[canucker]

Have Fun Now!
by Loretta LaRoche


The latest research on stress states that it can lead to weight gain, especially in the abdominals.

So, what’s new?

Stress is now the leading cause of just about everything. Not a day goes by without some article reporting on the increasing stress levels in modern-day America. The more you read about it, the more you begin to feel that you are constantly under assault.

Whenever I meet someone for the first time and they find out I teach stress management, they immediately say, “Oh, maybe you can help me, I’m so stressed out.”

I think we’re all aware now that everyone is crazed, fatigued and close to burnout. The constant need to discuss our stress does nothing but create more stress. It also trains the brain to act like a rat in a never-ending maze of self torture.

I think we all get caught up in thinking that our very existence depends on how much we accomplished on any given day. No one ever approaches you and says, “I’m such a mess I had too much fun today.” This would be a totally illogical statement because fun cancels out stress.

The chemistry of fun reduces our anxiety and puts us in the moment. When we’re totally in the present it allows our mind to stop punishing us with its incessant demands to keep going at all costs.

Perhaps the way to handle stress is to give yourself permission to spend equal amounts of time thinking about how to enjoy yourself. If you’ve spent 10 minutes worrying about what you haven’t done, spend the next 10 minutes thinking about some fabulous thing you can do for yourself or with your friends and family.

Imagine the event and how wonderful it will feel. It may be difficult at first, because I think a lot of us have been taught to think fun, pleasure and laughter are something to be earned.

My mother used to tell me that I could have fun when I was done with my chores, or my homework, or any number of things. It always felt that life was an endless waiting room. And that someday I would finally get my turn to enjoy myself.

Don’t wait!

Incorporate fun into as many moments as you can. At the end of life your eulogy should contain a list of all the wonderful things you did for yourself and others. No one will care about how many closets you cleaned, or how often you endured your overburdened, stressed-out existence.

I’ve never seen a tombstone that said ...Finished their To-Do list ... Finally Done!


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She's excellent! You should check and see if you can see her video "The Joy of Stress". It's hilarious.

[PluggyRug]

I just finished the internet!!! Boy, was that stressful.

Seriously, I took up Tia Chi, just 15 minutes if you feel stressed out.

[canucker]

How do most of you deal with your stress? I like to read a good book, watch a good show, or come online and visit CKA or fantasy hockey.

[ShepherdsDog]

Handling stress

A plethora of stray cats

A good supply of rubber stoppers

A slingshot and a good vantage point

works wonders

[Ripcat]

Sex, with or without someone.

[canucker]

Simple Stress Test

[canucker]

canucker canucker:

Simple Stress Test

I failed miserably.

[Ripcat]

canucker canucker:

Simple Stress Test

I don't see any differences.

[Hester]

One of them... didn't really... hmmm... look much like...
a dophin??? to me.
Not at all. Hmmm?

[Damien]

Army and Kickboxing fixed it for me...

My girlfriend used to draw.

Well, since everyone is different it's hard to find something that will work for everybody.

[Damien]

Ripcat Ripcat:

Sex, with or without someone.

Oh yeah, I had forgot that one.

[Thematic-Device]

Just about anything other then what caused me the stress will work for me.

But I'm not a very stressful person. In fact... the only time I really think I was stressed, it was mostly out of mental exhaustion.

[ash_wednesday]

I found that my kickboxing classes help with my stress. 15 minutes on a punching bag works wanders.

[kitty]

i feel like the energizer bunny who finally ran out of juice....
for me, sleep helps

[Regina]

I thought of taking Yoga to reduce stress, but it was way too slow.