that, or you might get dizzy.

Laugh!

No kidding: Studies have shown that people who laughed the most heartily while watching a funny movie registered the biggest drops in their level of stress hormones. When you’re under pressure, you get trapped in a cycle of catastrophic thought – This is so terrible! There’s no way out! “Humor breaks into those thoughts allowing you to regain mental control,” explains Janet Kiecolt-Glaser, Ph.D., of Ohio State Univ. College of Medicine.

Of course, when you’re locked out of your car or you’re being chewed out at a staff meeting, you can’t exactly turn on a rerun of The Simpsons. That’s why you need a comedy playlist: three or four things guaranteed to make you giggle just by thinking about them. A joke, a Saturday Night Live skit, the look on your sisters face when her favorite American Idol was picked…And if your stressing out at work or at home, surf over to any Youtube channels that features hilarious clips. “Watching one of these clips will never fail to cut the tension”.

      Chant!

Coin a soothing phrase that you can repeat. You’re not competing for a Pulitzer Prize here - something simple like “I can do it!” will work. So will a fragment of a prayer or psalm, like “The Lord is my shepherd.” The key is to practice in advance. When you’re feeling relaxed, chant your phrase softly to yourself several times. Then do it silently. “Repetitive actions like chants are a way of getting yourself into a meditative state – or near enough to help you relax,” says Dr. Sternberg.

      Personalize!

It may help also help to have your own instant de-stressor, something that you know will lift your mood. These strategies shared by some of the “netizens” worldwide might help you out:

·      “I do a yoga move – you scrunch up your whole face, eyes closed then open your eyes and mouth as fast as you can. It looks funny but it’s great.” – Marie

·      “I count to ten in all the languages I’ve tried to learn. My brain is so focused that by the time I’m at five, the worst is over.” – Denise

·      “I clasp my hands behind me and push them as far as they can go. My stress tends to center in my back, so stretching releases a lot of the tension.” – Arthur

·      “I take two minutes to look at a gardening magazine. Flowers even pictures of them, always help me relax.” – Roselle

·      When I’m standing in lines, I do little exercises: mostly leg lifts and head rolls. It calms me and makes me feel I’m not wasting my time.” – Anna

·      “I picture my son asleep in his crib. Even though he’s now in college, the image of that peaceful face and those tiny curled-up fingers still makes me forget whatever was stressing me out.” - Kim

SUBURBAN MYTHS

Which is which? Check out these seven tips our mothers swears by.

Will white vinegar remove clogs on my iron?

NO. Your iron’s chamber and valves aren’t designed to work with anything but water, so flushing vinegar through the iron the way you do with a coffee pot – could be very damaging. To clean most models, hold the iron over a sink and force a hot steam through the vents. If that doesn’t work, it may be time to replace the appliance.

Will presoaking my clothes in salt water stop the colors from running?

NO. Dyed bleed because they weren’t set properly when the fabric was manufactured, and there’s nothing you can do at home to change that. If you’re worried that a garment will lose its color, place a drop of water on an inside seam and blot with a cotton ball or white cloth. If the color transfers, wash the piece separately in COLD water.

Can white bread really clean wallpaper?

YES. Wad up a piece of bread and use it to wipe small smudges off delicate, non washable wall coverings. For big jobs invest in a soft dough-type eraser (available at hardware stores).

Does club soda removes stain better than water?

NO. Club soda is water, and no, the bubbles don’t help, so there’s no difference between the two when it comes to cleanup. Before using either liquid on table linens, for instance, blot any excess spill with an absorbent cloth. Also make sure the fabric is washable - you don’t want to add a water stain to the mess. If in doubt take the item to the dry cleaners.

Should I vacuum less?

NO. Don’t believe that old saw that too much vacuuming will wear out your carpet. You should vacuum once or twice a week – that’s the only way to remove the grit that causes fibers to deteriorate.

Don’t feather dusters just spread dust around?

YES. These tools are good for quickly flicking dust from knickknacks, but they don’t pick up dirt – they just rearrange it. So for furniture and other flat surfaces, stick to a pretreated cloth or a microfiber duster.

Can I use toothpaste to clean silver?

YES. Toothpaste will remove tarnish, but here’s the catch: It’s more abrasive than silver polish, so you should use it only on a small area. Follow these steps: Moisten the silver piece, gently rub on a little paste with your finger, rinse the spot thoroughly with warm water, and dry with soft clean cloth. What you should not use: toothpaste that contains tartar control substances or whiteners.

TOP 10 Qs EVERY GIRL must ask

One of the realities of growing up is being concerned with the bigger picture. You begin to think about your goals and your relationships with other people on a larger scale. You have a lot of questions on your mind, but are you asking the right ones? Grab a pen and paper and answer the questions below to help you do some soul-searching.

    1. What am I good at? Insecurity comes from prioritizing other people’s expectations of you rather than being confident in yourself. You may lose your individuality while struggling to please other people all the time.

BUST IT! Make a list of what you’re good at and what you’re not so good at. Learn to develop your strengths and accept your weaknesses. On a scale of 1 to 10, you may be a 3 in music but a 10 in sports. Worrying about your weaknesses might minimize your strengths, so focus on your 10s instead to maximize your potential.

2.   Whose opinion matters? Whenever you encounter dilemma, whom do you turn to for advice? Friends may be good listeners, but have you thought of turning to mom?

BUST IT! Develop a healthy, open relationship with your mom, your older sister, or an older relative. Think about it, they were once teenagers like you and might have gone through similar experiences. It’s easy to underestimate older people’s advice, but hear them out. Instead of seeing them as cops out to spoil the fun, develop friendlier relationship with them.

3.   What keeps me from doing something? Scared of making mistakes or being criticized for your work? Fear will get you nowhere. A lot of unhappy people have let fear rule their lives and end up never realizing their full potential.

BUST IT! Courage is not the absence of fear, but action in the midst of fear. Remember a person is not a failure for doing so many that did not work out. She only fails when she stopped trying. Consider mistakes as lesson learned. Even the most successful people have failed on their way to success.

4.   Why am I so stressed? School work, long exams, volleyball practice…the list goes on. If your too busy to take a step back, how can you pinpoint what’s bothering you?

BUST IT! If your daily activities cause you stress, then take the time to think about what you want to change. Are you still taking that ballet class your Mom insists on even though your heart isn’t in them? Do you need more me time and less gimmicks? Complaining will just waste your energy. Only change can relieve stress!

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5.   Who are my real friends? Remembering the people who’ve been with you through thick and thin will not only give you an idea of who to call when you’ve got a problem, but will also prevent you from taking them for granted.

BUST IT! Develop friendships with people who give you space to be yourself and room to make mistakes. Stick to those who accept you for who you are, yet encourage you to change for the better. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you will push you on the road to success.

6.   What makes me happy? Had a bad day? Don’t dwell on the negative aspects when times get rough! Dwelling on sadness can keep you from focusing on the good things in your life. And most of the time, the situation is not as bad as you think.

BUST IT! List down all the simple things that make you happy like listening to your favorite songs on your iPod, receiving encouraging text from family and friends, or even a nice cup of frappe with a delicious slice of cake on a hot summer day. It’s good to keep a list to remind you to be thankful for the good things you have – things you usually fail to appreciate.  A grateful attitude makes a whole lot difference!

7.   Who inspires me? Knowing what you want in life and having role models give you more purpose. You begin to see things on a broader scale and learn to customize your choices according to your life goals.

BUST IT! Learn to choose your role models. Find inspiration in their successes and how they made it to the top. This way, it makes realizing your dreams easier to achieve. If other people have made it, why can’t you?

8.   What do I need to change? Who doesn’t want to become better? If you find yourself frequently stressed or irritable, it means you need to change something.

BUST IT! Re-examine habits. Do you get things done on time? What makes you impatient? Then start new habits to improve your disposition. It may take a lot of time and effort, but it’s better than being a humbug. Remember: Change can start from the little things you do every day.

9.   What do I need to let go of? Go through life with the excesses that weigh you down! More than material things that you need to take out of your closet once in a while, it’s usually emotional baggage that you need to let go of to live a happy life.

BUST IT! Who needs emotional baggage? Learn to stop holding grudges against people who have offended you. If you want real change in your life, why not be the first to reach out and forgive?

10.            How can I be confident? Confidence is not a feeling you get. It may seem like other people have it easy being confident in the things they do, but everyone has his or her own share of insecurities and fears, no exceptions. It’s simply a matter of how to deal with it.

BUST IT! Can't let go of fear? Then do it even though you’re afraid! It doesn’t matter if you’re scared or uncertain of yourself. It may take a while, but that’s how you practice confidence! Each time you decide to take a step out of your shy zone and simply get things done is a step closer to a more confident you!

Yearning for beauty perfection? Ask, and you shall receive.

GET THE LATEST BEAUTY TIPS AND TRICKS THIS 2015

   

 I want a glorious, ready to wear hair. If spending hours wrestling with your bulky blowers and hair iron does not appeal to you, get great hair by starting right practices. Cleanse and treat tresses with products that promise silk, shine and vitality onto your hair.

I want to smell great all day. Slather on fabulous smelling body lotion right after your morning shower and for sure you’ll smell marvelous all throughout. Remember to use cream type products as they have a better staying power than liquid ones.

    I want a baby-soft skin. Massage a body butter onto your damp skin; this way moisture is retained and will give you that soft baby like skin you been wanting.

   

I want a flawless looking skin. Even out your complexion and mask those flaws with product that lightens dark spots and distributes light –diffusing particles. Mineral make-ups and the right shade of concealer will do you the trick.

I want a brighter smile. Consume minimal amount of food and drinks that are known to cause stain or discoloration like cabbage, tea and coffee. Even smoking may cause a permanent stain on teeth. You can try brushing teeth with baking soda toothpaste. Drink lots of water after eating too, to rinse your mouth of potential discolorants.

   

I want longer, thicker and flirtier lashes. If you’re not too keen on getting a lash extensions or wearing falsies every time, then investing on a really good mascara that guarantees length, volume and curl will do the trick for you.

   

I want a scar-free even toned legs. Short of getting a laser surgery, then scars are most likely to stay. The famous “sebo de macho” from granny won’t do the favor for you as well since aged old scars are unlikely to diminish. But you can minimize their appearance by applying tinted moisturizer onto your legs. It’s just like a foundation, but for another part of your body.

   

I want a soft, pretty feet. Get a foot spa pedicure at least twice a month to keep your footsies flip-flop ready. You can also massage them every night with a rich foot massage cream, then sleep with your favorite socks on.

   

I want luscious lips. Want that fancy Scarlett pout? Then apply a gloss infused with collagen and light-reflecting particles. You will appear to have fuller-lips then. Tingling sensation caused by lip-plumping ingredients is temporary and need not to be feared.

I want rosy cheeks. You want to you worked-out without actually having to work-out? Pinch your cheeks 10 times for a flush, and apply a cream blush onto the apples of your cheek for a staying power.

   

I want to banish the dark circles under my eyes. If sleep escapes you constantly or sleeping at night is really not the nature of your job then quick fixes are within the corners, reach for peeled potato slices from the fridge and place them on top of your eyes; leave on for 10 minutes. You can also try cucumber if potatoes not around. Want a quick result though? Then go for a brightening eye cream.

          They say beauty is only skin deep yet we all yearn for it; looking ugly is not a sin but if you can be beautiful why not try anyway! ☺

Your guide to Beauty and Fashion

A SCOOP OF STYLE

This 2015 you must…

1.  Bring the good luck.

All of us have a little superstition in us, so go ahead and wear cute polka dots.  No harm in testing you luck – you’ll be cute in them anyway!

                                             

2.  Get yourself organized. 

Make it a clutter free year by organizing and categorizing your accessories. No more wasting time looking for what you need!

3.  Invest in classic pieces. 

   Trends are great but it’s always safe to have the classics. You’ll never run out of uses for them.

4. Have some fashion fun!

Quit waiting for the perfect occasion to wear your new clothes. On your next gimmick, get ready at a friend’s house with your besties and go all out!

5.  Start being “fashionably” on time.

Still running on the “Filipino” time? Make it a resolution to start arriving at a specified time. A cute watch will help you get there!

6.  Do some smart shopping.

Be a better shopper by choosing inexpensive, durable items that will last you throughout the year.

7.  Clean out your closet!

Start off the year by getting rid of unused items in your closet.  Make a room for new styles, new memories, and a better you!