Is it really possible to manage stress?

So, have you ever wondered if managing stress is a real thing or just something we say?

How many times have you heard the doctor urge you to 'decrease' your stress?  How many times do you roll your eyes behind his back as you leave and whisper under your breath, "Fat chance!" ?

 It's a good thought really.  Stress can definitely wreak havoc with a once healthy body.  It happens ever so slightly and before you even realize what is happening, until you are facing some major health issues.

Stress is really one of life's little mysteries.  What if handling stress wasn't so much about taking things off our plate as much as it is, managing what isn't leaving your plate, better?  Obviously, getting rid of things is ideal, and sometimes easy to do.  Most articles about handling stress start with adding good things to your life but a stressed person doesn't want to add one more thing!  So, let's not do that just yet...

If you are at your wit's end, before you say 'Yes' to the next thing that comes along, remember that 'No' can be a complete sentence. Just say 'No.'  The magical thing about the word 'no' is that you really don't need to supply an explanation or even a creative lie to justify the 'no'.  Many times, we don't have a good reason for saying No, other than we just don't want to or don't have time.  Whatever, it doesn't matter.  Now, let me warn you, the first time you try this, be prepared for some awkward silence.  The person who receives the No is going to expect you to elaborate but stay strong.  'No' has gotten a bad rap and we think it is something negative and mean.  It doesn't have to be mean and ugly, it can be the best form of self care.

  This is an important concept in managing stress because it begins setting boundaries for yourself and those around you.

Often, the stress we deal with came from just being a part of this thing we call life and we can't wish it away and all the worry in the world isn't going to change it.  There is the key right there; worry.  If you can't change something, then worrying and fretting is only hurting yourself.  Practice pausing for a minute to consider your perspective.  If, after some careful thought, you find there are things you can do to change a situation, then take the appropriate steps to do so, otherwise, take a deep breath and move on.

When you feel stressed and the stress is managing you, take a look at your routines.  Have you lost that feeling of rhythm and routine in your life?  It's the rhythms of life that keep us sane; like getting up and going to bed at the same time every day.  Patterns we establish, help us feel in control and they are very important in maintaining a stressful life.  If you find yourself craving routine, take a closer look at the patterns you keep for yourself and your family.

Breathing seems pointless when you are stressed and passive at that but there is great power in a deep, cleansing breath. Breathing is one of our natural body rhythms, keep it in check and breathe slow, deep and deliberate and close your eyes if you want.  Imagine the stress leaving your body, as your shoulders fall back into place, instead of tucked up around your ears.

Finally, keep your perspective and watch your language.  It's easy to refer to our stressors with negativity and judgement.  Saying things like, "This is a disaster" reiterates to our brain that something is big and bad...it's not a disaster, for sure a disappointment but not a disaster.  Be careful how you label things for good or for bad.  Sometimes, you just never know what will become of a bad situation and sometimes framing it differently makes all the difference in an outcome or even a day.

Eliminating stress is an impossible task for most people and some stress is actually healthy!  Though it may be hard, managing stress can be done and done well but it does require a little work on your part.  Maybe, with a little practice,  you can stop hearing your doctor go on and on about cutting back your stress!

How Influenza Will Make You More Popular

Do you want to stand out in the crowd?

Tired of being invisible?

Wanna be the center of attention with your friends and even strangers?

I have just the answer to gaining popularity!

Show up to work, send your kid to school or better yet, shop for groceries with a hacky, barky, snotty, feverish flushed cheeks, runny nose aura about you!  And for good measure, make sure to have a cough capable of heaving out a lung or two, because that will be sure to get EVERYONE'S attention. 

People!! We are in the throws of Influenza season and of course, as is always the case with media, it's the worst year ever for the flu!  It may or it may not be, who's to say, and how do we really know?  Every year we seem to get the same 'chicken little' rhetoric but seriously, if you or a loved one is sick, stay home.  It's the only sensible way to stop the spread of viruses including Influenza.  I promise you, there are better ways to gain popularity than spreading disease.

Let's discuss some influenza facts...because smart people are popular people!

• Influenza is not the pukes!  If you are puking don't tell people you have the Flu.  You have a stomach bug or people love to blame the last restaurant they ate at when they get the pukes but whatever, it's not Influenza.  A nuisance and uncomfortable and requires more buckets than you have laying around...at times, and increased fluids and many trips to the bathroom, but it's still not the flu. 
• Influenza is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, the throat and sometimes the lungs and can range from mild to severe.  It just depends on how good your luck is. The symptoms are cough, runny nose, sore throat, body aches, sore muscles, headaches, fatigue and you may or may not have a fever. 
• There is more than one strain of influenza.  The Center for Disease Control has creatively named each strain- A. B. C. and D.  Let me break it down for you.  Seasonal Influenza are basically strains A and B...the kind we are suffering from currently and the ones they focus the ever powerful Influenza vaccine that has about a 60% success rate give or take, depending on how smart the CDC was feeling that year.   Strains A and B can cause pandemics and we are experiencing that right now!  Strain C is a very mild form of the flu and doesn't typically spread as easily.  Finally, strain D basically just shows up in cows so if you are not a cow then you don't even need to worry about this.  If you have cattle tendencies, like having 9 stomachs or chew your cud, or have hoofed feet, you may want to consult your vet, doctor. 

           There are several sub-sets within each strain but for this article, we aren't going to go there.

• The flu spreads by the tiny droplets of viral matter that spews from your sneezes or when you talk or leave your tissue laying around your desk.   A person with the flu can infect someone else from day one to day 5 or even day 7 of symptoms.  (Incidentally, if this is how you want to be popular, this is for sure when you should wander around Walmart or your favorite grocery store, coughing and sneezing and sharing in your flu delight). This is just an estimate of how contagious the flu is. 
• The flu is not always going to stop at a little respiratory discomfort.  Some of the complications include...but are not limited to ear infections, sinus infections, pneumonia and can make chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure,  asthma or even diabetes worse!  This is when the flu gets scary and can escalate to a serious health crisis. If you have a poor immune system, if you are pregnant, are over age 65, have chronic health problems or are a young child, you need to get your doctor on board sooner than later.  You will want to be aggressive in treating these symptoms. 
• Diagnosing the flu is not any easier than actually having the flu.  There are bacterial respiratory infections that can appear to be the flu and the symptoms are similar.  Your best bet is to see your healthcare provider.  Do not leave this up to Google or WebMD though I sure they have snippets of truth to be found, you need a living breathing, medical degree to get you started on treatment. 
• Which brings me to my next point...there are medications available to treat influenza.  The anti virals out there are usually pretty effective and can shorten the duration of the flu significantly.  Here's a tip, when you go to the doctor's office, indulge in the masks, sanitizer and tissues that are available at no charge to you!  This goes back to the idea that there are easier ways to get attention than coughing your little feverish head off, in the waiting room. That mask is going to look darling on your face and much better than the cold, glaring eyes that will pierce your soul. 
• Finally, the time to start fighting the flu isn't when you get the flu.  You should be maintaining good strong, gut health long before flu season.  Did you know that your gut is one of the major components to your immune system?  If you don't believe me, Google it.  Also, practice good solid hand washing techniques.  Singing the ABC song isn't a bad idea while you wash your hands, you know like kindergarten teachers tell the Littles.  Sing loud, sing proud, sing away those germs.  Throw back some Vitamin C every day, and up your probiotics.  Don't feel like you have to hang around sick people because you don't have to.  Take advantage of a little alone time when your best friend or nearest stranger are sick.

One last thought!  If you are sick and at the first sign of being sick, call in sick.  Consider this your time to shine with a run of Netflix movies that would make any movie critic blush. How often do you get sent to your room?  Please, these are the goals of adulthood, indulge.  If you can't do it when you have the flu, when can you?