Treats come in many forms; healthy and not so healthy. Indulging in any type of treat will reduce your stress if only for a short period of time. This issue will stimulate your thoughts on how healthy treats can aid in increasing more energy and reducing stress.

There are in deed healthy treats that stimulate your 6 senses. Sight: visualization, Smell: aromatherapy, Taste: fruits and vegetables, Touch: Massage, Hear: music, Speak: (communication), meditation, laughter and napping.

Sight: Visualization or daydreaming

Can’t get away? Take a brief vacation in your mind. Take yourself to a place that you remember or fantasize of peace and calmness. Allow your mind to conjure up all the senses to fulfill this experience.

Smell: Aromatherapy

For years people have used essential oils to heal physical, emotional and spiritual stress.

Basic Stress Buster Aromatherapy list:

Anger: Chamomile, Ylang-Ylang
Anxiety: Lavender, Rosewood
Depression: Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang
Fear: Frankincense, Sandalwood
Irritability: Chamomile

Orange Blossom, Sandalwood, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint and Rosemary are all excellent for a quick pick me up. They also help to combat stress and tension.

Some common ways to use Aromatherapy are: direct inhalation, stream inhalation vaporizers, diffusers, cotton balls and in a carrier oil or personal care products

Taste: fruits/vegetables (eating or drinking)

Fruit has a natural sugar that will not drop you like a hot potato as caffeine, alcohol or junk food will. Try eating or drinking fresh fruits or vegetables when you are feeling stressed. Make sure you clean your treats well to remove the toxins or you will have a pesticides cocktail. A quick and easy way to cleaning your fruits and vegetables is by soaking them in fresh lemon juice and salt water.

Touch: Massage

Most of you know that overworked muscles cause lactic acid to accumulate in the body. This toxic build up causes soreness and tension. Massage works by helping to flush out toxins and improve blood and lymph circulation. Massage also speeds up recovery from vigorous activities or injuries, improves joint flexibility and range of motion.

But what few know is that massage reduces stress, depression and anxiety. It can also satisfy the need for caring and nurturing touch in a non-threatening way. Massage can often be the life preserve you need to get through a stressful day; a way to relax and slow down a busy life.

Everyone knows a massage is a great way to relax and slow down a busy life. Yes massage is good for pain management but is also a viable tool to maintain good health and prevent injuries.

Massage can cost as little as $20 for 15 minutes. One or two sessions per month may help ward off injuries or a reduce stress. Massage will enhance the quality of your life. The truth is, if we would stop long enough to nurture ourselves, we would have more stamina to accomplish so much more. We must become pro-active in our health maintenance rather than reactive.

Hear: Music

There are studies that show that music can reduce anxiety and relax muscles as well as your spirit. Music releases the endorphins in the brain. Therefore, listening to your iPod can be therapeutic. Caution – music is like food- there are healthy snacks and not so healthy snacks. Choose music that will uplift or relax your spirit when your goal is to de-stress.

Speak: (communication), Meditation, Laughter and Napping

This area covers all forms of communication. It is the stillness in between any movement or voices that takes us to a calmer place. Meditation: There are a number of mind-body techniques which focus on breathing to provide a sense of calm. Meditation can be as simple as focusing on the space in between something for a second, minute, hour or more. Any amount of time that you can just stop will aid in reducing stress. Even paying attention to your breath will support stress reduction. Laugher: Research show that laughter increases antibodies to fight sickness; releasing stress fighting hormones. There is even a school of thought that we should laugh whether we feel like it or not, with the idea that the feel-good chemicals will follow. Napping: Take a 15-20 minute “time-out” in the afternoon to boost alertness. All sorts of magical things happen when you are sleeping. Power naps are great for reducing stress.

The general definition of treat is: “A source of a special delight or pleasure; to give (someone or oneself) something pleasurable.” All of these items qualify as a treat. Most of them require little if any time and money. When your senses are stimulated, it affects your endorphins and your central nervous system, either positively or negatively. In other words, it can increase your energy or reduce your energy.

The central nervous system acts like a computer. The central nervous system receives input through our senses- what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell effects the output - what we feel physically or emotionally.

There are several stress reduction and stress management techniques that people use to cope with and manage stress levels in their lives. Stress is a reality in our lives. Very few people are immune to the negative effects of stress. Stress reduction techniques are coping mechanisms that help to alleviate the negative effects of stress.

Managing stress is a slow and measured process that should take place over time and not all at once. Take stock of the situation and make a note of the things that are causing you the most concern. Look at things that you can do, or ask for support that will ease the situation, no matter how small. Set some achievable goals towards removing the problem. Think back to some similar situations you have overcome and apply these lessons.