You can go to faraway places with white sandy beaches and clear
azure skies in the blink of an eye. You can go back in time to
the days of prehistoric monsters or you forward to the world of
tomorrow. You can even fill your eyes with tears one moment and
laugh out loud the next.
Reading a book is one of the best ways to reduce your stress
level and can even help you solve whatever problem is ailing
you. Reading a good novel or story will open a window to the
world and give you a vision of things you never dreamed possible.
Reading is the great escape and it also works well as a way to
relax. When you curl up with a good book, you put the rest of
the world and all its troubles out of your mind as you are taken
to distant places to learn about different time periods, and to
expose yourself to new ideas and philosophies. You are
essentially taking a vacation of the mind -- but one that can be
virtually cost-free, especially if you live near a library.
Of course, reading is also a great way to reduce stress by
gaining the knowledge you need to solve problems. For example,
let's say you're overweight and this is causing you stress. You
find that the more weight you gain, the more stressed you
become, which just causes you to eat more. Instead of getting
stressed out, why not read a good book about nutrition that will
teach you how to plan meals better, so they're low-cal and
low-fat. This could very well result in reducing your weight
problem and it could even disappear altogether along with the
stress that is bringing you down.
Reading can also be a source of great hope, giving you ideas and
inspiration that will relieve your stress. Biographies and
rags-to-riches stories about famous people will teach how they
overcame their struggles. These stories of triumph might even
inspire you to seek ways to overcome the challenges in your
life.
Of course, there are also times when reading can increase your
stress level. For instance, if you are studying for a test, or
reading about tragedies in your local newspaper, you might find
your stress levels skyrocketing. That's why it's important to
choose your reading material carefully. If you're feeling
stressed, why not pick up a book that will relax you. A good
travel book, or cookbook, or book of poetry are far better
choices than news magazines filled with stories about all the
things that are wrong in the world.
Self-help books are also a very effective way to help reduce
stress. They encourage you to explore your feelings and they
recommend such techniques as listening to soothing music,
learning how to play a musical instrument, or just engaging in
deep breathing in order to deal with stressful situations.
One of the best stress reliever is reading a good novel. It's
the best medicine there is without the side effects of drugs.
When you read a good story, whether it be a historical fiction
or a mystery thriller or a comic novel, it almost always
transports you away from anxieties and frustrations. It allows
your imagination to run free and then leaves you feeling
refreshed and invigorated. When you are reading it forces you to
concentrate, to exercise your mind in a way that passively
watching TV or a movie can never match.
In the long run, it doesn't matter what you read but how much
you read. Try reading while standing in the grocery line, or at
the bank, or while pedaling your stationary bike. The more you
read, the more you will want to read because you will quickly
discover its short and long term stress reducing benefits.
About the author:
Abbas Abedi CHt If you are interested in natural techniques to
reduce stress and anxiety in your life today, then sign up for
my free eCourse titled, "4 Days to Break Free from a Stressful
Lifestyle" at
http://www.instantstressmanagement.com>Instant Stress
Management
