| How to Relax Posted: 04 Jul 2019 05:00 PM PDT Feeling stress is totally normal, but it's not good for you. Knowing how to relax is vital for ensuring your health and well-being, as well as restoring the passion and joy in your life. Allowing stress to affect you can lead to depression, illness, weight gain and a general sense of malcontent. Learn to recognize stress and deal with it by calming your mind and your body. It's also a good idea to spend time doing things that you love. Finally, you'll likely feel more relaxed if you learn to deal with difficult people. EditAcknowledging Stress and Changing Your Mindset - Recognize the mental symptoms of stress. Some stress can be positive. In small doses, it can make you motivated and energized. But if the level of stress in your life causes you to put up with things that are harming or distressing you constantly, you risk sliding into being too stressed.[1] You could be too stressed if:
- You can't stop thinking about work. It might be your own business, a career, a salaried position, a stay-at-home mom or dad position, or anything else that is soaking up your time and life one hundred percent, and this over-concentration is leaving you passionless, disappointed, unhappy, and unfulfilled.
- You're often irritable, short-tempered, and perhaps unable to focus on completing tasks.
- You feel as if you have too much going on and that you can't hop off the merry-go-round.
- You can't remember the last time you had a good laugh and your sense of humor is sadly lacking.
- Notice if stress is affecting your body. Stress doesn't just manifest itself in your head. It can also cause a lot of physical issues. You might be too stressed if you:[2]:
- Experience frequent body tension, including headaches, neck aches, backaches, and general soreness.
- Have a hard time sleeping or find that you're sleeping too much.
- Experience changes in your appetite.
- Set aside time to relax. Once you have accepted that there are negative stressors impacting your life, it's important to make room for relaxation amid all of the other things in your life. Find a method of scheduling relaxation that works for you.[3]
- Block out times in your day to relax. Think of it as an appointment with your most important client that you absolutely cannot skip or break. Write it on your calendar or set a reminder on your phone.
- You could write "Take a yoga class, 2-3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon." Schedule time to relax in the same way you would schedule meeting up with a friend or going to the doctor.
- Let go of guilt you might feel for taking time off. With the advent of smart technology that keeps us hyper-wired 24/7, you might feel like you have to be "on-the-go" constantly. This can end up wearing you down. Give yourself permission to relax.[4]
- You might even write this down. A post-it note on your mirror that says, "You deserve a bubble bath after work!" is a great way to remind yourself that it is okay to relax.
- Practice positive thinking. Positive thinking can do wonders for your mental health. Try changing the way you talk to yourself. Avoid criticizing yourself and work on changing negative thoughts into positive ones.[5].
- For example, instead of thinking, "Why am I so stressed? I should be able to handle all this!", switch to "Wow, I've been working really hard. I deserve to relax a little."
- If you make a mistake, don't chastise yourself. Instead, acknowledge what went wrong and give yourself a pep talk about doing better next time.
- Use visualization techniques. While you might not feel calm and relaxed, imagining a calm and relaxed scene in your mind can do wonders to improve your outlook. Picture beaches, lying down resting, going for a hike, etc., to help you stay relaxed.
- Use affirmations to change your outlook on life. Affirmations are a great way to stop yourself from jumping to negative conclusions. Affirmations are short, powerful statements that build you up and increase your confidence, helping you to expect positive outcomes.[6]
- A good affirmation might be, "I am strong and I can face these challenges because I have a positive attitude."
- Learn to prioritize. Make a list of tasks for the day. Organize the list by importance, and be proactive. Take care of things before they become a big problem. Time spent more productively means more free time to relax.[7]
- Make sure your work is done. Although this may sound counteractive to your goal of relaxing, procrastination never feels as good as having nothing to do. Get your tasks done now, and then you can truly relax.
EditReducing Tension in Your Body - Practice deep breathing when you're stressed. Slow down your breathing and actively concentrate on it. Breathe in through your nose while counting slowly to 4 or 5 and then exhale out your mouth while doing the same count.[8]
- Doing this will relax your muscles and nerves. As you breathe out, visualize the stress and tension leaving your body through your breath.
- Eat a healthy diet to feel your best. Eating well can help your body feel balanced and healthy. This can you less susceptible to spikes in blood sugar and feelings of anxiety. It will also help you to have more energy![9]
- Eat fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains each meal. For example, you could have a veggie omelet, some berries, and whole grain toast for breakfast.
- Eat plenty of healthy proteins, such as chicken, fish, whole grains, legumes, dark leafy vegetables or low-fat dairy. Try tofu for a vegetarian option.
- Avoid sugary foods like granola bars, pastries or sodas.
- Avoid excessive caffeine. Too much caffeine can make you jumpy and irritable. Try not to drink caffeine after 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Try an herbal tea instead of coffee
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Exercise every day. This is a great way to reduce stress. As a bonus, it's great for your physical health, too! You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to overcome stress if you exercise regularly. [10] Try doing some of the following:
- Aim for at least thirty minutes per day of moderate activity.
- Walk in the park, in the woods, or on a treadmill.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Park a little further away from the entrance of a store.
- Ride a bike.
- Go swimming. Try your local pool, a nearby lake or a friend or relative's home. You do not have to be an excellent swimmer; just the idea of being in water could be relaxing enough.
- Stretch. Lower your shoulders to help relax. Be more consciously aware of the tension that is quick to accumulate in your shoulders and neck region.
- Try a massage to soothe tense muscles. Go to your local spa for a great massage. Undoing the body knots is a good pathway to undoing the mind knots. Ask a friend or family member to recommend a good massage therapist.
- If that's not in your budget, ask your partner or a friend to give you a shoulder rub. Or go get a pedicure so that you get a foot rub!
- Make good sleep a priority. Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. This will help you feel refreshed and ready to face the day. Get into a routine of going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each day.[11]
- Turn off electronics at least an hour before bed so that your mind has time to wind down.
- Create a soothing nighttime routine, such as reading a chapter of a book or taking a warm shower.
EditDoing Relaxing Activities - Draw a warm bath. Warm water can be incredibly soothing. Fill up the tub and then create an atmosphere that relaxes you. You could light candles around the tub, dim the lights, or add bubbles. Lavender is a relaxing scent, so you could add some lavender oil to the tub, too.[12]
- You could read a magazine in the bath, listen to music, or just close your eyes and chill.
- Read a good book. Reading is a great way to escape from reality. Find a comfy spot and settle in. You could curl up on the couch with a blanket and a cup of chamomile tea, for example.
- If you're feeling anxious, avoid reading a scary thriller. That won't help you feel calm.
- Practice meditation. Remove all thoughts and emotions from your mind by concentrating on your breathing. Meditation takes you into focusing on your whole being as a form of relaxation. It can take a while to master, but it is well worth the effort.[13]
- Begin with a sitting posture for a minimum of 15 minutes per session and build up to 45–60 minutes per session.
- Try to meditate regularly. Even 5 minutes a day is great!
- Find a respected mentor if you are having difficulty learning meditation by yourself.
- Avoid being intense, competitive, or frustrated about meditating – all of these emotions defeat the purpose!
- Consider self-hypnosis. Focus on something, take a few deep breaths and let yourself become hypnotized. If you have trouble with self-hypnosis, go to a licensed hypnotherapist. Do not allow an amateur to try to hypnotize you, as that might end up being stressful.
- Do an activity you truly enjoy to relax. The most important part of relaxing is to choose the method that's right for you. Think about the things in life that you truly enjoy and make time to do them. For example, you could:
- Go fishing, sew, sing, paint or take photographs.
- Try singing a song using numbers instead of words. Singing can help to distract you from stress to suddenly relax.
- Use music as relaxation therapy. Play it as loudly or as softly as you like, whichever calms you the most.
- Spend time with your pet. Cuddle or play with your pets. They'll love it and so will you. Talk to your pet about all the stress and anxiety you've been going through and you'll feel a lot better. Pet therapy is a genuine means for relaxing.[14]
- If you don't have a pet, ask a friend if you can spend time with theirs. Many cities also now have cat cafes where you can go and hang out with cats for a small fee.
- Smile and laugh. Laughter is the best medicine. Rent, buy or see a hilarious movie. Smiling and laughing releases endorphins, which fights stress, helps to relax and reminds you that life is more than just work. Even if it feels strange at first, make it a point to smile more often.[15]
- You could also go to a comedy show or make a date to hang out with your funniest friend.
EditStaying Relaxed Around Stressful People - Create space between yourself and highly stressed people. Being around people who are too stressed can rub off on you. If you need to be around them, try imagining an invisible boundary (like a wall) exists between you. This is really a visualization technique, in which you imagine that you are cocooned against the negative vibes of overly stressed people around you. See their behavior and attitudes for what they are, recognize what their stress is doing to them but refuse to let this penetrate your shield.[16]
- Separating yourself from other people's stress can be hard at first, especially if you are empathic by nature, but keep practicing until not giving in to their negativity becomes second nature.
- Disconnect from toxic people. Put the phone back down, shut the email folder, walk away. Whenever you feel like making an instantaneous reply in anger to someone who has raised your ire, don't act on it[17]. When we feel angry and stressed, we are more likely to read sinister interpretations into our interactions and if we act on them, our self-righteous anger can be self-fulfilling when the person responds negatively. Sleep on your angry missive and practice some relaxation techniques.
- Write a draft of your response and let it sit for a day. If everything in it is just as true and valid to you 24 hours later, consider sending it. If not, you'll be grateful you held off.
- Walk away and decompress. Instead of acting in anger, remove yourself from the situation until your calm has returned.
- Avoid toxic personalities. Spend less time with people who try to guilt you into doing things or tell you that you're not good enough. Yes, even if they're family.
- Steer clear of people who are constantly complaining. Stress can be contagious, so avoid transmitters. It's great to be supportive of others. But if they don't seem to want your help, or seem to just want to drag you down, it might be time for some space.
- Give hugs. Go on the positive offensive and reach through to people who seem down and negative. Caring touch reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Say hello and goodbye to your friends and family members with a hug, and don't be afraid to comfort someone with a hug, or ask for a hug when you're feeling overwhelmed.
- Know when to cut ties. It can be challenging to realize that there are people who are just too toxic or too needy to keep in your inner circle. They might sap your energy and stress you out. Sometimes it's best to let go, provided you do so after thinking it through carefully. Avoid being judgmental, hurtful, or blunt; just move on as you need to. Take some time to evaluate the people in your life and take action if they are:
EditRelaxation Help - De-clutter your home or living space. It is very hard to relax in a house where stuff is always in the way, ruling your life.
- Download e-books on relaxation. Use controlled breathing, muscle tensing and relaxing, affirmations (which become your own subliminal messages to your subconscious), and visualization to experience the full impact of total relaxation.
- Put yourself first sometimes, we often think about everybody's problems and we get more stressed every day.
- Consult your physician if stress is causing serious symptoms, such as headaches, poor appetite or general fatigue.
- Thousands of people become unknowingly addicted to drugs and alcohol in times of severe stress. One of the hardest parts of dealing with stress is recognizing it and avoiding temptations that mask it rather than remedy it.
EditRelated wikiHows EditReferences EditQuick Summary
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| How to Look After Pets During Fireworks Posted: 04 Jul 2019 09:00 AM PDT Eighty percent of pet owners have owned a pet that is afraid of fireworks. It is one of the most common things that scare nearly all types of animals, whether they be dogs, cats, rodents, or farm animals. Taking the right precautions to help your pet feel comfortable and safe during the fireworks can reduce its anxiety and make it more comfortable around loud noises, bright lights, and strange smells. EditPreparing Ahead of Time - Know when and where fireworks will be happening. The loud noise of fireworks, the flashing lights, and the smell of sulfur are what scare pets most.[1] Contact your local municipality to find out when your area is likely to have fireworks.
- Check that your pets' ID tags and microchips are up to date. Mark the calendar when renewal payments are due and be sure to make payments on time. If your pet runs away during firework events, it's much easier to be identified as its owner through a microchip.[2]
- Mark the dates on a calendar so that you can keep track of when to ensure your pets are cared for.
- Expose your pet to loud noises and firework sounds ahead of time. Desensitization of loud noises can help to prevent your pet from getting scared during the fireworks. Play loud firework noises or loud music about a week before the fireworks are scheduled to get it used to these harsh noises.[3]
- Playing loud noises after the fireworks can help to desensitize it further, by showing it that what it just experienced is not scary.
- Turn the lights on and try to insulate the house as best you can. Keeping the lights on will calm your pet and make it feel more secure. Close the curtains in the room and, if your animal is in a cage, cover up the cage with a thick blanket, which will hide it from flashing lights and dampen loud noises. In a stable, keep the lights on and keep the doors locked, although sedatives are the best method to calm your outdoor farm animals.
- Use familiar sounds to drown out the noise of the fireworks. Classical music, the sound of rain, or the sound of the TV, are some common noises that can soothe your pet.[4]
- Find a central room away from windows to contain your pets. A room that has no windows located in the middle of your home is ideal, as it naturally dampens outside noises. It should be a room you can close off to stop your pet from running about the house and creating a mess. Make sure your outdoor animals are locked in their pen and consider moving them to a more central pen in your barn or stable to keep them away from doors and windows.
- If you have more than one pet, be sure they don't mind being confined in the same room, or select several rooms for different pets. For example, dogs and cats will usually appreciate being separated. If you must separate animals, make a second room as insulated as you can and keep the most anxious animal in the central room, and stay with and comfort the animal in the second room.
- Consider veterinary sedation for large animals or easily scared animals. Consult your vet a few weeks ahead of time to see if your dog may need a sedative during the fireworks, as some dogs are particularly noise-sensitive or anxiety-prone. Horses and farm animals that are kept outside particularly may need this to make it through without getting scared.[5]
EditComforting During Fireworks - Make the rooms your pets will be confined in feel familiar. Put down familiar, clean bedding and give them their favorite chew toys, scratch pads, balls, or other toys to keep your pets distracted.[6]
- Ensure that the room temperature is comfortable: make it warm in cold weather, or cool in hot weather.
- Provide food and water for your pet. Be sure to leave sufficient water and food for your pet in the confinement space. If your pet has access to water and its regular food, it will be calmer.
- Consider buying a special treat, such as wet food or small sausages, to make it feel more comfortable during the fireworks.
- Move your pet to the prepared room. If you're worried about not being able to find your pet, consider looking for it a few hours before the fireworks are set to start. Mealtime is a good time to round up your pets. If your dog needs a walk, be sure to walk it before confining it in the room.
- Even if your pet is caged, you should still keep it in the secure and comfortable room you've selected.
- If your pet is a horse or other farm animal, make sure it has clean bedding and is safely inside the stable or barn.
- Prepare yourself mentally and try to relax. It's possible to transfer some of your anxiety and worry to your pet, so it's important to remain calm so you don't inadvertently stress your pet out. If you've prepared properly in advance, there is no need to feel worried as you have done all you can to make the experience as easy as possible for it.
- The startled and frantic reactions of your pet can often be the source of your own anxiety. Be ready to understand its reactions and comfort it, and you will feel less worried as well.
- Stay with your pet, or at least check on it regularly. Comfort it and talk to it. Be friendly and stay happy and upbeat, as pets can read emotions better than you think. If it's not possible to stay with it—you may be at the fireworks display yourself—just make sure you do everything you can for its comfort while you are gone.
- Act slowly and cautiously when visiting your pet, as you may scare it if you open the door suddenly.
- Allow your pet to hide somewhere in the room. It's common for pets to cope with these experiences by using a "bolthole," and dragging it out of its safe space can make him much more anxious.
- Consider using lavender plants or spray for a calming scent. Gently bruise the flowers of fresh lavender, and make sure that it's out of reach of your pet, especially if you have a cat. You should use a pheromone spray designed for cats and small rodents, as these animals can be harmed by the strong fumes.
EditChecking In Afterwards - Reassure your pet and make the home normal again. Be sure that the fireworks are over before you remove sound and light dampening blankets and curtains. Let your pet have a free run of the house to see how it behaves before letting it go back outside. Put your animal's cage back in its normal place and stay with them for a few hours to see how they are coping.
- Sometimes it is best to wait until the following morning to let your pet back outdoors.
- Do a yard sweep before letting your pets back outside. Collect any sparklers, firecrackers, and other party items and broken objects. Even if you did not host a party at your house, it is still a good idea to check for litter that may have entered your yard from nearby celebrations.[7]
- Check for signs of stress in your pet. Some pets will return to normal as soon as the loud noises and flashing lights stop, but some may need special attention to feel safe again. Watch for irregular behaviour from your pet, which could be a sign that it's having a hard time re-adjusting.[8]
- In cats, signs of stress include running away, soiling the house, hiding and refusing to eat.
- In dogs, signs of stress include anxious barking, running away, soiling the house, cowering, clinging to their owner, whimpering, trembling, pacing, and refusing to eat.
- In small rodents, signs of stress include hiding, staying silent, excessive tooth grinding and acting more aggressively than usual.
- In horses and stable animals, signs of stress include soiling themselves, refusing to eat, sweating, and tooth grinding.
- If you think your pet is stressed, keep it indoors overnight. Be sure to walk a dog a while after the fireworks to allow it to re-adjust, but don't let it off its harness.
- Make your pet feel at home again and give it lots of attention. After taking down blankets, moving its cage back, and making the home feel as it did before the fireworks, you can make your pet feel much more comfortable and relaxed even if it was scared during the fireworks.
- If it seems stressed, be sure to give it lots of attention and reassure it through gentle grooming and talking in a soft voice.
- Act normally and calmly around your pet. Giving off nervous vibes will not help it feel calm and safe.
- Make sure there is nothing valuable in the room if your pet is likely to damage it when scared.
- Lock your doors and close your windows if you're not going to be home. Pets can be stolen during firework displays if they are left outside, and there is easy access to an unlocked house through dog doors and the like.
- Adding cotton wool to your dog's ears can help to muffle the sound if it will let you.[9]
- Distract your pet with a treat dispensing dog puzzle toy, or a toy filled with tasty food. Having something fun and engaging to distract it from the fireworks may help keep its mind off the stressful situation.
- Never punish a pet for its reaction to fireworks; not only is this wrong but it will reinforce his fear and anxiety.
- Do not leave your dog tethered outside as it has nowhere to go. It will find the combination of the loud noises, flashing lights, and restraint traumatic.
- Be careful about what you put in the room if you are going to be leaving your pet at home. Don't light candles or use heated oils, don't light a fireplace, and remove sharp objects from rooms he will be in.
- Never take your pets to a fireworks event.
- Never let off fireworks next to or close to your pet.
EditThings You'll Need - Food and water
- Bedding
- Toys
- Shutters, curtains, or blankets, to muffle outside noise
- TV or calming music
EditRelated wikiHows EditReferences EditQuick Summary
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| How to Make Eyebrow Tint at Home Posted: 04 Jul 2019 01:00 AM PDT If you want to dye your eyebrows but don't want to shell out cash for a professional kit, you're in luck. You have several options for making tints at home. Cocoa powder is a common ingredient for making tints, but you can also try activated charcoal or even old coffee grounds. Whatever you choose, prepare your eyebrows and then apply the tint for about 20 minutes. EditCreating Simple Mixes - Measure out aloe vera, activated charcoal, and cocoa powder. Add of aloe vera gel to a small bowl. You can use the kind from the store or from a plant you have at home. Add 1 teaspoon (2.5 g) of cocoa powder and stir it together. Pour in part of a capsule of activated charcoal. Start with 1/4 of a capsule and work your way up to your desired tint.[1]
- You can also add 3-4 drops of vitamin E oil to encourage fuller, healthier eyebrows.
- Store this tint in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. Leave this one on for 20 minutes or so.
- Use an old eye shadow and petroleum jelly for a cheap solution. Break up an old eye shadow with a toothpick or brush until it's powder. Add petroleum jelly to the powder until you have a thick gel, mixing it as you go. That's all you need to do for a simple tint![2]
- Make sure to use a dark-colored eye shadow, such as black, bronze, or brown, and pick one that matches your hair color.
- This tint should stay fresh for several months. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes before rinsing it off.
- Mix together old coffee grounds and cocoa powder for a green solution. Put 2 tablespoons (10 g) of old coffee grounds in a bowl. This measurement doesn't need to be exact. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon (2.5 g) of cocoa powder. Stir in each of coconut oil and honey. Mix it together thoroughly, then let it sit for a few minutes so the ingredients can incorporate. After that, you can apply it to your eyebrows.[3]
- You may need to heat the coconut oil for a few seconds in the microwave so it's liquid enough to pour.
- This tint won't keep very long, maybe 1 week in the fridge. You need to leave this one on for about 20 minutes.
- Make a paste with henna and lemon juice for red dye. Henna has long been used to dye skin and hair, and you can also use it to dye your eyebrows. Put a small spoonful of henna powder in a bowl, then add lemon juice a few drops at a time. Stir the mixture after you add the lemon juice, and keep adding until you get a thick paste. Put it in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.[4]
- You can also find henna that's more brownish.
- You need to leave henna on for longer than other dyes. Start with 20 minutes, but you can leave it in up to 2 hours. It will be a lot darker if you leave it in 2 hours.
EditReadying Your Brows for Tinting - Clean your eyebrows and the area around it with rubbing alcohol. Use a rubbing alcohol towelette or dip cotton balls in rubbing alcohol. Swipe it over your brows and the area nearby, being careful not to get it in your eyes. Make sure to scrub your eyebrows down well.[5]
- Brush your eyebrows with a spoolie to smooth them out. Gently run the brush from the inner edge to the outer edge, doing both eyebrows a couple of times each. You want all the hair going in the same direction so it dyes evenly.[6]
- A spoolie is the brush you find in a mascara tube, but you can also buy them separately. Make sure to use a clean spoolie.
- Create a border for your eyebrows with petroleum jelly. Basically, you want to use something oily to paint a border around your brows. That way, the stain won't seep out to other parts of your skin. Use a small, flat makeup brush to paint the lines, starting with the inner edge. Sweep out along the top of the brow, going all the way to the outer tip. Do the same on the bottom.[7]
- You can also use coconut oil or white eyeliner pencil.
EditApplying the Tint - Dab a spoolie, brush, or small applicator into the mix. A small flat brush or applicator may give you more control over the application. Dip the brush into the mixture, and wipe away some of the excess so you don't slather it all over your face.[8]
- Some professional kits come with a little wooden stick for mixing and applying, which you can also use.
- Brush the color over your eyebrows. Start at the inside corner of your eyebrow and work your way out. Use small strokes to apply the color, adding more to the applicator as needed. Try to stay between the lines of your eyebrow even if you used oil or petroleum jelly to protect the surrounding area.[9]
- Make sure to really work the dye in, coating every hair including the fine hairs along the edges.
- Use a cotton swab to clean up extra dye. If you have any dye that leaks around the edges, touch them up with a wet cotton swab. That will help keep the dye from staining your surrounding skin.[10]
- Keep the dye in place for 20 minutes or so. Homemade dyes generally don't work as fast as dye kits, so you need to let them stay on longer. Twenty minutes is usually long enough, but some dyes, like henna, may need to stay in longer.[11]
- Err on the side of caution; you can always reapply the dye if it's too light, but it's more difficult to take it off.
- Wipe away the dye with a wet cotton swab. You can also use a cotton ball, but try not to get outside the lines. Once you get most of the dye off, you can use your fingers and running water to get the rest of the dye off.[12]
- Consider plucking your eyebrows before you dye them. If you shape them afterward, you may overpluck because the hairs are easier to see.
EditReferences
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