It appears that many of us use food as a way to relax ourselves - not an effective long term strategy! I checked for additional ideas and found this book by Susan Albers "50 ways to soothe yourself without food"
The author starts out with a short introduction to reasons why we find eating as a very soothing activity. Common reasons include bio-chemical changes in the body, boredom and habit. Donuts & chocolate - do I need to say more? Donuts are loaded with sugar and fat - they give you a boost of energy. Chocolate increases some mood enhancing chemicals in our brain.
Her five major categories of relaxation are
(1) Meditation and mindfulness - using breathing and other self-focus techniques to relax without the need for food.
(2) Focus on your thoughts and change them - Writing your journal can help you examine your thoughts and focus on positive and self-affirming thoughts. Day-dreaming and focusing and focusing on your worries may also guide your mind and thoughts from food.
(3) Relax your body with exercise, yoga or a massage. While a massage from a professional can be expensive, consider bribing your spouse or significant other to give you a neck or shoulder rub.
(4) Use distractions - watching a funny movie, work on your favorite crafts or listening to relaxing music - all help you distract from eating.
(5) Connect with your family and friends - a great way to relax is to go for a walk with your spouse or best friend. A phone call or chat with someone by facebook or skype also can help you de-stress rapidly.
What are some of your favorite methods to destress??
Photo by Ajay Royyuru - http://tinyurl.com/WorksByAjay
Showing posts with label relaxing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relaxing. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
5 ways to relax without eating
I often used eating as a way to deal with my stress levels. Here are 5 simple alternatives to eating unhealthy food I use now.
1. Drink a glass of water and go for a walk around the block
2. Get a hug from my 6 year old and play with him - I do that with my wife too :-)
3. Listen to music - Indian classical is my favorite
4. Put a timer for 5 mins and concentrate on my breathing
5. Last way - I eat a fruit + 1 glass of soy milk if I am really hungry
Try one of these techniques out the next time you are stressed and let me know how it worked for you.
EW78R55KBTEU
1. Drink a glass of water and go for a walk around the block
2. Get a hug from my 6 year old and play with him - I do that with my wife too :-)
3. Listen to music - Indian classical is my favorite
4. Put a timer for 5 mins and concentrate on my breathing
5. Last way - I eat a fruit + 1 glass of soy milk if I am really hungry
Try one of these techniques out the next time you are stressed and let me know how it worked for you.
EW78R55KBTEU
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)