Quick and Easy Stress Busters for 10 Most Common Stressors

1) If you're frequently late ...

Use simple time management principles that include identifying your priorities and either delegating or removing unimportant or unnecessary tasks. Map out your day, task by task, setting aside time for things that often take up a lot of time, but few people think to schedule time for, such as returning phone calls or responding to emails. If no matter how hard you try, you always seem to be late, then you're not giving yourself enough time, so schedule yourself an extra 15 minutes to get to your destination and remove that constantly rushed feeling from your life.

2) If you often feel angry or irritated ...

Reframe the situation. Before you react, ask yourself if you're magnifying a problem, leaping to conclusions, or using emotional reasoning. Take a moment to stop, breathe, reflect, and choose a positive and productive course of action instead of an impulsive, angry one that in the long run will probably add even more stress to your life.

3) If you're unsure of your ability to do something ...

Ask for help. The strongest people ask for help when they need it, so why go it alone? If the problem is work-related, talk to a trusted co-worker, an understanding boss, or a close friend. In some situations, you can call the local library, read books, listen to CDs, or contact an organization that may be able to provide you with the information you need. You can also use these same resources to learn relaxation techniques.

4) If you're overextended ...

Bring in reinforcements. Hire household help. Have a family meeting to consider who can pick up some of the responsibilities that have somehow fallen on your shoulders. Ask your boss to give you some additional support until you get out of the weeds. Shop online to save time. Take a hard look at your activities and decide what is essential and what can take a back seat for now.

5) If you feel like you don't have time for stress relief ...

Use mini-stress relievers, like opening a window and breathing in fresh air, taking a quick walk in the sunshine, or deep breathing at your desk. Find a few minutes each day to slow down and pay attention to one thing that you find relaxing and calming.

6) If you feel tense ...

Try the mini-stress relievers above, or a little exercise to relieve the tension, such as a brisk walk, a quick run, a sprint up and down the stairs, or arm curls while you wait at traffic lights.

7) If you frequently feel pessimistic ...

Reframe negatives into positives. Remember that the benefits of optimism are a happier life and better health. Laugh as often as possible. Watch or read comedies. Make a list of things you're grateful to have.

8) If you find yourself frequently feeling upset by conflicts with others ...

Make your needs or distress known directly, avoiding “you always” and “you never.” Good templates to use are: “I feel _____ when you _____” and “I would really appreciate it if you could _____.”  

9) If you feel worn out or burned out ...

Nurture yourself. Recovery from burnout requires more than the mini stress relievers discussed so far. To deal with burnout, you really need to make time in your schedule to relax and find avenues to escape stress as much as possible. You also have to eat healthy, get enough rest, and replenish your mind and body. And if you're not feeling relief after a reasonable period of time, don't hesitate to seek professional help.

10) If you feel lonely ...

Connect with others as much as possible, even if these are little connections. Begin by having brief conversations with neighbors or with people waiting in line at the store. Talk to colleagues. Volunteer. Join a group. Get together with a friend for coffee, lunch, or dinner. Reconnect with family or friends you may have lost touch with over the years. Take a class that interests you. The world's pleasures as well as burdens are better when they're shared.


Source: Harvard Medical School Healthbeat, "10 Simple Steps to Help De-Stress (April 24th, 2012).© 2012 Sherrie Bourg Carter, All Rights Reserved
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201204/quick-and-easy-stress-busters-10-the-most-common-stressors

Nail Art - Flowers

As the post title says. Excuse the jagged edges.

Tayyab's Review

We went down here on a Monday afternoon. Thankfully there were no queues and we were taken straight to be seated. Poppadoms, salad and 3 house chutneys – mango, sweet  chilli and mint were placed within seconds.

We decided to go for the chicken tikka for starters. This was cooked and seasoned really well and came on a bed of delicious roasted onions. When the waiter came to collect any empty dish there were still onions in it and we did not wish to see them go to waste, the waiter gladly held on while we placed the delicious onions on our plates before taking away.

For mains there was chana masala and ghosht with tandoori roti and 1 keema nan. Both curries were delicious! The masala and flavours all went well and the gravy was lovely and thick. Perfect with the roti. The keema naan did not deliver… it was your average keema naan, meat placed in between the bread and then cooked instead of cooking the meat beforehand so that it is tender rather than a thin patty.

We ordered a jugof mango lassi too which Tayyab’s is famous for. It lived up to the hype!! It was cool, refreshing, not too thick, sweet and full of flavour. We shared a jug between two which was far too much for 2 people but, of course, being delicious was finished!

Overall, I would recommend Tayyabs and would visit again if the opportunity arises.
Rating = 8/10.

Mango Lassi, chutnies, salad and chana masala at far back.

Tandoori roti at front lamb curry on right, chana masala top right.

New Look Accessories Haul

Salaams,
As New Look was having a BOGOF sale on jewelery and hair accessories over the weekend, I bought these bracelets and bobby pins.

Clockwise from left: Coral/dusky pink and gold bangles with a tassel; Nude and gold beaded bracelets with a chiffon type material bow; Purple and gold beaded bracelets with bow; Coral and gold beaded bracelets with bow.

From left: Pack 1: Gold 'sun' pin with diamantes and small pearl; Ivory carved rose; Gold bird; Large pearl with diamantes, Pack 2: Coral and diamante stone pins x 2.

5 Things you must never say aloud

Asalaamu alaykum,

The post title comes from an article in Psychology Today and is written by Jen Kim.

It is about the effect of negative messages we tell ourselves such as "I can't do this", "I'm too this or too that" and suggests that  there is validity behind self-fulfilling prophecies.

Here are five things you must never say aloud:

1.    I can't do this.  Even if this is true, even if you are 100 percent positive you can't do something, do not say it aloud, and certainly, not around others. You have the choice not to do it if you don't want to, but do not announce your limitations. Keep it to yourself. Let your brain mull it over and work out the impossible details. The problem with declaring a barrier, is that once you say it, something in your head clicks, and you begin to tell yourself that you really can't do it and that you shouldn't even try. You've walked away from a door of opportunity without checking to see if it was unlocked.

2.    Why does she get it and I don't?   Once you start asking God, why it is that Marsha seems to have a charmed life, while you are relegated to Cousin Oliver status, it's over. Resentment fills up your heart and a little part of you gives up-- chalking it up to, "Well, life's not fair anyway.... so why should I even try?" With Facebook and other vanity social media sites, it's difficult not to believe that every person in your social circle has a more exciting life than you. If these websites make you jealous or feel sad, then get off of them. Don't make yourself suffer because of an unattainable photo-shopped picture you saw in a friend's virtual newsfeed.

3.    I'm fat, I'm ugly, I'm stupid, etc. We all think these terrible thoughts once in a while. That's fine. We can't really suddenly rewire our brain after society's lifetime of negative inculcation. But we can minimize the damage we inflict upon ourselves by not voicing these anathemas aloud. When I say "I'm fat," I immediately become fat and insecure. I look for compliments or an ego-boost from the person I am talking to... but if she does say, "No, you look amazing", I assume she is lying and is just trying to be nice or she feels guilted into it. What is the point of this dialogue exactly? I never feel skinny afterwards, anyway. The more effective thing to do-- than to carp on about your flaws-- is to fix them. If you feel fat, develop an exercise routine and make an effort to lose weight or whatever. If you feel ugly, then start watching YouTube videos on how to apply makeup correctly or build your confidence through other means (beauty, is, after all, confidence). If you are convinced you are dumb as rocks, learn something. Go to the library, take a course, inject some kind of knowledge serum into your brain. In other words, make an effort to change how you feel, so you will no longer say that you are fat, ugly, stupid, etc.

4.    You're better than me. Sorry, no one is better than you. They are just better at executing their goals. We say,"...but you're better than me" to shirk responsibility, so we don't have to commit to doing our best or seek to reach excellence. After all, if another person is better than us, then we don't have to try as hard, since we wont be as good as him anyway. We think, "What's the point?" Lame example, but look at Steve Jobs. Had he adopted the Microsoft-is-better-than-me mentality, I would not be writing on this Mac. You would not be reading this on your iPhone, iPad, or Macbook Pro. Obviously, we are not all destined to become the next Steve Jobs in our careers, but some of us are. Why can't it be you?

5.    I'll do it later. Later could be never. Tabling a task until this ambiguous "later" is essentially predicting the task's funeral. Don't put off later what you can accomplish now. We all have busy schedules, families, significant others, and friends to entertain, but life is about your accomplishments too-- so that you feel satisfied and happy. Don't use lack of time to excuse you from your dreams and needs. There was once a writer who worked a full-time teaching job, was a family man, and still found time (albeit, late in the night) to work on his novels every night. His name? Stephen King.

Pic from: http://bebettereveryday.com/positive-thinking-and-you/

Free Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish set with Red magazine

Free Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 30ml and muslin cloth (Worth £5.50) with the May 2012 issue (out now) of Red magazine.

Salaams. Today I stumbled across Red magazine as it had a Liz Earle product I have been thinking of getting.

You get a 30ml tube of the cleanser and a 35cmx35cm muslim cloth which looks quite durable so you can use it again and again.  It is a great way to test a product without spending a fortune to see if it is for you.
The magazine itself costs £3.90.

Also in the magazine on p.35 is a 1.5ml sample of Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup in shade 2WN1 and a 1.5ml sample of Clinique's Repairwear Laser Focus wrinkle and UV damage corrector on p.195. In addition, you get to smell cards Roberto CavalliNarciso Rodriguez for her, Yardley London Royal English Lady on those perfumed smelly cards :p

Snippet of an outfit

Sneaky peek of outfit - Light pink, almost lilac hijab which has sequins purchased from a random mobile phone/scarf/bracelet store in Haringey North London. Worn with a grey waterfall cardigan and Nails Inc Nail Polish in New York (bright pink shade although looks a little coral in the pic!)

Grey works well with brights and pastels! A good safe option if you are used to black and dark colours.