Taking a bit of a breath...

My Mac crashed.
Died.
and got infected with a zombie virus. Which means, it's alive again, but .... scarily.

I lost about 15 pages of an upcoming novel, and I was pretty heart broken. So, I need to take a bit of a breather, and get caught up again.

In the meantime, feel free to backtrack to any posts for your needed Stress Relief or Mad Money advice and my books are always available for you.

If stalking is more your style, here are my other connection pages:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

LinkedIn

Or shoot me a note if you need anything.
xoxo

Stress-Free Friday Freebie

Happy Stress-Free Friday!
Today is a freebie day. Six stress reduction approaches that are easy to learn, simple to use and powerful in their effect.
They'll help you get back in control of your life, and you don't even have to buy my book.

1. Schedule Time Every Day To Center Yourself: A few times a day, stop and take a moment to gather yourself. There are many approaches for this. Here you become still, focus on your breathing, relax your muscles, and manage your mind. This gives you a centered, calm focus for your next activity.

2. Focus On Your Breath: When I used to coach volleyball (and swimming - especially) the first area I work on is their breath control. Notice your breathing, are you breathing shallow? Deepen it up.

3. Know What You Can Control: Make a list of those things you can control, those things partially in your control, and those things out of your control. As you go through your day, let go of those things that you have no control over.


4. Develop The Gratitude Attitude: What are you thankful for? Everyone has people and activities in their life that are good, beautiful, and valuable. Every day make note of this and be thankful.

5. Hit The Reset Button: Just as your computer needs to be rebooted often, your brain needs a reboot. Hit the reset button daily or you will gum up your mental RAM. Take a break, change activities, be with loved ones, or do nothing but meditate. Clear out the junk in your mind, so you can come back refreshed.

6. Start Your Day With Quiet: Clear your mind, quiet your emotions, and let your muscles relax. There is nothing better in the morning but quiet silence, coffee and a few songs from the birds.

The prime concept in stress reduction is to know what you can control, and what you cannot. With the help of a stress management specialist (THAT'S ME!) you can learn a wide array of stress reduction strategies that can help you feel more in control of what happens to you.

Reclaim the power in your life. Contact me for more information on how reducing your stress can improve your life, or check out the books for sale in my shop.

And HAVE A FANTASTIC FRIDAY AND A GREAT WEEKEND!

People are Amazing.

People are amazing.
Amazing in the beautiful artistic way,



Amazing in the creative, imaginative way,



Amazing in the 'crazy new-age Woodstock Festival, Dr Seuss in the Desert' kind of way.



And resilient.

People are very very amazing in the resilient kind of way.
Like these people...

and you.

You are resilient.

You are amazingly, creatively, deliciously resilient.
...and if you aren't.... it's just because you haven't had an opportunity to stretch your resilient muscles. It's because, maybe, you forgot. Don't worry, I'm here to remind you.

Consider this your reminder.

No Clutter, No Stress, No Problem

CLUTTER:
Most people have a little here and there. But, unfortunately, there is a large percentage of people who avoid going home because of it. In a world where you experience plenty of stress from jobs, relationships, finances, fear, etc, why put another undue burden upon yourself?

When you come home from working in the scary world 'out there' you should enter a refuge, somewhere which is safe from the demands outside. (This goes back to our reptilian brain of being chased by tigers and seeking refuge in our cave. For a shameless plug and more on the chasing tigers of stress, check out my book *HERE*)

Don't come home to a place which causes you additional stress!

Just sitting in a cluttered room can create stress in two ways. First, in cerebral terms, too much information for the eye to process is stressful on the brain. Second, in practical terms, it is a visual reminder of how much work you have to do to get your house clean.

Living in a cluttered or messy home can create a constant low-grade stress and subtly put a drain on your energy. Speaking of energy, the 3000 year old Chinese practice of Feng Shui specifically addresses the issue of energy in the home. *Click Here* For more basic information on Feng Shui and Stress Relief. Or just 'Google it' and get lost in the land of inter-webbing.

Any way you cut it, the conclusion is the same: MESS MEANS STRESS!

My good friend Nye (who does amazing things with computers: **Click here** and inspired me this week) recently posted up that he was going to stay 'decluttered' for 2012. And instead of just proclaiming it, he found an awesome calendar which addressed an area of clutter for every single day of the year. (Check it out here)

I think it is pretty ingenious.

De-Cluttering doesn't have to be difficult, expensive (you don't need those 50 clear plastic tubs), or time consuming. Just a few minutes a day will, over time, save your sanity and your stress level.

2012 = The end of the world, Zombies and Never Giving Up.

Soooooo...... Happy 2012 to everyone.

Is it the end of the world yet?
(Click here if video doesn't load)



According to the video, it doesn't look like it (although I question what kind of Kool-Aid the guy was drinking when he made the video).

But.... either way, you should be prepared for a Zombie Apocolpse.... just in case.
(I want this... **click** for uhm, disaster preparedness (I wear size medium).... consider it a birthday present.)

Zombies are rascally little critters. Kind of like depression.
Depression is rascally...
...and will eat your brain.
Like a zombie.
Depression = Zombie

Recently, Jenny Lawson, a woman who I admire (not just for her writing, but also for her humor) 'came out' so to speak, about her secret battle with depression and self-harm.

Read it here: The Fight Goes on.

Since she has posted, she has received thousands of comments and messages in support of her, her battle and her bravery. She had letters come in from family members of people who suffer from depression and even a woman who was going to commit suicide and decided against it because of her bravery in her post. *Read Here* Not just bravery, but also her strength in NEVER GIVING UP.

Since then, she has started the Silver Ribbon Project.
Twitter has exploded with the hashtag #silverribbon
You can support all those who fight in silence by wearing, *painting*, pinning or gluing a silver ribbon to yourself.... and we will know.
(You can also go *here* or *here* to buy one and support the Traveling Red Dress Project).

Until then:
Be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle....
...... especially against Zombies.

The end of Gluttony

It's Money Monday, and also the day after Christmas.
The day after a gluttonous day of spending. Spending on presents, spending time with family and friends and spending many hours lifting a fork into your mouth eating delicious food (which you probably wouldn't normally eat the rest of the year - like cookies. I love cookies).

It seems as though the holidays have become an excuse for gluttony. Although, my hope and wish for you is that you planned, did a budget, stuck to your diet, and spent the proper amount of time with your friends and family.
BUT--->>
If you didn't do things how you wanted, you can always start NOW!
Don't wait until New Years, get a head start on the wagon today!

If you blew your budget for Christmas, (or maybe didn't even set one, but now are looking at January 1 with horror and dread) I recommend this:

With perfect tips, tricks and a step by step budget guide, it is the perfect way to get your finances in order for 2012. (And it is #25 on Amazon's best seller list for Budgeting and Personal Finance!)

Click around for more tips and tricks on recovery from:
Gluttony (get a bit more balance)
Money Management (budget)
Stress (Life doesn't have to be difficult)
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
Diet
Exercise
and...
A video to make you laugh....
cute kitteh's for fun... 'cuz cute kittehs dancing to Michael Jackson makes everyone happy.

Stress-Free Stimulation

I have found one of the things in my life which stress me out is overstimulation. It could be clutter in a room or cubicule I am trying to work in, it could be a messy house, it could be a tv which is up to loud in the background, and don't even get me started on the christmas jingles and mall noise which seems to be overtaking the season like a pack of Christmas-infected rabid santa-zombies.

But then... then I read this article on Huffington Post (Here), and started to question... was my stress really stress, or was it anxiety? Was it a physical response, or was it my OCD/PTSD getting a bit out of control? Then I thought.... if I was a Zebra, would I have an ulcer??

The answer...
No.

No, my life is not in danger if the room is a mess and there is obnoxious music playing. No my life is not in danger when the dishes aren't done and everything isn't 'in it's place'. It is a psychological fear reaction which is happening deep in the neurocortex's of my brain.

But, I sure as hell am a lot happier when things are clean and calm and tidy. And, when I am happy, I am less likely to stab someone. So, as a Christmas present to you, I will be staying out of the malls for the next three weeks. Consider yourself safe.
Happy Holidays/Yule/Kwanza/Ramadan/PickYourPoison.

p.s. For more tips on how to stay Stress-Free this season, check out my new books which are now available in paperback. Available now in my shop, or on Amazon.com.

So, I should probably post something useful.

Since it is Stress-Free Friday and all, I should probably post something up that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. Considering the sky continues to get a little bit more grey and the air is so cold it's snapping at you saying 'nuh uh sista-friend, you get your butt back inside and put on a coat!'.

It's been a busy week and it doesn't seem to be letting up now since Holiday season is in full swing. Hustle, bustle, go here, go there, eat this, drink this, meet this person (be nice and shake hands), and don't forget to buy that gift. It is no wonder that people are starting to catch the cold/flu that is going around. Here are some tips to hopefully keep you healthy during all this hustle and bustle.

WASH YOUR FRICKIN HANDS!
Use hot hot water, soap and then dry your hands with a disposable paper towel (cloth dish towels are just little germ houses, multiplying like gremlins sprinkled in water after midnight). By the way, it might not be a bad idea to pocket a little travel sized bottle of hand sanitizer. I love that stuff. and one more thing... QUIT TOUCHING YOUR FACE!

GET SOME R&R!
Fact: Emotional stress weakens the immune system.If you are overly stressed for a long period of time, you are at a much greater risk of getting sick. So, sleep a little bit longer today, go to bed a little bit earlier. Put some lavender oil on your shoulders and neck and just chill out!

DRINK LIKE A FISH AND SWEAT LIKE A PIG
Have you ever seen a fish sneeze? Yeah, my point exactly. Drink plenty of water (or non-caffinated, healthy-for-you type of drink-stuffs). The liquids help flush toxins out of your body. The other thing that helps flush bad germs out.... sweating. So, figure out how you are going to do that. Exercise, sauna, sexy-times, whatever it is - and get sweating!
I know that 24-Hour Fitness is offering a great deal right now. Get in before the New Year when prices go up!

For more tips on how to keep well this winter, click HERE.

For more info on reducing stress, clickity clack HERE.

For something Random and Awesome which has nothing to do with stress or colds but will make you feel good when you see it, click here.

Welcome to Stress-Free Friday!

Today, I'm starting a new weekly column:
Stress-Free Friday

I thought about this while laying in bed this morning because of the Holiday season. Last night I drove around for almost 30 minutes looking for a parking spot to go to the movie. By about 25 minutes into looking, I was spitting and cursing and grumbling. It was very festive.

Little did I know that 'Santa's Workshop' opened last night and there were people waiting in a line that went over 2 blocks long to see Santa. I was defeated by damn Santa and his workshop.

The Holiday season is a season of heightened emotions, heightened expectations, and heightened pressures from family and friends to go here, do this, come to this party, eat this, drink this and from retailers the ever present 'buy this' jingle. It is the perfect storm for stress-inducing events. Here are a few tips which might help you make it through the holi-daze just a little bit more sanely.

Be Realistic! The holidays don't have to be perfect, or just like last year. People change and grow, the holiday celebrations will too! Remain open to trying new things, new rituals or even new ways of gathering together with family. Last year I spent Thanksgiving with my sister via video Skype. It can be done! Sometimes you just have to get a little creative.

Do (and stick to) a budget! Don't add to the stress of the Holidays by running out of money. By doing a simple budget and sticking to it, it will save a lot of heartache come January 1st when Rent/Mortgage is due. For more help on budgeting, please check out my book HERE which will guide you through the process.

Finally - and most importantly - Do something nice for yourself!
In this season of 'giving' we can sometimes give so much it leaves us exhausted and emotionally empty. Be sure this year you schedule something nice for yourself, it doesn't have to be expensive (although I would recommend AGAINST an edible 'treat'). Pedicures can be enjoyed by men and women alike and only cost around $20. Aromatherapy and spending 30 minutes in a dry-sauna (available at most salons/spa's for an hourly rate of between $10-$30) will do wonders for your mental and physical health and well-being.

For more in-depth ways to reduce your stress on a daily basis, please do not hesitate to reference my book on Overcoming Stress.

A Tasty Nugglet

An excerpt from my SOON-TO-BE-IN-PAPERBACK-PRE-ORDER-YOURS-TODAY book:
How to Overcome Stress.

"There is a billion-dollar industry flourishing on this ‘Stress-Monster’. Our friendly night-stalking-ninja-boogyman is the number one industry in the civilized world. It is the cause of 70-90% of all doctor’s visits, and costs Great Britain alone over $600 million dollars last year, in the USA, over $300 BILLION! From anti-anxiety medication, accidents to just plain ol’ lethargy, Stress SUCKS!

How many times have you woke up with a migraine and called in sick to work? Do you have early symptoms of diabetes, ulcers or high blood pressure? Acne, weight gain or loss? Inability to concentrate, memory loss? How many weekends have you spent watching movies, reading books, surfing the net or playing video games just to escape? Everyone at one time or another has had a sign or symptom of being stressed. No wonder the word ‘stress’ is overused enough to make me barf.

Remember that ‘self-help’ buffet at Barnes & Noble? Amazon alone lists over 5,000 books for you to choose from just to ‘manage’ your stress. I have probably read half of those books and I find them uuuuber dry, boring and absolutely chock full of great information that I never used. Assuming you have figured out that the physical ailments you are suffering from are actually from stress, are you actually going to go to that 5am yoga class and chant ‘OOOHHHHMMMMMM’ for an hour?

Maybe.

But, I doubt it.

What other crazy non-practical stress reduction therapies have you tried?

Just take a minute and think about it.

Now, add it up.

Wouldn’t you like to save money, feel better, be more productive, and *GASP* actually be happy? Oh yes, it’s true, it can happen, and for the one time investment of just $99.99 in ten easy installments sent directly to my paypal account... I will send you the magic pill..... oh wait...wrong infomercial.

Seriously though. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no magic pill, no running, and no hiding. Stress is a multi-headed monster even Jason and the Argonauts couldn’t slay. It is just the natural result of being alive and coming into contact with other living beings. Congratulations! You are alive.

But now what?"

***************

and now... for an excellent review:
"Ms. Jones tackles these topics with a light touch using her smart and witty sense of humor, making it a very friendly and easy to understand book. She writes like she is a good friend giving you a piece of advice over coffee. This is an easy to digest book that is chock-full of excellent tactics, ideas, and strategies to live a life with less stress."

Get your copy today!

The very best of....

I was thinking today about how there are some blog posts I've written that have gotten buried. They have been funny, informative, inspirational or whatever. Perhaps it was my own desire to read the brilliance that has poured forth from my brain, or perhaps I was just reminiscing. Either way, I wanted to put together an all time 'best of' blog post page.
These are some of my very favorites, Enjoy.

Best Transportation Adventure

Best Self Observation

Best Zombie vs Vampire war

Best Dirty Post

Best Rant

Best 'Out of the Office'

Best Secret

Best ever

Don't forget to check out my new pages!

I love Birthdays, especially when they ....

Birthdays are a funny thing, they are inevitable (the alternative is not better), they are funny (hallmark has made a mint), and they can be the source of amazing memories.

Personally, I really love celebrating birthdays. I think that they are the perfect excuse to do those things in which you might not have otherwise done. Perhaps that one reason that gets you off the couch to experience something new (and we all know how much I love to do that!).

I think my love of birthdays started when I was a kid. I never had a lavish birthday party myself (my birthday is close to Christmas, so many times I got the 'combo' gift), but I did witness something particularly spectacular. I watched as my mother threw my father a surprise birthday party (with 30+ guests) 5 years in a row. Each year, he was shocked, and each year my mother's plans were elaborate and yet, exactly the same. It was glorious to see the look of shock on his face, and my mom beaming with pride that she pulled off yet another surprise.

As I grew into an adult, I have experienced some amazing birthdays that I will remember forever. A 2-day private soiree/dance/swim/hot tub/snuggly/movie event for 50+ people for my friend ZigZag's birthday.

My grandfather just got back from Havana Cuba where he celebrated his 80th Birthday. This guy is my hero, he has more stamps in his passport than anyone I have ever seen. It is especially amazing when you think about the fact that he was born during the Great Depression (when Herbert Hoover was in office), Gandhi was alive (and marching), Pluto was JUST discovered and Constantinople Turkey was renamed to Istanbul. WOW! (Btw - the pictures he brought back are AMAZING and I want to go SO BAD now!)

Personally, I think my favorite birthday so far was the one I celebrated last year in Mexico. It was me and six of my friends on a beach in Playa de Burros in the southern part of Baja California. We had fireworks, music and dancing on the beach, bioluminescent water, homemade spaghetti and magic spaceships. It was the BEST EVER!

Anyway, the reason I brought this up is that on Saturday, I hosted a birthday night for my friend Endi. First, Endi is an amazing woman. She dances, she sings, she makes crafty costumes and hair thingy's and she has been my friend for a very long time, and she deserved an amazing birthday. Her birthday also coincided with Seacompression. So, she came to Seattle, got dressed up, and off we went. We danced until our feet were sore, came home to a warm snuggly bed, got footrubs and slept for all of about an hour before she was off to her next birthday event.

Happy Birthday Endi!

And for you, whether you celebrate or not, I hope you make this year the best year ever, no matter what your age, or when your birthday is. Start celebrating now!

You might be Stressed if:

Stress is a killer. A little ninja night stalking boogyman that can hit us when we least expect it. Even the signs and symptoms can be so small, we may mistake them for other ailments, or brush them off with something to the effect of: 'oh, I just didn't get enough sleep'.

But the fact remains, over $300 Billion dollars are spent every year to 'combat' the effects of stress. From anti-anxiety medication to accidents to plain ol' lethargy, stress sucks!

Are you Stressed?

Here are some signs and symptoms that you are suffering from chronic stress:
*Chronic Headaches
*Muscle tension/pain
*Exhaustion
*Sleep difficulties (insomnia/oversleeping)
*Anxiety
*Restlessness
*Irritability
*Depression

What do you do?

First - Take a breath.
Inhale deep, hold it and exhale slowly.

Second - Buy my book. (HERE)

Third - Kick back in the sunshine with a glass of lemonade and enjoy the summer.