Are You Tired of Feeling Stressed Out and Exhausted? Try These 3 Tips That Really Work!
By Amy Phillips-Gary

By now you've probably heard about the studies that show how damaging stress is to your health. It can raise your blood pressure, make you depressed, lead to diabetes and heart disease, contribute to sexual dysfunction and even cause your hair to fall out.

Did you know that you being stressed out is also bad for your car's gas mileage?

On a recent episode of the entertaining science television show “Mythbusters,” the theory that a stressed out driver means a car will use more gas was tested. As unbelievable as it may sound, they were actually able to confirm this theory.

The test subjects pressed the gas and brake pedals more abruptly and more erratically when they were tense and irritable than when they were relaxed and at ease. Their car actually used more gas over the same obstacle-filled driving course when they were stressed out.

Who knew?

You may be well aware of the detrimental effects of stress on your body and your life.

You might have noticed that your relationships with loved ones are strained when you feel stressed out. It is more difficult to have fun and reach your goals when you are exhausted because you are tense.

It could be that you've already tried to relieve stress. There are tons of products available for this ranging from rubber balls that you squeeze, beads that you twist, indoor water fountains, candles and more.

Perhaps some of these products have been helpful or maybe they haven't. It may stress you out even more to have spent money on a stress relief product that is ineffective for you.

Here are 3 relaxation tips that really work and won't cost you a dime...

#1) Open your mind.
Set aside a few minutes and ask yourself this question: “What would my life be like without stress?”

If you are used to walking around with tight shoulders, a twitchy eye and under constant pressure, this could require some imagining.

Be specific and resist the urge to ask yourself how this might actually happen. For this exercise, consider how you might feel differently. What would change in terms of your body and your relationships? Would your goals and actions toward them be the same as they are now?

Write down your answers on a piece of paper. This can be your reminder that a more relaxed life is possible for you. You might even begin to incorporate some of these stress-free ways of living into your current life.

You'll be surprised by what will happen when you open your mind and envision a different future for yourself.

#2) Stop the automatic yes and no.
How often do you find yourself overloaded with commitments, appointments and favors for others? Even when you promise yourself that you're not going to take on one other thing, you hear yourself saying “yes” to a request from your boss, friend, partner or other family member.

The habit of automatically saying “yes” can certainly drive up your stress levels!

Of course, you don't want to disappoint others. But what's the cost of always saying “yes”?

More often than not the result is a job or favor carried out with hesitation or even resentment and it's one that leaves you feeling drained and depleted.

Conversely, when you mostly say “no” to life, you slam the door in the face of opportunities.

Recently, a cousin of mine gave my family a car. When the initial offer was made to me, I almost automatically said “no.”

This was not the brand-new hybrid car that I've been dreaming about. In fact, it is a late model car that's a bit beaten up and has quite a few miles on it.

But, after talking with my family about this offer, I realized that having a second car would be wonderful-- especially as our oldest son starts learning how to drive this year.

When you stop your knee-jerk “yes” and your automatic “no,” and instead feel into yourself to hear what you truly want to do and open to opportunities, life seems to ease up.

You can find yourself responding with a “yes” or a “no” in more authentic ways that are relaxing because you've diminished or erased internal conflict.

#3) Make meditation a priority.
No matter how many soothing waterfalls or lavender-scented candles you surround yourself with, there is no substitution for meditation when it comes to relaxation.

Countless scientific studies have shown that meditation is a highly effective way to relieve stress and reverse its negative health effects.

But making time for meditation can seem stressful in and of itself!

When you feel as if your schedule is already jam-packed, it may appear irresponsible or even lazy to you to just sit and breathe for a period of time each day.

If you'd like to really release stress and exhaustion, however, this is exactly what I recommend you do.

Make meditation as important to your daily routine as you do brushing your teeth, eating meals and checking your e-mail. You can experience positive, relaxing effects by sitting or lying down to meditate for as little 5-10 minutes each day.

It doesn't matter whether you choose to listen to a guided meditation on your MP3 player or if you simply sit comfortably and focus your attention mainly on your slow, deep, abdominal breathing.

What matters most of all is that you find some form of meditation that appeals to you and then do it-- every day.

Stress doesn't have to be the norm for any of us.

When we remember that we can make changes and live a more relaxed life as we continue to maintain our family, work and other commitments, we can more easily develop stress-release habits that will carry us through even the toughest times.
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Amy Phillips-Gary is a freelance writer, a personal growth coach and a life adventurer.