21st June 05
Time Saving Stress Busters For The Shortest Day Of The Year

In This Month's Newsletter
Thought For The Day
Did You Know?
30-Second Stress Buster
News And Offers

Thought For The Day
"Nothing saves time like putting off to tomorrow what you ought to do today."

Did You Know?

• That Tuesday 21st June is the shortest day in the year for those of us living in the southern hemisphere?
• The scientific explanation is that winter solstice is when, because of the earth's tilt, your hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun, and therefore: the daylight is the shortest, and the sun has its lowest arc in the sky.
• This day has been important to mankind for thousands of years. Traditionally the fear was that the daylight wouldn't get longer without rituals and ceremonies to see the change in. In the northern hemisphere many of the old ceremonies have been absorbed into the Christmas and winter traditions. In Romania they mark the day with apple wassailing. In Iran, there is the observance of Yalda, in which families keep vigil through the night and fires burn brightly to help the sun (and Goodness) battle darkness (i.e. evil). Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights occurs around this time every year too. It begins on the 25th of Kislev, three days before the new moon closest to the Winter Solstice, and although it commemorates an historic event it is also a symbolic celebration of growing light. In many cultures it is considered bad luck for the year ahead to let the candles or fire go out around this time. So keep that fire burning at home!

The ancient Vedas had an interesting way of looking at time. They noticed that animals with a fast heartbeat (such as birds, mice, and rabbits) lived hectic lives in just one or two years, whereas beasts with slow heartbeats such as elephants, pythons and turtles lived many long and fulfilled years. They developed a theory that a normal human life has a certain number of heartbeats, and so by slowing the heartbeat, we extend our lifespan. The bonus is that we are also more able to then live our lives more fully.

It is an interesting concept that as you rush round trying to do things faster and faster you succeed in speeding up time, and so have less and less time left to do things. However, if you slow down, and effectively slow time down, it seems easier to fit everything in.

One of the keys to managing time-pressure-stress is to actually take time out: take 30 seconds before you start work first thing in the morning, and again after lunch. Slow your heart rate by slowing your breath. Try this time expanding exercise, it will only take 30-seconds but it will feel like a lifetime...

If you have attended one of our seminars before you will be familiar with the first part of this exercise. There is a second stage to try if you feel comfortable. You can return to normal breathing at any stage during the exercise if you wish.

• Start by finding out what your natural breath rate is by closing your eyes and counting the length of the inhale and then the length of the exhale for a few breaths. Do this for a few rounds until you have settled on a ratio. For example it may be a count of 3 on the inhalation and a count of 4 on the exhalation.
• On the next exhalation: see if you can extend the length and add another count.
• Inhale normally
• On the next exhalation: see if you can add another count again.
• Inhale normally
• Keep squeezing more and more breath out on each exhale by adding another count, until you reach a level where you feel comfortable and don't want to squeeze any more air out.
• Now, exhaling to your maximum count number, pause at the end of it, with no breath in your lungs, for a count of one.
• Inhale normally
• Exhale again for the maximum count number, and then see if you can add yet another count to the pause.
• After each exhale keep extending the pause, or maintain it, for a couple more breaths.
• Return to normal breathing, still with your eyes closed and notice how much slower your breath and heart rate are.
• Notice how much time seemed to expand during that exercise. See if you can carry this perspective on time through out your day today.
  
  
• For more 30-second stress buster exercises that you can do at your desk, see our archived newsletters on our website www.zenatwork.com.au

• In the press: Readers of 'The Australian' today will have seen Zen At Work quoted in the centre page pull out of the business section. Stress in the workplace is a hot issue and one that the government is trying to get companies to focus on through tax incentives. Grab a copy of the paper today or ask us for more details. If you are interested in seeing other comments in the press by Zen At Work please follow this link to the relevant page on our website www.zenatwork.com.au
• Eating for health offer: Attendees at our recent health seminars sponsored by MBF at IAG, CSC and Crown Casino have been, and will be, benefiting from talks by leading nutritionists such as Dr Ian Gilmore (nutritionist for the AFL Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs) and Kathleen Alleaume (nutritionist for The Hyde Park Club in Sydney). What we eat, and the way we eat has a big impact on our health and stress levels. For the month of July, any individuals booking nutritionist consultations through us will be able to enter a free draw to receive a delicious box of organic fruit and vegetables delivered to their work or home address. Call or email us for more details.
• Stress travels: One of the reasons this month's issue is slightly earlier than normal (apart from the fact that time is elastic!) is that Anne will be overseas, billed as the international speaker at the TUANZ conference in Auckland later this week. For more details visit the website www.tuanz.org.nz.
• Our services expand: As our network of practitioners grows so do our services. Our stress management education programmes now include seminars, workshops, and conferences where our speakers can cover topics including 'How to manage stress in the workplace', 'Using laughter to manage stress', and 'Eating to reduce stress'. Of course we still have coaches on hand to help individuals work through personal stress issues too. Our stress relief services now cover all types of massage including Indian Head Massage, as well as the more traditional Swedish and Remedial methods. Our classes now also include martial arts such as Kung Fu as well as Aikido and Tai Chi. Naturally, we still have yoga, pilates and meditation teachers available too.

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