Road Rage and Stress

INTRO

The negative impact of stress and how we in fact manage it has effects in every aspect of our daily living routines.

One such routine that we can tend to take for granted is driving. Never before has there been so many fatalities and carnage on our roads. The high level of press and media coverage appears in some cases to desensitizes us to the very real fact that some of these incidences may in fact have a link to being stressed out at the wheel.

More awareness of our personal responsibility to take this issue seriously is vital, many times over the holiday period we are told to imagine how it would be if one of our family did not come home because of a needles and senseless accident that may well of been avoided if we took a little more consideration and maturity on the roads

Road Rage

The rate of aggressive driving or "road rage" has risen by 51 percent since 1990. Road rage occurs when a driver reacts angrily toward other drivers. For example, cutting them off, tailgating, giving obscene gestures, or waving a fist. Road rage is generally caused by stress, anything from being called into the boss's office to having an argument with your significant other. Road rage is often the flash point of the accumulated stresses in one's life.

Avoid Road Rage:

Don't take traffic problems personally
Avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver
Don't make obscene gestures
Don't tailgate
Use your horn sparingly
Don't block the passing lane
Don't block the right hand turn lane

Other Tips:

Allow adequate time for your trip
Create a relaxing and comfortable environment in your car (play relaxing music.) Stay away from aggressive drivers

http://www.alecgore.com/roadrage.html

Don't be another satistic, please take a moment before driving to check in with yourself, are you stressed? Does it matter that you're five minutes late? is it better to be late that to kill another person? Simple stuff when we think of it.

If you suffer from stress please take your time to review the articles on the links page.

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Blood Pressure reduced naturally

A high-protein/high-fat diet turns the blood alkaline, which thickens it. That’s one of the primary contributing factors to high blood pressure. Apple Cider Vinegar concerts the blood acidity, thins it, lowers the blood pressure and makes circulation less of a strain.

Here’s a quick Apple Cider Vinegar plan to lower high blood pressure:

1.Increase the daily intake of acid in organic form, either as apple cider vinegar, apples, grapes, cranberries or their juices.

2.Change to a more balanced diet. Ask the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or a local dietitian for guidelines to a heart-healthy diet that’s low in fat and high in fiber. It will automatically give you an advantage in the war on high blood pressure.

3.Change from wheat products (breads, muffins, cereals) to corn, oats, rye or rice. They will assist the shift from alkalinity to acidity within you and reduce strain on your kidneys - kidney damage and eventual failure is an often overlooked complication of high blood pressure.

4.Give up salt and salty foods. This will reverse the blood’s tendency to retain so much fluid - a prime cause of hypertension.

Setting Boundares and Saying NO

We are constantly bombarded daily with requests for our time. While helping others can be very rewarding, at the same time we can feel distraught about constantly obligating ourselves to others while not fulfilling our own needs. We can feel distressed about constant commitments to do things we simply don’t have the time, energy or desire to do.

At times, we may immediately feel the urge to say no, but instead lose our nerve. the question is why?

Is it because:
You fear you won’t be liked or feel a strong need to please everyone
You have to always keep the calendar full so you feel needed and important
You undervalue the need for down time and forget simply not wanting to do anything is a legitimate reason to say no or you would rather not deal with the consequences of saying no and all the feelings that come with it.

Setting boundaries and saying no is taking personal responsibility for your well-being. This requires you to clearly speak up, and specifically ask for what you want. Your decision to say no to requests from family, friends, and co-workers doesn’t have to be filled with feelings of uneasiness and guilt. It fact, it’s important you remember the decision to say no is strictly a personal choice – yours!

Whether at work, with family, or friends, you can say no with diplomacy, tact, and respect. Here are some ways you can take charge and assert your right to say no.

Be sure you have all the facts
Before making a commitment, be sure you have a complete understanding of exactly what’s being asked of you. You may feel confused because you just don’t have enough information to make a decision. You have the right to ask as many questions as necessary.

Ask yourself “Is this a unreasonable request?”
When someone makes a request, he or she is usually tuned into “WIIFM” (What’s In It For Me). People are not necessarily concerned with whether or not a request is in your best interest. If you feel hesitant, trapped or otherwise uncomfortable – go with your gut and say no. These uneasy feelings probably indicate saying yes isn’t best.

Take Your Time
There is no law that says you have to immediately obligate yourself to someone when asked. Take your time before you make a final decision. Simply say “I need time to think about this. I’ll get back to you.”

Set goals
Setting your goals will make it easier to say no. Establishing priorities makes it easy to decide how much time you can devote to others without sacrificing your own needs. You will be more comfortable declining requests that conflict with your priorities.

Speak up - without excuses or apologies
When you have all the facts and decide say no, say no calmly and firmly. An assertive tone of voice, body language, and eye contact lets others know you are serious and definite in your decision.

Don’t be meek.
Say no directly without excuses. Excuses make you appear as if you aren’t in control of your decisions. If you say “I’m sorry but…” this only weakens your stand. If you have decided saying yes is not in your best interest, no apology is necessary.

What if they won’t take no for an answer?
If someone won’t take no for an answer, repeat your position. Maintain your stand and don’t allow yourself to be manipulated or strong armed. No means no and you have the right to stand by your choice.

Feel good about your decision to say no
Feel calm, confident, and comfortable with your decision to say no. Be secure knowing it’s enough to say no simply because you just don’t want to.
Remember, learn how to say no is a win-win situation for everyone.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IN CONFIDENCE OR TAKE YOUR TIME AND GO THROUGHT THE RELATED ARTICLES AND LINKS ON THE LEFT OF THIS PAGE.

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