TresSugar

Does Your City Stress You Out?

TresSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:30:00 -0700

Your city's plummeting property values, high unemployment rate, extreme weather, or chronic traffic could potentially stress you out. Some metropolises have a perfect storm of frustrating factors that landed them on Forbes's list of America's Most Stressful Cities.

Coming in at number one is Chicago, thanks to the city's poor air quality, 11 percent unemployment rate, and falling home prices. Los Angeles comes next, then New York, Cleveland, and Providence, RI.

My current place of residence, San Francisco, ranks number six, but I beg to differ with its stressful status. Besides worrying about the next big earthquake, I find that my city's passable public transportation, moderate climate, and breathtaking views make me feel more relaxed.

What about you - does your city stress you out?

Gimme a Break: Berlusconi Treated For Scandal-Related Stress

TresSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:54 -0700

Until now, Silvio Berlusconi has sounded pretty laid-back about this whole sex scandal thing. He dismissively declared "I am not a saint" in response to recorded conversations between him and a prostitute. But now it seems the bad press is taking its toll: the Italian prime minister is leaving on a three-week holiday complete with hydrotherapy and a diet and exercise regimen designed to relieve stress and "restore the 'natural harmony' of the body."

Perhaps it's Berlusconi's daughter who deserves a break. In the latest issue of Italian Vanity Fair, 25-year-old Barbara Berlusconi says she is "astounded" by the news that her father was cavorting with an 18-year-old model. But wait! There's more.

Mindfulness: It's Not Just For Spiritual Woo-Woo Types

TresSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Imagine taking a morsel of food, say, an almond, and savoring it very carefully, giving it your full attention. If someone told you that doing everything you can with that kind of attention would help reduce your stress level at work, relieve bodily symptoms like back pain, and keep you from bad habits like smoking, you might think they were nuts.

Yet that’s exactly what the practice of mindfulness does say practitioners like Buddhists, and increasingly, there’s clinical research to back it up.

What is mindfulness? It’s the act of being aware of the moment - of what you’re thinking and feeling, both emotionally and physically, from one moment to the next. There can be a spiritual component, but anyone, regardless of their religion, can benefit.

Awareness of the moment is supposed to move us away from both regret for the past and anxiety about the future. And in addition to those thoughts that often cloud our mind, throw in a job full of emails, ringing phones and irritating co-workers and the modern person’s stress levels are sky high. To hear about a study proving its effectiveness in reducing stress, read more

When stressed-out historian and former professor Lillian Waugh at West Virginia University was invited to participate in a study on mindfulness, she was part of the group that was taught techniques to cultivate it - yoga poses, breathing methods and stretches. Waugh's group improved in ways that the other group, who were only handed informational pamphlets on stress, did not. Her group had significantly fewer daily hassles, psychological distress and significantly fewer medical symptoms as a result.

"We taught them how to recognize sources of stress, how stress impacts them, and then what they could do to come out of the vicious cycle of stress reactivity," says lead researcher Kimberly Williams.

I’ve practiced meditation pretty regularly for about year, and although I can still be a stress case, thanks to that simple idea - just to pay attention to the moment without panic - I can get myself out of almost any overwhelming moment if I remember what to do. Just because something is simple, however, doesn’t mean it’s easy. But if practicing mindfulness techniques can relieve all those stress symptoms, it’s definitely better than lighting up, drinking or freaking out.

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Do Tell: What's Comforting You These Days?

DearSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:30:00 -0700

During these rough times, it's important to do whatever you can to find solace and comfort - you know, to keep you sane! Chocolate and a little mindless entertainment seems to be doing the trick for me, but tell me ladies, what's comforting you these days?

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Do Tell: What Conversations Are Off-Limits in Your Bedroom?

DearSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

The bedroom is a sacred place meant for sleeping, relaxing, and of course, getting busy! But to keep the bedroom a stress-free zone, it's important to take care of any arguments or loaded conversations before settling in for the night. If this is something you strive for, do tell, what conversations are off-limits in your bedroom?

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Dear Poll: Are You Yearning For Mindless Entertainment?

DearSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:13:34 -0800

I don't know about you, but all I want to do to unwind when I get home from work these days is watch some mindless TV or read a trashy magazine. Not only can I get a good laugh out of it, but it's much less stressful than worrying about the economic crisis. If you've been feeling anxiety in the air lately, too, tell me, are you also yearning for some senseless entertainment to get your mind off things?

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Relationship Protocol: Has Monetary Stress Affected Your Relationship?

DearSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Even if the economy hasn't forced you to drastically change your lifestyle, the stress in the air is undeniable. Though 2009 is sure to be an exciting year, it'll also be one chock-full of uncertainty and apprehension. I know that money woes affect everyone differently, so tell me, has it played a role in your otherwise carefree relationship?

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Where Do You Stand? Sex When You're Stressed

DearSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:30:00 -0800

When we're stressed out, we're just not ourselves. All that tension can really affect our moods and make us feel irritated, sad, and frustrated. It can also affect our bodies, making us tired, nauseous, or just plain lethargic. For some of you, sex may be the last thing on your mind, but studies show that sharing intimacy with another can actually be beneficial in dealing with stress. So what's your take on sex when you're stressed? Does it calm your nerves or make you more uneasy?

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3 Common Worries in 2008

DearSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0800

2008 was a loaded year. We made presidential history and are still suffering through some grim economic times, but when you add that to our everyday stress, it's no wonder so many of us had some serious worries in 2008.

I'm sure the top three stressors of the year won't surprise you, but check them out below - it might be comforting to know you're not alone:

Job security
Health of family and friends
Relationships

If you want to vent any more of your worries from this year, have at it in the comments section below!

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5 Ways to Avoid Holiday Blues

DearSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0800

The holidays can be a stressful time of year, so if you're prone to feeling down and out, check out my five tips on how to avoid the holiday blues. If I've left something out, tell us what works for you - the more tips the merrier! Source

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