Stress Management

Have you ever done yoga? The breathing exercises you learn in yoga really help me. Try learning some meditative breathing. This is something you get better at the more you practice. It helps me a lot with stress.

When I was working during my daily commutes I would listen to devotionals or some nice happy music on a CD - no radio commercials. Epsom salt baths are very relaxing too and help with sore muscles. Turn off the lights, light some candles and put on some classical or jazz tunes. Also, a good book helped me too. And, when things get really bad, lock yourself in a bathroom for a minute or two longer and just breathe. :-)

Turn off the radio going to and from work and just enjoy the silence. While you have that quiet time pray. If possible make time to be outside each day. All that will help balance out the craziness. Good luck...

When I get that urge to chew I get out a couple of packs of gum and have at it. I might chew through 2-3 packs of it but by the time the urge has passed but then my jaw is tired and I don't want to put anything in my mouth.

If you want more ideas google giving biters chewy foods to stop biting. They recommend letting them chew on stuff to get the urge out of their systems. It works.

You might try picking up a hand craft. I have started learning to crochet and it keeps my hands busy.

Also, drink extra water. Sometimes the urge to eat is actually our bodies telling us we need to drink.

Sit ups at your desk chair, parking far and walking, when you think you wanna turn to food grab a stick of gum. They come in all sorts of flavors now

All the answers I have seen here are great.. Exercise is a great stress reliever. I walk at least once a week, haven't done yoga in a while but it is good also. Being with friends after work, movies, books and music are good things. One thing that got me through my most difficult times was crafting. I am a huge scrapbooker, rubberstamper, jewelry making ect.... I would go into my craft room and just organize or make things, kind of putter around. Did I feel better yes! As I read in one of the other posts you need to do something for yourself. It helps you at home, work be a better wife, mom, and friend.

Well, what else relaxes you? Or do you enjoy enough to take your mind off of things?
For me, it's exercise. I love to hate it. And a good work out really helps me burn off negative or stressful energy, and gives me a clear head.

Do you have anything other than food that does that for you? Or it if IS food, how about a cooking project that will take some time?

Do you ever take time out of your day to do anything for yourself? 5 minutes? Read a book? A few minutes of quiet time in your bedroom? Some music you like to listen to? A long shower? A girlfriend you like talking to that always makes you laugh?
Everyone needs 5 minutes to destress every day, it will make you a better you, a better wife, a better mother (if you are a mother) a better employee, you will sleep better, you will look better and you will be able to get more done.
Everyone, every woman is worth it!! I love reminding women every day how special and important they are. More women need to feel it and remember it. It is impossible to just say leave work at work or don't worry about something, but taking 5 minutes a day to do something for you, to relax and destress and pamper yourself you will be a better and more refreshed you and more able to handle whatever else is outside that door.
Maybe 5 minutes can be 10 or 15, but please take at least 5 every day just for yourself. Because you matter, you are worth it.
I make it a point to make everyone feel that when I do my job as a mobile spa consultant. When I get there I see women who are feeling like they had to rush to get there or what is this spa thing im coming to? and an hour later when they are sitting on that couch and they have been pampered and spoiled and they realize that the evening was a gift from their hostess because they realized they needed to destress, everyone is happy and comfy and glad they came and i leave feeling uplifted knowing that i was able to touch their lives a little bit. I hope i have helped you a little.

L.
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I used to have that kind of job!! My best bet was to choose a subject that amused/relaxed me, and while working, I would make up a "story" that would relax me. For example, I would choose a setting, like a cabin in the woods, or a nice beach on some exotic coast (which we don't have in Missouri), and I would let my mind wander from there. Usually I only got as far as describing the cabin to myself before I was distracted with something at work, but everytime I would find myself getting stressed again, I would mentally add another piece of info. For some reason, that was relaxing to me. Probably because I have a habit of using books to "escape", it worked to make up a book in my mind.

I think others gave you some good tips on relaxation (driving without the radio on and taking a deep breath are some things you can do before you get home).

In terms of turning to food, one thing that helps me is to recognize it-- I'll actually think to myself "you just want to eat something just because you're bored" and that helps me choose not to eat. It's the same thing when I'm PMSing and I start to cry over something. Thinking "you're just crying because you're PMSing" stops the tears immediately. So just try to recognize when you're stress eating so you can make the choice NOT to eat.