Stress Relief for Men

What do you do when life becomes complicated?

I am a pretty laid back individual... generally takes alot to ruffle the feathers.  My husband on the other hand needs a steady tempo in the right direction or else he is on edge.

Let's just say with the current economic state of the family, the holidays coming, and the never ending pursuit of a lean mean body, he has been a bit "irritable" lately.

We have discussed this more than once in the last week.  I do not want the kids to think they have done something wrong when he gets a bit irritated more easily.  He really does do  a good job of not showing this to the boys, but he still needs some way to deal with stress.

When hunting for a solution or at least an aid, I came across some interesting information.

"Why is stress and anger more of an issue for men? Well, it is mainly down to the male hormone testosterone which makes men more prone to aggressive behaviour then women.

Unfortunately, being aggressive all the time can get you into lots of trouble and will cause an excessive production of the stress hormones to build up. Equally though bottling up feelings of anger and aggression will also cause a build up of tension and anxiety." ~stress relief workshop

I guess sometimes it truly is more difficult for men under pressure, but that is no reason to make the ones you love suffer.  Take some advice and simply relieve a little stress.  It could be as easy as counting to 10.

10 Ways For Men to Relieve Stress...
1.  Stress Relief Breathing:  Sit comfortably.  Breath in through the nose for 5 seconds and out through the mouth for 5 seconds.  Do this several times.

Try to increase the length of the inhalation and exhalation always aiming for the length of each to be similar.

Also, try to really push the air out from your diaphragm emptying the lungs.

2.  Progressive Muscle Relaxation:  Start by tightening the face muscles as tight as you can.  Hold the position for about 10 seconds.  Slowly release the muscles and take pleasure in the feeling of stress being striped away from the body.

Move to the neck, shoulders, and arm muscles and follow the same procedures.

Next, you will tighten the abdomen and chest.  Hold and slowly release.

Finally, tighten the buttocks, legs, and feet.  Follow the same procedure you have been.

This targets four main areas of the body and should aid in fairly immediate stress reduction.  If you have time for a more full body approach, click the link above to view more details.

*If you feel funny doing this technique, consider spending the money for an aromatherapy massage.  Massage alone works wonders for relieving stress, but couple it with an aromatherapy session and you just might not want to leave the spa.

3.  Meditation:  Sit cross legged on the floor in a quiet area.  Clear your mind of all thoughts.  This will be difficult at first, but will get continually easier as you practice. 

If your mind begins to wander, turn off your inner thoughts.  Focusing on very rhythmic breathing can be helpful when quieting your mind. 

Start out with 5 minute sessions and work up from there.

Doing a small meditation before and after work is very helpful to stave off stress.  If you are short on time, I would suggest beginning with the after work mediation.

Remember though that mediation is something you can do any time you are under pressure.  Taking the time for yourself will be worth the benefits.

4.  Get Outside: Getting in touch with nature generally provides exercise, but also a good dose of vitamin D which is vital for a healthy mental state.

5.  Go Unplugged: Turn off the computer and cell phone during the lunch hour and shortly after arriving home.  Going unplugged is wonderful for letting go.  Plus, it gives you more time to be with the ones you love... face-to-face.

6.  Take Up a Hobby:  Mindless repetition is wonderful for unwinding at the end of a hard day.  Finding a hobby you can keep up is beneficial to a happy, healthy lifestyle.

7.  Laugh:  Watch a funny movie, go to a comedy club, or spend time with some fun friends.  Laughing is one of the most natural ways to reduce stress.  Go ahead and get your laugh on.

8.  Date Night:  Spend time with the one you love.  Going out and reconnecting lets you know your partner really does care.  It also gives you time to let loose and have fun.

9.  Evening Walks with Your Lover:  Getting in the habit of taking an evening stroll allows both partners to debrief his/her day.  Just talking about situations that are particularly stressful can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Allow your significant other to help you.  After all, he/she loves you.

10.  Regular Sexual Activity:  What better way to get a little exercise and oxygen to the brain!  Physical touching also leads to a feeling of connectedness and understanding.