Want To Look Younger – Manage Your Stress Better

By Brian Maynor

 

Stress is a factor of life, but it affects more than our health. It also has a significant impact on how we look. So if feeling better isn’t enough to motivate you to keep your stress in check maybe that will.   Wrinkle creams, facials and fillers only focus on the symptoms of stress. To truly combat it you need to concentrate on the cause.

According to a study by the American Psychological Association more than a third of employees experience chronic stress at work. That’s pretty scary giving the meaning of the term chronic: long lasting; persistent or habitual. In other words we spend more time stressed out at work than we do calm and relaxed, and that isn’t a recipe for success.

Fortunately there are ways to combat stress at multiple places throughout our day that have an overwhelming cumulative effect on decreasing our stress levels. Plus they are fairly easy to do so commitment shouldn’t be an issue. Combating work-related stress really is as simple as 1-2-3 and it covers every aspect of your life:

 

1.    Relax your body.   It should be no surprise that we spend more time responding to stress than we do relaxation so the first step is changing those responses. Here’s how:

a.   Bypass processed foods. They may be fast and convenient, but did you know they also cause anxiety and even contribute to lack of focus and concentration? Simply switching out the pre-packaged meals and snacks for real food like fruits, veggies and meat you cook yourself will make a huge difference. If you have a hard time deciding what’s processed and what isn’t, the next time you go to the grocery store stick to the outside sections like the deli, produce, meat & seafood counters and of course the wine department, especially if it’s red.

b.   Exercise regularly. Yes it helps us look and feel better in what we wear, but exercise also releases endorphins to combat stress levels and disengages the flight-or-fight response. So the next time a co-worker or boss makes you want to get physical, indulge them and go for a walk around the office, stretch at your desk or close the door and bust a move to your favorite power song.

c.   Get ready for bed sooner. Very few of us can fall asleep the second our heads hit the pillow, so if you’re like me and need some time to decompress and turn off your mind, start earlier in the evening. Turn off the TV and get ready for bed even if you’re not sleepy and spend some time reading or meditating. That is the best way to get those long coveted 8 hours of restorative slumber we need to feel energized and recharged for the day.

2.    Relax your mind: Since we create our own stress through our thoughts and beliefs’ naturally focusing on calming our minds is the next place to combat it.

a.   Write down what you’re thankful for each day. With days full of unexpected challenges, sometimes even unpleasant ones, you can minimize their lingering sting by focusing on things that happened during the day that made you happy. For example a compliment you received or being remembered at the coffee shop. It doesn’t need to be an earth-shattering success to be effective.

b.   Meditate. The word itself is enough to frustrate a lot of us, so think of it as a mental time-out. You don’t have to picture yourself on a beach or sitting on a garden bench, just close your eyes and count your breaths. The goal after all is to lower stress. Not add to it.

c.   Just say ‘No’. This is the most simple, immediate stress relieving exercise possible. A firm, polite ‘no’ will instantly alleviate the stress of feeling overwhelmed because it makes us feel in control. Give it a try and see for yourself.

3.    Relax your spirit. We are more than what we do for a living. So by focusing on those other aspects of our lives will help put work-related stress in its place.

a.   Get social. And this doesn’t mean happy hour with work friends to talk about work. Set a date with the people you actually care about and contribute to your life in a meaningful way and spend the time not talking about work, or checking your phone.

b.   Be creative. DIY may not be your thing, but there are plenty of other ways to be creative in life. Cooking dinner or baking dessert, decorating a room in your house or even arranging store-bought flowers are all expressions of your creativity that engage your mind rejuvenate your soul.

c.   Nurture your spirit. Having a sense of greater purpose and connection to a higher power helps with keeping perspective in our daily grind, and it doesn’t matter how or what that belief system is, the fact that you believe there is a bigger picture you fit into is enough.

 

Living entirely stress-free is not possible for most of us, because stress is a factor of daily life, but we can manage it better so that it doesn’t take such a toll on us and our physical, spiritual and mental bodies.   And it’s never too late to start living the happy life we all deserve.

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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