Living a Stress Free Life

There are no BMWs in Heaven

2009-03-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

I am so sick and tired of BMW drivers and their attitudes on the road.Today I was coming onto the N1 from the Samrand off ramp and there is a lot of building going on there so practically while you are driving before you know it you are on the highway.Now its up to the drivers on the highway who see you coming to slow down because you just cannot stop on that off ramp as the cars behind you also dont realise the road is ending so you really could end up in an accident.Anyway this BMW "driver" just kept on going.Really I think that before you buy a BMW they assess you to make sure you have the bad attitude required to own a BMW. The worst thing is your car might be worth way more than theirs or their BMW could be a 100 years old but they still lord it on the roads thinking they are superior to everyone else.

Yes I have given stress tips on making excuses for other drivers and so forth but BMW drivers do not fall under that list.They are just arrogant and make me sick.Thats why there will be no BMWs in heaven because only good people go to heaven and good people would not qualify to own a BMW.

That's my say for today and stuff what the stress guru says.Sometimes you just have to vent and rave.This is stress relief 101

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

2009-03-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

You know we get told to be positive and try to wake up with a bounce and every day is the first day of the rest of our lives?Well how does that affect us?We wake up expecting each day to be wonderful and normally what happens is we are bombarded with the daily stresses of just getting through one day.I believe we are hit harder by the belief that nothing bad will happen.I think what we should do is expect that each day will have trouble.In fact we should welcome all of these daily stresses and see them as obstacles to be conquered and from the experience we then grow as individuals.Only if a day has passed and no obstacles were encountered then we can get safely into bed and say thank you.But be prepared for tomorrow.

I decided to start having this attitude from yesterday Monday 2 March 2009.I decided to take the day off work and go shopping with my 4 year old for a plastic baby pool.We got dressed and my little one was so excited.We get into my car and it would not start.It was perfectly fine the evening before(less than 10 hours ago)and there were no lights flashing or warnings that something was wrong.Just would not start!!!!Bearing in mind that the car is 1 year old,the logical thing to assume was that it was either the battery or no water or no oil.Something trivial like that right?

I called dearest love of my life who rushed from work,then rushed to petrol station and returned with 2 bottles of oil.Proceeded to fill up with one.Nearly covered my entire engine with oil.Because there was enough oil in the first place.So not the oil then

Checked the water.Water fine.Then called the breakdown service.Little man rushed over with his battery clamp thingys.He first tried to start and said no,the battery is fine.He hurried left with his battery thingy and said the car must get towed in.

I called the office and related what the little man said and soon afterwards a big flatbed truck pitched up to take my car away.Because it is an automatic it could not be towed and had to be placed on the flatbed truck.

So anyway off went my car and I then had to borrow the spare car of dearest love(which he has been trying to sell for 1 year now) and off we went to do our shopping which was done at superspeed and in no time little on was swimming away in baby pool.All happy!!!

Come today I had to go to work.This car has a circular crack in windscreen right in front of driver vision and when I had to remove stock from the boot I had to hold the boot on my shoulder because it does not stay open on its own.And then the alarm activated and would not switch off.And then I finished my day's job and I came home.I also noticed a lot of people running in all directions everytime I would pull away and then realised that the exhaust must have a hole in it because of the noise and pulling away obviously makes it more noisy and the poor people thought I was revving the engine in anticipation of driving over them.

Anyway I got home and the repair center called and said come pick up your car which I did and have been happy ever since.Apparently the lift gadget thingy which controls the flow of fuel to the engine had broken and so this was replaced.Thank goodness I have a maintenance plan.

Also when this same car was 6 months old the automatic gear box just stopped working.The car stayed in first gear and I was on the highway doing 20KM per hour and it was revving 5000 revs but would not change from first gear and then after 5000 rev would eventually change and then I would pick up speed and then some car would cause me to have to slow down and the whole process would start over again.I also pulled over onto the yellow line and was checking the flow of the traffic and when I turned to look into my car again there was a strange man sitting in the passenger seat.He thought I had stopped for him and I informed him that my car was not working and he told me thats ok he is just going to sit for a while because he is really tired of walking.Anyway I then started off again on my 20KM/hour journey with a passenger for company and I dropped him off really close to where he wanted to go but the journey had taken really long for him and his parting words were that he was going to be late for church.

About the silver lining on the cloud???Well every time my car breaks down the repair center fixes it and then cleans it thoroughly so I dont have to wash it for that week.
How's that for a silver lined cloud?

Basics Of Aikido

2009-02-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

In this modern world central to our life and a great form of stress is ensuring our own safety and the safety of our family.We can install alarms in our home and employ security companies but once we are out of our home's comfort zone we always feel vulnerable.Learning how to defend ourselves will provide a degree of confidence which relates int a form of stress management.Learning aikido will show you how to protect yourself,provide some peace within yourself that you are being pro active about ensuring your safety and first and foremost one of its main lessons is teaching calmness in the face of adversity.This power to remaining calm will not only save your life if you were in a dangerous physical situation but will also help you to manage life's stress better.

Aikido is a unique form of martial art. Its emphasis lies on the harmonious fusion of mind and body with the natural laws of Nature. Aikido focuses on accepting and respecting the energy of life and nature and channeling this harmony onto techniques that expresses this energy in physical forms.

Aikido is often viewed as more of a defensive martial art since its techniques and teachings are designed for you to avoid or get out of trouble. On the contrary, Aikido's techniques are very powerful and effective.

Basically, there are four levels of technique in Aikido training. These are the katai which refers to the basic training and is intended to build the foundation of body movements and breathing; the yawarakai trains the defendant to deflect attacks and fuse movements to take control of the attacker or situation; the ki-no-nagare which involves training the defendant to defend or counter attack by merging his movement with the attacker even before the latter makes contact; and the ki which is the absolute Aikido technique and involves establishing a link of ki or spirit from the defender to the attacker.

When training for Aikido, you need a sparring partner. The uke and the nage. The Uke is the initiator of the attack and receives the Aikido techniques, while the Nage is the defender and the one that neutralizes the attack.

Aikido basic techniques include ikky which involves control an attacker by placing one hand on the elbow and one on near the wrist giving an opportunity to throw the attacker to the ground; the niky which draws in the uke using a wristlock and twists the arm while applying painful nerve pressure; sanky which is a rotating technique aimed at applying a spiraling tension on the whole arm including the elbow and shoulder; yonky a shoulder control technique with both hands gripping the forearm; goky is another variant of ikky

Wherein the hand gripping the wrist is inverted and is quite useful in weapon take-aways; shihnage or the four-direction throw; kotegaeshi or wrist return which involves a wristlock-throw that stretches the extensor digitorum; kokynage also known as breath throws or timing throws; iriminage or entering-body throws which resembles a "clothesline" technique; tenchinage or heaven-and-earth throw; koshinage or the Aikido's version of the hip throw; jinage or the shaped-like-'ten'-throw; and kaitennage or rotation throw wherein the nage sweeps the arm of the uke back until it locks the shoulder joint after which the nage applies forward pressure to throw the attacker.

These are just basic techniques and from the list of thousands of possible implementations or combinations can be drawn by the aikidokas. In Aikido, the strikes employed during the implementation of the Aikido technique are called atemi. For beginners, grabs are the first ones to be taught. It is safer and the aikidoka can easily feel the energy flowing from the uke to the nage.

Among the basic grab techniques are the katate-dori or single-hand-grab which involves using one hand to grab one wrist; morote-dori or both-hands-grab which uses both hands to grab one wrist; ryte-dori another both-hands-grab technique wherein both hands are used to grab both wrists; kata-dori or the shoulder-grab technique; and the mune-dori or chest-grab which involves grabbing the clothing of the chest of the attacker.

Mastering each technique involves discipline and dedication. To be a good aikodoka, one must master both the techniques and principle of the marital art.

Below is the link to a cd where it teaches Aikido and self defense.

Are you guilty of emotional eating?

2009-02-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

Stress is one of the factors linked to emotional eating.It doesnt matter how many diets you follow and how many self help books you read to try and lose weight,if your eating is linked to stress.Basically emotional eating is eating even when we are not hungry.

Emotional eating has many causes.

Cortisol Cravings:
Stress can bring on increased levels of cortisol known as "the stress hormone." Cortisol has a beneficial function in the body, but excessive levels of cortisol brought on by chronic stress can among other things, create cravings for salty and sweet foods.

Social Eating:
People who are under stress will seek out social support, which is a great way to relieve stress. Unfortunately for dieters, when people get together they tend to go out for a nice meal. Crying on your friend’s shoulder over a couple of hot fudge sundaes, going out for a night on the town and a plate full of fried appetizers, sharing a bowl of chips with the guys as you watch a game, or discussing the gory details of a nightmare date over cheesecake with your roommates are all social forms of emotional eating.

Nervous Energy:
When stressed or anxious, many people, out of nervousness or boredom, just munch on chips or drink soda to give their mouths something to do.

Childhood Habits:
Many of us have comforting childhood memories that revolve around food. Whether your parents used to reward you with sweets, fix your boo-boos with an ice cream cone, or make your favorite meal (or take you out to one) to celebrate your successes, you’d probably be in the vast minority if you didn’t develop some emotionally-based attachments to food while growing up. When in times of stress, few things can be as rewarding as your favorite food. This type of emotional eating is very common: people eat to celebrate, eat to feel better, eat to deal with the stress of being overweight.

Stuffing Emotions:
People who are uncomfortable with confrontation may deal with frustrations in their marriage with a piece of cake, for example, rather than with open communication. Food can take the focus off of anger, resentment, fear, anxiety, and a host of other emotions we’d sometimes rather not feel, and is often used for this purpose.

If you’re an emotional eater, it’s important for you to be aware of this, keep an eye on your triggers, and develop some effective stress management techniques and coping skills so that your body stays healthy, rather than feeling out of control.

Take the Stress and Weight Gain Test to see what role stress plays with your weight, and to find targeted help.

Chronic exhaustion or excessive fatigue disorder

2009-01-31T02:08:00.000-08:00

You might be suffering from exhaustion if you feel the following:
Tired all the time.
Trouble getting up in the morning.
Depending on artificial stimulants like tea, coffee or colas to keep going.
Feeling run down and stressed.
Every day seems too long.
Struggling to keep up with life's daily demands.
Taking a long time to recover from illness.
Not having fun any more. Decreased sex drive.
Too tired to enjoy life.

Excessive fatigue disorder has three defining characteristics:

excessive fatigue, weakness, and lack of energy,
Irritability
Feeling demoralized

Personalized treatment usually needs to be customized to every exhausted individual. The first step is the removal of the initial stressors, detoxification, and treatment to balance your mental health. Also varied remedies aimed at relieving specific symptoms like insomnia, depression and digestive problems is also advised.
Mental exhaustion is a state you reach mentally when you get to a point where you have no answers or solutions to deal with or resolve the stresses you feel in your life.
Excessive exhaustion may lead to cardiac failure, blood pressure, depressed mood, lowered self-esteem and guilt feelings and is also associated with increased levels of insulin.

Group discussions, yoga,anger management,active participation in reducing the level of mental stress or strain would reduce exhaustion as well as the risk of cardiac failure.

Chronic exhaustion may be due to underlying physical disease, chronic viral infection, kidney or heart failure and muscle and joint disease and needs to be excluded in any who feel their energy levels are too low. Tiredness is also a side effect of many medications - beta-blockers and some of those used to treat epilepsy are major culprits. If all possible physical causes of lack of energy are excluded, than the underlying cause might be psychological.

Often the causes of excessive fatigue are more mental than physical. A bad relationship, poor self image, a history of abuse, stress, frustration and many other factors can change your overall attitude towards life which may directly impede your overall performance. Such tendencies are deep-rooted in mind and nurtured by excessive negative emotions.

A really good place to go which has on online form which analyses your stresses and recommends natural healing supplements is here

Bach Flower Therapy-natural help

2009-01-30T22:33:00.000-08:00

Basically this is therapy via natural solutions.The basic premise is that negative emotions derived from earlier experiences in your life can affect the way you handle stress.The potions are all derived from nature.See below for a few of the therapies offered and if you are still interested please go to their website to view the rest.

Here are a few of the therapies available under the Bach Flower Therapy

Agrimony
"The jovial, cheerful, humorous people who love peace and are distressed by argument or quarrel, to avoid which they will agree to give up much. Though generally they have troubles and are tormented and restless and worried in mind or in body, they hide their cares behind their humor and jesting and are considered very good friends to know. They often take alcohol or drugs in excess, to stimulate them and help themselves bear their trials with cheerfulness." - Dr. Edward Bach

Aspen
"Vague unknown fears, for which there can be given no explanation, no reason. It is a terror that something awful is going to happen even though it is unclear what exactly. These vague inexplicable fears may haunt by night or day. Sufferers may often be afraid to tell their trouble to others." - Dr. Edward Bach

Beech

"For those who feel the need to see more good and beauty in all that surrounds them. And, although much appears to be wrong, to have the ability to see the good growing within. So as to be able to be more tolerant, lenient and understanding of the different way each individual and all things are working to their own perfection." - Dr. Edward Bach

To see more go to the Bach Flower Therapy site

And here is what some celebrities have had to say about Bach Flower Therapy
Jennifer Anniston says it keeps her cool under pressure.
Cate Blanchett swears by it,
and Salma Hayek has been a fan for years. It's called Bach's "Rescue Remedy®,"

Yoga Basics-Health benefits of Yoga

2009-01-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

More than just a form of physical exercise, yoga provides an amazing avenue through which a person can relieve the stresses that plague their life.Stress, if left unattended to, can lead to heart disease, ulcers, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and a many other ailments that can upset the balance of healthful living.

The ancient method of practicing relaxation, meditation, deep intentional breathing, and conscious exercise has promoted health in the body and spirit for centuries.
Yoga classes can open your mind and body as your relax and become increasingly self aware. As you connect with the elements that are currently running through your life, health, and emotions, you can begin to increase your flexibility and strength.

My Life Blog

2009-01-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

Basically this blog on trying to live a life without stress is a life blog.Our whole life revolves around stress management so we can be better at the important things in life like being a parent,being a good spouse, a productive person at work and be in a place where we can learn from all of life's lessons.

We get advice on how to deal with stress by exercising,time management,relaxing,meditation,eating healthy and the list goes on.Just trying to keep track of all the things we are supposed to be doing is stressful in itself.I have a solution.
List all the important areas of your life.Most important at the top and try to make a list of 10.
Say for example your list starts with your children and if you are a parent it probably will.Spending time with your children by taking them to the park and playing ball games is going to sort out the exercise you are supposed to have.

I hope you see the gist of what I am getting at.I believe by focusing on the important stuff the other stuff sorts themselves out.

Relax by reading a good book.If you read a book on self empowerment you are relaxing and learning.

Join a kick boxing class and enrol your kids as well.This is so much fun.My daughter and I started when she was only 9 together with me.We have had so many good laughs with this and boy,do we sweat.

Dont be too hard on yourself.Find out what you truly enjoy and start with that.Baby steps!!!

Start Yoga Now-Beginner Tips

2009-01-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

Yoga is really good for stress relief.If you are completely new to Yoga and would like to start yoga now I suggest you purchase this book called Yoga for Beginners.The photos and descriptions of the different positions are really clear.And as an added bonus, the binding is cleverly designed to allow you to keep it near your mat for a quick review of the posture. This book is really excellent for beginners.I bought this book so I could test if I would enjoy yoga before enrolling for yoga classes.After following this book and learning yoga I then enrolled for classes.I was able to progress to intermediate classes almost immediately.This book was a great investment and my yoga is moving from strength to strength.

To find out more see below

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living-Dale Carnegie

2009-01-15T06:27:00.000-08:00

This is an excellent book.I recommend it to everyone even if you think you have no stress at all.It is absolutely amazing.Basically you live by these following 21 words
"Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance,but to do what lies clearly at hand".Easy simple and great tips

You can get this book from Amazon.com which sells new or used at link below

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Dale Carnegie
Price: $11.20
To buy from Amazon click here

or at Kalahari.I include Kalahari as the price for new + delivery is cheaper than Amazon because of the rate of exchange from USD to ZAR.I recommend that US buys from Amazon and the rest of the world buy via Kalahari.Kalahari also delivers faster if delivery is worldwide.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Author: Dale Carnegie
Format: Softcover
Delivery time: Usually within 10 working days.
ZAR 182.95 (eB 1830)
To buy from Kalahari click here

Use this currency convertor to work out the best price for you

Why Some Stress is Good for You

2009-01-14T00:22:00.000-08:00

You know the saying “everything in moderation”. This applies to all areas in our lives and obviously then applies to stress as well. We may talk about cutting stress from our lives, but we need those precious, powerful fight-or-flight hormones our bodies produce when we have a short term buzz of stress.

When the brain perceives physical or psychological stress, it starts pumping the chemicals cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine into the body. Instantly, the heart beats faster, blood pressure increases, senses sharpen, a rise in blood glucose invigorates us. It can improve heart function and make the body resistant to infection.

Moderate amounts of stress, the kind of short-term buzz we get from a sudden burst of hormones can help people perform tasks more efficiently and can improve memory. Good stress is the type of emotional challenge where a person feels in control and provides some sense of accomplishment. Far from being something we need to eliminate from our lives, good stress stimulates us.

Bad stress which is long-term stress, such as living with a permanent disability, may render you less able to fight infections. Long term stress can have a negative effect on your body. Older people and people who are already ill are more likely to suffer damage to their immune systems due to long term stress.

The difference between stress that is good for you and stress that can damage your health is in knowing that the stressful event causing your anxiety will end soon. Good stress is short term and can be beneficial by applying a boost to your immune system and boosting your performance. Long term stress will damage your health.

12 January-most depressing day of 2009

2009-01-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

While many people are feeling the blues as a result of broken New Year's resolutions and rising cost of living, experts reckon we're going to feel even more depressed on Monday.
According to Dr David Lewis, psychologist and author of One Minute Stress Management – Monday 12th January is set to be the most depressing day of 2009.
He said: “Whilst moods obviously change according to an individual’s circumstances, there are several possible reasons why so many seem to find Monday 12th the most depressing day of the year.”
Fortunately there is a simple, practical way that people can take to help themselves through the most depressing day of the year.
- simple way to get through miserable Monday - run yourself the perfect bath.

According to Ideal Standard, the formula for a great soak only takes 80 litres of water, two capfuls of bubble bath, a temperature of 39 degrees and 12 minutes 32 seconds soaking.

Some ideas on destructive criticism

2009-01-10T00:19:00.001-08:00

The question is how to decide which criticism is constructive and which is destructive.There are a few ways of ascertaining this fact.Does the person offering the criticism genuinely care for you?Will fixing this problem they are mentioning actually improve your life and theirs?Is it a problem that is so fundamental that it is affecting your quality of life and theirs?Is this problem of yours a problem to other people?Is the criticism a point that you can deal with?For example a criticism that you are such an idiot is not constructive in that it does not mention the specific points of why you are an idiot.That was just an example but you get my point.
Adults who were incessantly and destructively criticized from an early age where their coping skills had not yet fully developed ,often end up being (and feeling) criticized their entire lives.Due to criticism being imprinted on such early young minds they never as adults cope with criticism.The adult reactions to criticism range between the extremes of pulling away and retreating internally or being the abuser themselves.In some rare cases they are both.
If you are one of these people who were criticized at a young age and your coping mechanism is to avoid the abuse,rest assured within yourself that you have chosen the higher ground.Only a weaker character would choose to repeat the abuse.You have chosen not to do that.The action of avoidance is a much better option.It is however advised that you seek therapy to get help in coping with this and as Dr Phil would say,try to erase some of the hurt that your caregivers as a child wrote on your “slate”.
But for now know in your heart that the person who is destructively criticizing you is a weaker character who has sensed a victim and is pouncing and most likely was a victim themselves,who have by way of their weaker character decided to repeat the pattern of abuse.
To people who find themselves always negatively criticizing others make a conscious decision to try and avoid that.It may be that you do not even realize that you are doing it.I hope after reading this that you make it a daily task as your quality of life will improve and so will the lives of others close to you.You were emotionally abused and you can take the higher ground and not repeat the same abuse.Do not let your abusers win by allowing them to interfere with your quality of life and the lives of the people who love you now.

Using Reiki for stress management

2009-01-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

Reiki, which is pronounced as 'Ray Key' is a well-known natural energy healing process, which employs the use of 'laying on' of hands in order to enhance and improve the overall health of a person and help him balance the life force energy. Reiki healing is a simple, non-intrusive healing procedure. It is an excellent way to reduce stress, bring in more relaxation and get the mind, body in sync with the spirit.

What exactly is Reiki Healing?

According to oriental medicine, what's causing us to be alive is the life force energy or 'chi' that runs through us. In Japanese, 'Rei' refers to 'Higher Power' and 'Ki' means force of life. When brought together, the word Reiki basically means life force energy guided by spirituality. If this life force energy is down and low, we go through phases of illness, depression and stress. If this same energy is up and high, we feel happy, relaxed and healthy.

Reiki healing is a natural spiritual healing method that is simple, safe and can be used to literally treat almost any kind of health condition.

How does Reiki Healing Actually Work?

Reiki healing is very easy to learn and simple to apply. Even though this healing method is spiritual, you don't really need to have a belief for Reiki to work successfully, although you might end up feeling a lot more connected and in tune to your own religion.

The term healing refers to working on the physical symptoms. When this works in conjunction to the practice of Reiki, there is a greater response and better results as the body returns to wholeness.

The whole healing process works by getting rid of the disease and the pain associated with it, bringing one's whole self closer to the its ideal form. This is done with the practitioner placing his or her hands on the affected person, for the healing to start. The energy is managed on its own and flows through and within the person who is receiving the healing.

The healer does not intervene consciously in any way. The energy is smoothly being directed by a higher power and knows exactly where it needs to go and what needs to be done.

It's the healer's job to actually keep a watch and listen in order to keep the healing space open.

What Kind of Benefits Does Reiki Healing Offer?

When the life's flow of energy is disrupted in someway or is blocked, it usually leads emotional and health problems.

Stress and anxiety, negative and harmful thoughts, disturbing feelings, emotional turmoil or physical trauma, all bring in imbalances, which can lead to more serious health issues if left untreated.

When you're relaxed and free of any stress or worry, it really helps your body to restore its natural, inner ability to heal. Reiki healing not only helps you get rid of unwanted stress, but it also gives you a way to achieve deep relaxation resulting in better sleep. Apart from this, it can also help in:

1. Speeding up the body's natural self.
2. Alleviating and lowering pain.
3. Getting rid of toxins.
4. Assisting the body in recovering from chemotherapy and post surgery drug therapy.
5. Supporting and making the immune system stronger.
6. Breaking harmful habits and addictions.
7. Reducing blood pressure.
8. Removing any kind of energy blockages.
9. Balancing and harmonizing the energy flow of the endocrine system.
10. Emotional clearance and spiritual growth.

On the whole, if you practice Reiki the way it needs to be done, it will help you get your body more balanced and enhance its ability to handle stress and anxiety easily.

I beat eczema twice

2009-01-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hello People
A major reason why I started this blog is because I am a natural born highly strung person.If there is a new stress related ailment out there I will find it and get it.This blog helps me to keep track of new cures and advice because I am constantly looking for sources in order for me to post blogs that you might find interesting and helpful.But to come to the point the following is from my own experience.I had eczema from 1992 to 1996.Really bad ezcema where my hands got so infected that there was pus filled infections at every one of my knuckles.I tried to analyse what caused this and the main difference was that I had a new job in an area with a lot of industries and there was a lot of pollution.I could not give up my job so I tried to find other ways to get rid of it.Stay away from raw potatoes because peeling potatoes will make ezcema worse.Avoid red meat.This is apparently due to the extra adrenalin that surges through cows before they get slaughtered.Avoid dust and dirt.Do not do dishes without gloves.So the symptoms would disappear for a while and then come back.I am anaemic so I had to have meat sometimes so the ezcema worse.I then went to the coast and swam in the sea and hey,presto,my eczema just disappeared from one day to the next.I must also say that that same period ended a very stressful time in my life so it was either the seaweed or that.But it took 4 years.For years after that I had gotten so used to hiding my hands that in meetings with the boss I always had my hands under the table even though they were now fine.Anyway fast forward to the present and another trip to the coast in June 2008 and the eczema came back this time on my feet.Really gross!!! I was lucky this time because I got this piece of advice.Use a few teaspoon fuls of bicarbonate of soda in your bath water for a month.I promise you with all my heart that this worked so well.My eczema is gone again but at least I only had it for 3 months this time.I still maintain that eczema is stress related and if you manage your stress better that eczema will stay away.Getting eczema is a sign that you stress a lot and its the only way that your body can get rid of the adrenalin.I hope this helps you and please try the bicarbonate of soda tip.It really works.

New Year stress-give yourself a break

2009-01-04T10:08:00.001-08:00

You are probably thinking-another break?Yes that's exactly what I mean.The Christmas period is one of the most stressful times of the year.Worrying about money,worrying about keeping the kids occupied,shopping for everyone and worrying about whether you are giving the right gifts and will they like it.And then having the whole family over for Christmas.And there is the drinking and celebrating.Let's face it,even the people who do nothing the whole year go out of their way to have a really good December.So we agree that was stressful.But wait,it gets worse.Now we have to worry about going back to work,getting back into routine,dealing with the traffic again.And worse of all issues like whether you really like your job are first and foremost this time of the year because most people are thinking this is the time to make a change.You stayed the whole year so you could get your Christmas bonus so now you gotta leave.
And I am saying forget all of that.Now relax.Have a glass of wine for tonight.
Tomorrow you will get up and go to work and after 3 days you will realise that you actually like this job.Forget about the money you owe until the end of January when you will get an account.Give yourself the break you deserve now until the end of January.Drink lots of water and feed your soul with good thoughts.Buy a really good book from the second hand shop(really cheap).Besides there is something about those old dusty shops that is so very calming.
Please take my advice and have a good January.

New Year's Resolution for 2009

2009-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!

Christmas 2008 is over and 2009 hs just started.Every end of the year we all make resolutions to start the new year with and most of them do not last through to the
15th of January.With the economy in a global recession the best resolution we can make for 2009 is to manage our money better or wisely.This year ,take control of your finances
Invest a little money in a step by step guide to help you get started on how to manage your money and save 1000s in the long term.Please click on link below to learn more about managing your finances

Thrifty Living and Saving

Please read below for some wise money saving tips

Start off 2009 by committing to saving money and building a better budget
By Sharon Epperson
CNBC personal finance correspondent
TODAY
updated 6:46 p.m. ET Jan. 1, 2009
Many Americans may have little hope that the New Year will ring in positive change for the personal finances. They know they'll be riding out a recession that some economists believe could last at least until at least next winter. But there are some signs of hope. Financial security is still possible for most.
You may not be able to print more money, like the federal government, in order to get out of your financial troubles. To make ends meet, you need to take ownership of your financial situation and create your own stimulus plan. Your number one New Year's resolution should be to get your money straight. Here's how to do it:
Track your cash flow
Nearly 40 million adults keep little or no track of where there hard-earned dollars are headed, according to a study by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling Financial Literacy Survey.
The first step in getting on the right financial track is to always know where your money goes. Make a promise to yourself that you will write down every penny you spend for 30 days. That's not a long time — just do from now until the end of January.
You may be amazed at what you spending and figure out that you need to make some serious adjustments.
Build a budget
As you're tracking your spending, you can put those expenditures into different categories and start to build a budget. Putting yourself on a budget doesn't mean you can't enjoy life. It just may mean you need to take some time to stretch out some purchases. Immediate gratification often leads to spending beyond your means. Ultimately your goal should be live on last month's income so that you're not living paycheck to paycheck — or worse yet, living on credit — to maintain your lifestyle. Make sure every dollar that comes in has a "job" — it should go to covering some expense, debt or be earmarked for savings.
To build a budget or "spending plan", start with living expenses then debt repayment. Ideally, you'll have some money left over after itemizing all of your expenses and debt obligations and that extra cash will go to savings. More likely though, you have more expenses than money to pay them. Don't worry though. Just make sure you can pay your basic living expenses. We'll tackle the debt issue next.
Stop digging that debt hole
High interest credit card debt and high balances can be a toxic combination. Do not add new debt to old. Put away the plastic. Cut up those cards or at least stick them in the back of your desk drawer. Do not use them, no exceptions.
If the balance on any card is more than 30 percent of the credit limit, pay down that debt first. Creditors consider you a risk if you use too much of your available credit and can then lower your credit limit and raise your interest rate making it harder to pay back to the money you owe.
Then, start paying off the debt that has the highest interest rate, and next highest and so on. Once the debt is paid off, don't start spending the "extra" money you now have. You couldn't spend it before so don't start now. Put that "minimum balance" or "monthly debt payment" toward savings.
Save for today and tomorrow
You need a life jacket when the financial turmoil gets to be too much. Your retirement account has dwindled and your house isn't worth as much as you paid for it. But at least you have enough cash on hand to ride out the storm — if your car breaks down, the hot water tank goes bust, or you lose your job. You do have a rainy day fund, don't you?
If not, your savings for today needs to start today. Have 10 percent of your paycheck directly deposited into a high-interest savings account. HSBC Direct offers a 3 percent rate right now. You want to start by having at least one month's income socked away, then build up to 3 to 6 months, depending on whether you feel your job is secure and if you have dependents. Trying to figure out how to save that 10 percent? You may need to reduce your spending. Cutting out the credit cards will help.
You also need to save for tomorrow. Contribute to your company's retirement plan. That 401k or 403b plan is tax-deferred savings and that kind of savings is hard to beat even in a down market. Put in at least enough money to get a matching contribution from your employer, if one is offered. You don't want to miss out on that free money. But remember, if you have no cash savings, building up that rainy day fund should be your first savings goal.
Having strategy to get more cash on hand for an emergency or unexpected expense is your own economic stimulus plan. Sure, a check from the government would be great too. But you don't want to have to wait around for that. Take control and create your own stimulus package now.
Contribute more to your retirement fund
You don't need to invest all of your money in stock mutual funds if that's too risky for you. But your company's retirement plan is the best tax-deferred savings you'll find. You lower your income tax burden while saving money. And the limits go up this year: For 401(k)/403(b)/457 plans, you can contribute up to $16,500 (age 50 and older, add a $5,000 catch-up contribution. Traditional IRAs also offer tax-deferred savings and while you pay tax on the money you put into a Roth, you can take it out tax-free at age 59 1/2. Here are the new limits: For IRA/Roth IRA, you can contribute $5,500 (age 50 and older, add a $1,000 catch-up contribution)
At the end of all this — the extra cash should be used to:
1) pay down debt
2) build cash reserve
3) contribute to retirement savings. Split the extra sum and put a third toward each. That way you're striving for all of these goals at the same time.
Refinance before rates rise
Mortgage rates are at historic lows. The 30-year rate was at 5.14 percent last week, which means the cost of borrowing is in your favor. If you can qualify, you may want to consider refinancing. The savings can be substantial. Take, for example, a $400,000, 6.25 percent loan that equates to a monthly payment of $2,463. Refinance that loan at 5.5 percent and the monthly payment becomes $2,216 (assuming $2,000 in closing costs). That equates to a savings of $247 a month, or nearly $3000 a year ($2964). Make sure you put that savings directly in your emergency fund or put it toward your retirement savings.
I don't really want to tell people to file for bankruptcy. It's a last resort for folks who really have let their finances get way out of control in relationship to their income. A bankruptcy lawyer can help make that determination as to whether the consumer will be able to get a complete or substantial discharge of debts and at the same time keep their home and vehicle. Bankruptcy is usually a better option that going with a debt settlement company since many are just out to take your money. But the best first step is to talk to a certified credit counselor and you can find one through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at debtadvice.org.

CNBC personal finance correspondent Sharon Epperson is the author of “The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money — and Live Richly Ever After" (HarperCollins).
© 2009 MSNBC Interactive. Reprints
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Worry no more

2008-12-18T03:41:00.000-08:00

Eliminating Worry
We all know that our job is to organize our life and work so we can minimize surprises and problems.AND we all know that that is not always possible.Worry is essentially the fear of fear itself.We get told don’t worry be happy and few of us are able to follow this.Here is an action plan that works really well and when followed is ultimately going to leave you with the confidence to face any other worries head on the next time it comes along.In a nutshell don’t worry get busy
Step 1 –Clarity is everything
Define the worry situation clearly in writing.Half of all problems can be solved by clearly defining them
Step 2-Assume the worst
Determine the worst possible outcome of the situation
Step 3-Be willing to have it so
Resolve the accept the worst that can happen.The first step in dealing with a negative situation is to be willing to have it so.Once you resolve the accept the worst,your mind will become calm and clear,and you will be able to take some constructive action.
Step 4-Take action
The final step is to immediately begin doing everything you possibly can to improve upon the worst.
Antidote to Worry
Worry is merely a form of fear caused by indecision.You don’t see the trees you see the whole forest.Following the steps above allows you to start seeing problem by problem and to start dealing with them one step at a time.The only antidote to worry is purposeful action.Get so busy doing something about your situation that you don’t have time to worry.As you take action,your confidence,courage and sense of control will return and wipe away your fears.
2 step Action Exercises
1-Make a list down one side of a page of all the situations causing you stress or worry at the moment
2-On the other side of the page,write out the worst possible thing that could happen as a result.You will be amazed to see much of your worry disappear with this exercise.

You don’t see the trees you see the whole forest.Following the steps above allows you to start seeing problem by problem and to start dealing with them one step at a time.