Be aware of stress to manage it BY Christy Strawser SPECIAL TO THE Detroit FREE PRESS

Sandra Finkel has heard all the excuses for racing through life.  But she doesn’t buy them.

Finkel, who holds a master’s degree in public health and works as the manager of stress management services for the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, said one simple lesson can benefit nearly everyone: If you can’t control it, don’t get upset about it. “Shift focus, and be aware of how you’re reacting,” Finkel said. “Discern whether it is something within your control. That defuses a lot of stress.”

So, the first step toward conquering stress is awareness. Here are more tips: Set up a schedule. Create one that includes everything you need to do, but doesn’t leave time for anything unproductive. Include work, family time, whatever would lead to a more fulfilling life. Make it easier by putting weekly errands into one or two blocks of time and turning off the BlackBerry and television during set hours.

“A lot of superficial, time-wasting stuff doesn’t have room when your schedule is full of things you want to do,” Finkel said. Learn to say no. Make no excuses for being selfish with your time. Saying no to requests to organize a fund-raiser or bake five dozen cupcakes may seem selfish, but could pay off for your health.

“Stress has been shown to increase a lot of risk factors, cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation in the arteries, belly fat,” Finkel said. “What do people do behaviorally when they’re stressed? They overeat, drink or smoke.

” Quiet time. Diana Fletcher, a Pittsburgh author and life coach, advises that people spend 15 minutes a day sitting quietly. “The problem is that we never stop,” Fletcher said. “We are always so busy trying to keep up with this crazy world — but we just can’t.”

Be in the moment. Feeling scattered in different directions is one of the major reasons people feel stressed, so decide to focus on what’s in front of you. Finkel recommends meditation as a way to learn to live in the moment, which requires sitting still for a few moments and clearing your mind. Focusing on the present is an especially good tip for the legions of metro Detroiters who are out of work, Finkel said.

She said a recent study showed people experience more stress if they’re working and worried about losing their job than after they’ve been laid off, which means uncertainty is a bigger stress inducer than joblessness.

Exercise. When you feel overwhelmed, remember exercise is a wonderful stress reliever. Walking, riding a bike, swimming, dancing to the radio or skipping rope, even for just 15 minutes, releases feel-good endorphins. “It gives energy, it doesn’t sap it,” Finkel said.

Michigan Film Incentive Brings Great Opportunities as a Dynamic Event is About to Take Place!

Former Michigander, Motivational Speaker and Stress Reducing Expert, Diana Fletcher Speaks Out to Help with the Transition into an Exciting New Industry

Diana Fletcher Life Coach and Stress Reducing Expert, announces today that she will be one of the speakers at the upcoming Michigan’s Next Movie Star event on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at the Whiting in Flint, MI.

Having been born and raised in a suburb of Detroit, Dearborn Heights, Diana is excited to get back to her roots and help her former neighbors with the transition from being an auto industry based state to a movie industry based state.

The economic times have put a strain on the auto industry in Michigan and now it is time to look ahead to new opportunities, one being the incentive package made available to the film industry.

In 2008 alone, 37 movies were made bringing in approximately $120 million in revenue for the state of Michigan. Included was between $50 and $60 million paid to Michigan residents who worked on those films.

“Besides someone having a passion of working in the film industry and now having the opportunity, I think we are excited about the extra revenue the movie making industry is bringing to the state. But with change comes fear and stress,” Diana says, “and I plan on speaking at this event to help those attending overcome their feeling of fear, and help them find the joy in trying something new and exploring new careers.”

“Our hopes are that Michigan’s Next Movie Star will help catapult the interest and excitement in Michiganders, and I am here to help with the emotional transition,” says Diana.

Other speakers will include actor Dustin Diamond best known as Screech on Saved by the Bell; actor Robert Miano who has played in hundreds of films, but most recently, Fast and the Furious 4; and Joel Reisig a writer/actor/comedian/producer best known for his role in the film Fraternity House; each offering their secret tricks of the trade.

ABOUT DIANA FLETCHER: Diana is a Stress Reducing Coach, Author and Motivational Speaker and an expert at helping people reduce stress to achieve optimal health. For more information visit http://www.DianaFletcher.com.

Don’t Leave Home Without Your Tool Kit!

Here’s a quick quiz for you:

Which of the following does not belong in your life?

a. Massage
b. Dark Chocolate.
c. Long walks
d. Continuous, bad Stres

If you picked Stress, you are correct! (If you picked any of the other choices, we need to talk!)

I believe that we need an assortment of stress reducers in our lives. My current favorites are the ones I included in the quiz.

Some days, my absolute favorite stress reducer is sleep. Another day, it may be my meditation time, or yoga practice.
Another really great stress-reducer is de-cluttering…and, and…..
ok, you get the point–I have a lot of favorites.

All of these things are important because I need to take care of all the parts of me and so do you!

• You need proper nutrition, and lots of water.
• You need pampering, some self indulgence, and fun!
• You need quiet and you need exercise.
• You need time with friends, and time alone.

We cannot fit all of these in every single day.
But, it is important that every day you fit in at least one.
Everyone may have a different tool kit of stress reducing strategies,
but you should not be without a tool kit!

Decide which tools you need and don’t leave home without them!

Take Fifteen and Get Your Balance

We have children, jobs, homes and aging parents; we almost fit everything in, and then we collapse at the end of the day, too tired to take care of the most important thing there is–our own health.

We cannot escape the facts of life, but we can escape the stress for short periods of time, and short periods can rejuvenate us in amazing ways. Imagine stretching out your arms and gently pushing everything out of the way, creating space, just for you. Gently, so gently, clear the area around you and feel an oasis of calm and quiet.

This is how you will make your life easier and healthier. Without good health, we can not live the lives we are meant to live.

We all know that a massage, a yoga class, or a long walk will help us relax, unwind, and recover. But, many times, trying to schedule a class or make arrangements to have a massage becomes as much work as anything else, another thing on the to-do list.

Instead, let’s use just fifteen minutes of your day.

One of the best times to carve out fifteen minutes is in the morning. Get up before anyone else is awake, make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, and just sit. Think about your day before you get too rushed. Calmly plan your schedule. It’s quiet, it’s peaceful, and it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Lunchtime is another wonderful time for a fifteen-minute escape. Instead of engaging in the same old conversations or eating at your desk, leave work for a fifteen- minute walk. Or close your door and close your eyes for fifteen minutes. It’s amazing what fifteen minutes of quiet can do for your spirit. I urge you to give this a try.

Fifteen minutes is not a huge amount, so I know you can find it sometime during the day. Fifteen minutes, used in a quiet, peaceful way, can create powerful changes your life. So, take fifteen and get your balance!