Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Sensory Input and Stress

Each day we’re bombarded with things that cause us stress. While a little stress is good, constant exposure can lead to long-term health problems. If you’d like to learn a little more my Thursday Thirteen today is about stress and what it does to the body.

So how do we relieve the symptoms of stress?

As writers, we’re told to use the five senses in scenes when writing our books. The same five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell can help us relieve stress.

Sight: soothing and uplifting images work, especially if you’re a visual person. Bring the outdoors inside in the form of plants and flowers, place personal mementos such as photos in your office and private space. Walk on the beach or through the park or botanical gardens.

Hearing: if you’re sensitive to sound and love music, auditory stimulation will work well. Listen to your favorite music, hang up some wind chimes, buy a small fountain to place in your office or private space, go for a walk and listen to all the sounds.

Touch: works well if you’re a tactile person. Wrap yourself in a blanket and relax. Pet a cat or dog. Soak in a hot bath or dress in soft or sensuous clothing that feels good next to your skin.

Taste: this is a trickier one since we don’t want to get out of control and gain weight! But slow savoring of a favorite food can help relieve stress. Drink a glass of your favorite beverage. Lick an ice cream cone. Sip a cup of hot tea or indulge in a piece of chocolate, letting it melt slowly on your tongue.

Smell: If you tend to become quiet and introspective while stressed look for an invigorating scent and if stress turns you into the Energizer Bunny go for a relaxing scent. Light a scented candle or spritz on your favorite scent. Walk in a garden and smell the flowers. Breathe in the scent of fresh coffee or bread.

Practice the above strategies and you’ll be well on the way to managing stress.

Source – How to Manage Stress

What are your favorite ways to relieve stress?

Shelley Munro loves walking, cycling, boxing on her Wii and baking cakes when she’s stressed. Her contemporary release, TEA FOR TWO is currently available for pre-order at Amazon. You can visit Shelley to learn about her writing and books at www.shelleymunro.com