5 Minute Stress Management
Relaxation can help to release the day's stress. You can practice short and easy relaxation techniques anywhere at home, on the bus, at work or wherever you are. Learning to relax is like learning a new skill: It takes practice to become good at it.
Tips for relaxation:
- Find a quiet time to practice. It is best to find a comfortable position either lying down or sitting with your spine straight and arms and legs uncrossed.
- Once you practice at home, you will be able to use these exercises anywhere without anyone knowing you are doing them. For example, you can use them just before an exam or a presentation.
- One way to test how well your practice with relaxation is progressing is to rate your level of tension before and then after the exercise.
- First, on a scale of 0 to 100, rate your tension level with 0 being totally relaxed and 100 being totally tense. When you finish the relaxation exercise, rate your level of tension again. If you are able to lower your tension level even 1 point, you are being successful.
- One approach is to read a relaxation exercise into a tape recorder to make an audiotape. Play the tape back to yourself so you can follow the instructions while listening.
Copyright 1995 by Susan Simonds
Please visit the following areas for more tips on Stress management exercises:
For more information on how to manage your stress, visit Stress Management or Counseling Services.
