You are in your office. All day your phone has been ringing off the hook. You just finished a meeting with your boss, who barked for an hour about deadlines you need to meet by yesterday. Paperwork is piling up on your desk faster than pancakes at a diner. And to top it all off-the hard drive on your computer has just crashed, erasing all of the files that you never got around to backing up.



It seems that modern life has reduced our lives to one hectic, unending, stress-filled saga. We should understand that stress will always be a part of our lives. But does that mean that we are defenseless against it?

Good and bad stress

We have all experienced stress, but exactly what is it? Stress is when the outside world begins to have an effect on us. Is all stress "bad"? In fact, stress can actually benefit our ability to grow and learn.

However, if we have ever experienced headaches, stomachaches and heartaches due to stress, then we know firsthand that stress can also have a negative impact on our bodies. How does this happen? When we experience stress, a natural defense system is activated. Chemicals are then released into our bodies and minds, which prepare us to spring into action. But failing to take action can eventually lead to health difficulties.

Smoking out stress without smoking

The key is to take helpful actions, such as through massages with massage stones. Overeating, painkillers, alcohol, and cigarettes do more harm than good, by actually increasing our stress and making us more vulnerable to future stress. I once took up smoking for a month, thinking it would help me to better cope with some stressful situations in my life. It did not. Fortunately, we can use some productive methods for decreasing stress in our day-to-day routines:

1. Pick an exercise, any exercise. We know that exercise benefits our health. But how does it relieve stress? Whether you swim, jog, or Riverdance, exercise can:

• Activate your endorphins ("feel good" chemicals)

• Improve your mood

• Help you to handle stressors (causes of stress) better

• Clear your mind

2. It is all in your mind. Meditation is a simple, yet effective way to reduce stress in your life. In fact, a daily session only requires 5-20 minutes. By simply sitting in a relaxed pose and emptying the thoughts in your mind, your body will become less stressed. What makes meditation so outstanding is that it is free, can be done anytime, and provides both short-term and long-term health benefits.

3. A magical stone. A massage with massage stones reduces your body's stress-levels by calming your mind, relieving pain, improving blood circulation, and discharging toxins.

4. Timeouts without the chair. You will not need to sit in the corner for a timeout, but the adult version has the same impact as the children's version. Every day, simply set aside some time to escape from your hectic schedule, and do something you enjoy. Call up a friend. Read the newspaper. Get away from your workstation and savor your favorite sweet or salty snack.

5. Using stress-busting strategies. Learn how to deal with stress. Techniques such as distributing tasks at work, to others; prioritizing tasks; recording your ideas; or simply taking a deep breath, can help to reduce stress in your life.

The Indian philosopher Mahatma Gandhi once observed, "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." Without our health, it is difficult to do any task, including work. But methods such as massages with massage stones help to relax both our bodies and minds. To avoid being stressed out, take (bad) stress out of your life.