Creative commons, Jamie Campbell - PDF document

Creative commons, Jamie Campbell Five Er otic ally Effective Ways to Reduce Stress Jed Diamond, Ph.D. has been a health - care professional for more than 40 years. He is the author of 10 books, including MenAlive: Stop Killer Stress with Simple Energy Healing Tools , Surviving Male Menopause, and Mr. Mean: Saving Your Relationship from the Irritable Male Syndrome. I offer counseling to men, women, and couples in his office in California or by phone with people throughout the U.S. and around the world. To receive a Free E - book on Men’s Health and a free subscription to my e - newsletter go to www.MenAlive.com . If you enjoy my articles, please subscribe. I write to everyone who joins my tribe of followers. Contact me: E - mail, Jed@MenAlive.com (Be sure to respond to spam filter so I can connect with you). 80 - 90% of illnesses are stress related. I’m guessing that percentage goes up during the holidays. So if you want to take steps to reduce stress, there are many things you can do, and many “experts” who are happy to offer advice. I believe it’s counter - productive to reduce stress unless you also increase your comfort and joy. In that spirit I offer my top five exotically effective ways to reduce stress during the holidays: 1. Have more sex, preferably with someone you love. Sex is a great stress reliever and i t can be fun, relaxing, and free. h.K., It’s not always free. You can pay for sex. B ut it’s less stressful if you do it with someone you love, its mutually enjoyable , and freely given and received. 2. Instead of “hot” sex, try “heart” sex. We all kno w about hot sex. Its vigorous, we burn lots of calories, and have exploding orgasms that shake the walls and rattle the timbers. But try heart sex. It’s slow and easy, engaging, and sensual. Save the orgasm for another time and just enjoy the stress - re lieving pleasure of caresses, touches, kisses, and loving looks. 3. Take your cues from nature. True, sex is nature’s way of having fun. But nature can teach us some other important lessons. Have you ever looked at how the animals and growing thing s respond to “holiday season?” They slow down, quiet themselves, and rest up. Humans do the opposite. Starting in October, we gear up, increase our pace, and jump from Halloween, to Thanksgiving, to Christmas, to New Years, with lots of high - stress acti v ities. This year, wh y not follow nature’s lead. 4. Stop Eating. bo, I’m not suggesting you stop eating altogether. But I am suggesting you eat less. I’ve been skipping two meals a day, two days a week. I’m amazed at how much I decrease my stress levels when I’m not thinking about what I’m going to eat or what I’m going to try not to eat. Tuesdays and Thursdays I skip breakfast and lunch and eat a regular dinner. You’ll find you stress less and as a bonus you’ll have less weight to lose when you make your bew Year’s weight - loss resolution . 5. Have Fun, Take a Wild Trip . A few years ago my wife, Carlin, and I had an opportunity to go to Australia where I was speaking at a conference in October. I thought it would be nice to spend a little extr a time. Carlin suggested we return after the holidays. “Like after Halloween?” I asked. “bo, like after bew Year’s,” she replied. Australia was a once - in - a - lifetime trip. bow, we often “get out of town for the holidays” and go somewhere different. We choose a relaxing, stress - free experience, different from what we normally do at holiday time. tlan your own “go South for the holidays” alternative . For more information: Jed@MenAlive.com (Be sure to respond to spam filter so I can connect with you).