Dot Com Women - Quick Fix

Some of my recent articles have covered topics such as ‘looking after yourself’ and ‘time management tips’. But as one female business owner commented to me: “All very good points Michelle, but easier said than done!”. The crux of this comment is about having enough time to actually do any of the things suggested!

So I thought some ‘quick fixes’ were in order – that is, some effective stress relief strategies designed to relax your mind so you can think more clearly, but that don’t require a great deal of effort:

Breathing (yes, breathe!): slowly inhale through your nose, slowly exhale out your mouth. Repeat several times.
Smile or laugh: find a mirror and smile at yourself. You’ll feel silly at first, but genuinely smiling at yourself will improve your mood.
Stretch and move: many business women, especially those who work from home, tend to spend a lot of time at a desk. It’s easy to lose track of how long you’ve been sitting there, so take regular, short breaks – stand up, stretch (use basic yoga positions if you know some), shake your hands, turn your head upside down.
Background music: not everyone likes music playing while they work (or are not in an industry where it’s possible), but it can be an effective tool for easing tension – just make sure it’s not something that is too distracting!

All these ‘quick fixes’ shouldn’t replace regular exercise, healthy eating and holidays in order to maintain a less stressful and balanced lifestyle.

Michelle Grice runs Dot Com Women, an online forum for entrepreneurial women: www.dotcomwomen.com.au