7 x 10 second tips to conquer Stress and OMG Kale Chips
Did you know that the word Stress is the same in nearly every language? Maybe even all; I just didn’t know how to read Korean or Hindu when I looked it up...
The interesting thing however is when you ask a group of 12 people what Stress means to them, you will get 12 different responses. What’s even more interesting is that a small amount of Stress is helpful, vital even, to stay focused, motivated and excited, but as constant problems take their toll, this could have giant effects on your health, energy levels, concentration, lifestyle, your relationships, weight, increased blood pressure and weakening of immune system.
We’ve all experienced it and it’s not very nice it is? I work predominantly with busy people and driven professionals, coaching them to achieve superbeing health and their ultimate energy levels- guess what the #1 word is in their vocabulary when they come to me? Not a difficult question and what’s better is it doesn’t have to be difficult to eliminate this word from your vocabulary for good!
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| Silly dancing with mum and sister- Oct 2009, applying my own strategies during worst time of my life It worked! |
Here are my top Seven Stress Conquering Tips (in no particular order):
1. Plan your meals. Planning your meals ahead of time could quite literally transform your life. Everytime I don’t go through with this, I tend to end up going to the supermarket way more than I should and buy way more than I need. Sound familiar? Take a piece of paper and separate it into 7 columns, look at your diary ahead of time and for everyday you are home for dinner write a dinner idea and list main ingredients you will need for it. When you are shopping, double those ingredients so you always have enough left for lunch the next day. This will save you plenty of cash, time, frustration, make you enjoy creating dinners again and look forward to next day (leftovers taste so much better after all).
2. Choose the stairs. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit, so exercise is a biggie. The good news is you don’t have to be a marathon runner to reap the results, just choose the stairs instead of the lift, cycle to work instead of drive and catch up with friends by taking a walk, instead of coffee and cake. If you find it difficult to exercise 30 minutes each day, just do 5 or 10 (and then be pleasantly surprised at how you can’t stop once you start going!)
3. Clown much? ‘Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you increase your chances of a heart attack’. The research behind health benefits of laughter is everywhere. Those using humour to cope with stress have stronger immune systems, 40% less chance of strokes, digest food faster, experience less pain during dental surgery and live at least 4,5 years longer! So next time you are tossing up between movies- go for a comedy, spend time with people that make you laugh, read and tell jokes and when all else fails- trip up and laugh at yourself, really really loud.
4. Peace out. Are you one of those people whose entire life is in your bedroom and just by walking in, you get a headache? Take out the TV, computer, electrical devices, and clutter, pick up the clothes off the floor and pack away what you don’t need till next season, remove all food and dishes. Replace with pot plants, wall paintings, colours that make you relaxed and happy and everything clean and fresh. Creating a peaceful place to sleep will have a huge effect on your mood when you wake up too.
5. Pray for others. You shouldn’t need scientific proof to feel the positive effects on your health and stress levels by praying for others. But for those who find it a rather ‘different’ approach, you might like to know that a huge research was conducted at University of Michigan, interviewing people about the nature of their prayers, finances and health and discovery showed very clearly that praying for others helped reduce the financial stresses and strains as well as improved wellbeing of the person doing the praying. If you aren’t the type to get on your knees and talk to someone you don’t believe to be there, you can still get the results by keeping a journal writing your well wishes for others or simply send them love, light and happiness from the heart.
6. How about lunch? When was the last time you’ve walked away from your desk at lunch time? 60% of people eat at their desk and just 10% take a decent break away from the desk at all. A lunch break gives your brain the same opportunity as when you sleep- to rest and repair. Imagine skipping a night’s sleep, will you be productive the next day? Why should skipping a lunch break be any different? Also getting away from your computer and eating food makes you conscious of what you are eating and appreciating it more, sending signals to your body that you care about it and want the food metabolised and digested properly. Do you see how this would affect your health and energy levels?
7. Get coached. Imagine what a better place the world would be if each one of us had a coach, a mentor, someone to help us clarify direction, strategise our actions, optimize our environment and achieve results easier faster and with remarkable success rate. So when you look for a coach, make sure they too have a coach. Since I know you may be wondering- well, I have several J
So what are you waiting for? Choose a tip (or seven!) and begin implementing it straight away. I’d love to know how you get on or if you have a simple stress reducing tip of your own, make sure to let me know in the comments below...
As for this week’s recipe and staying on the simplifying, energising and stress reducing topic, here’s one of my favourites! Remember the delicious Curry in a Hurry recipe? I usually have leftover sauce (it’s pretty filling), so I make...
OMG KALE CHIPS
‘OMG’ Kale Chips- because that is exactly what I said when I first pulled them out of the dehydrator. Wow, I couldn’t believe how good they tasted! Best ever!!
For the essentials
Blender
Dehydrator (best option, but oven OK too)
For the sauce
For the chips
Bunch Kale
-Destalk all the kale leaves and roughly chop
-Transfer the kale and sauce into a large bowl
-Use your hands to massage the sauce in really well and to coat all of the kale
-Assemble onto mesh trays, evenly distributed
-Dehydrate at 110degrees F overnight
[Tip: if you don’t have a dehydrator, turn your oven on the lowest setting and check every half hour to make sure they don’t burn)
Do you have a simple stress reducing tip? I'd love to know it and I am sure everyone else would too, please share in the comments below...