Serial Stress Killer

‘Learn to relax and engage your brain in an analogue way’   In this episode of The Serial Stress Killer Podcast Chris discusses the importance on not relying on technology and devices to control your life. He also discusses the affect of sleep tracking apps on your devices and how they can actually have the opposite affect on your sleep than what they’re made for.     KEY TAKEAWAYS  I came across a recent article which indicated that sleeping apps on mobile phones may be making us focus on the wrong things. Thus, increasing the amount of time we’re spending stressing, obsessing and focusing on things such as our sleep quota.  Some research shows that these sleep tracking apps have actually made being able to sleep worse and I’ve got to agree. Some say there’s no need to track your sleep.  It’s not just sleeping apps that can try help us with our life. There’s apps for everything these days.  I think we need to be careful when constantly looking for shortcuts with living life because there’s only so many dopamine hits we can get from using technology.  If you’re using lots of apps to control your lifestyle, then try go analogue for a while. It may not give you the instant reward however over time it may help you stop obsessing over how you’re living your life.    BEST MOMENTS  “Some research shows that these sleeping apps can cause insomnia or extreme sleep deprivation.’  ‘Obsessing over a topic is rarely beneficial.’  ‘I know I get my best ideas when I down tools and stop being productive for a couple of hours.’   ‘It’s gotten to the point where we’ve forgotten how to think without a digital prompt.’  ‘You don’t need an app to relax, sleep or meditate.’     VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://rebrand.ly/sskplaylist01  Serial Stress Killer Podcast     ABOUT THE HOST  After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.     CONTACT METHOD  Contact the show  https://serialstresskiller.com  https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller  https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller  Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller  What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone’s been there. You’ve said YES to many commitments, and it’s only now you’ve noticed how much you’ve put on your plate.   Feeling overwhelmed with work is not a good thing if you don’t know how to manage them. You have to learn how to take control of them efficiently if you want the best outcome. So, in this episode of the Stress Serial Killer Podcast, Chris discusses tips on what to do if you’re already feeling overwhelmed. It’s better that you to take action head on so you avoid repercussions. Discover how you can prevent and limit stress today!  KEY TAKEAWAYS  When you’re already drowning with too many commitments, your brain also undergoes a lot of work. It’s now on duty 24/7. So, for you to have excellent mental health, you’ve got two choices, either learn how to manage things better or remove other commitments.  Ask yourself, “Why am I suffering now?” Go back, evaluate, and make sure that the things you’re doing right now are for your goals. If you’ve lost interest, then change the narrative or change how you do things. And if it won’t bring you any happiness, then why do it in the first place?  There’s a limitation for what an individual can only handle. The stress can damage your mental health and your body. So, if this is happening inside your work, tell your boss about your struggles. What they want is that you perform well and have outstanding results, so anything that isn’t helpful in their cause should be fixed.  BEST MOMENTS  “There are gonna be times in life that you have lots of things going on.”  “If they care about you, they will understand, and I if they don’t care about you, then why put their needs above yours?”  “Being overwhelmed is horrible. It can utterly destroy you.”  “Take action, take control of your life before stress becomes the killer.”  ABOUT THE HOST  After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.  CONTACT METHOD  Contact the show:  https://serialstresskiller.com  https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller  https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller  Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller  What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who likes chocolate? Did you know that a recent study by the MS Society showed that by simply consuming hot chocolate that’s high in flavinoids, we can help our bodies to work a lot more efficiently, and reduce stress at the same time.  Maybe it’s time to change your morning habits? Listen in as Christopher explains the science behind it... KEY TAKEAWAYS MS is one of the most common causes of serious disability in younger adults. Around 127,000 adults in the UK suffer from it.  Flavinoids are substances that can slow or halt the damage to cells by free radicals, which are essentially waste material caused by processing food. If your body can’t process these free radicals efficiently it can lead to all kinds of problems, including heart disease, cancer, strokes and respiratory diseases and many more. Milk chocolate has lots of fat and lots of sugar, which means lots of weight gain. They are also LOW in flavinoids. Dark chocolate, however, is rich in flavinoids. Look for 70% cocoa and above. BEST MOMENTS ‘Oh, two more of you at the back!’ ‘Oxidative stress is not great!’ ‘100% dark chocolate is an intense chocolate experience!’ ‘I’m going to replace my morning coffee with a steaming mug of flavinoid rich chocolate!’ ‘You can be a chocolate flavour, flavinoid-fuelled killer’ VALUABLE RESOURCES https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/serial-stress-killer/id1438515546?mt=2    ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.    CONTACT METHOD Contact the show https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘There are many myths and half-truths around stress that many of us buy into, these can hold us back in our personal development and progress’ Welcome back to The Serial Stress Killer Podcast! Your host, Chris Hackett, continues exploring the myths we are all familiar with surrounding stress! If you missed last weeks episode, go back and listen to the first 6 Myths about stress. Listen in as Chris shares more evidence connected to each myth and explains the ways you can positively manage stress across a range of situations KEY TAKEAWAYS  ‘Stress is the same for everyone’  Stress responses can be emotional, physical or a combination of the two therefore no two individuals will experience stress in the exact same way and will require different needs in order to deal with stress.   “Stress comes from what’s happening in your life”  How you perceive a problem or situation will depend on how you respond to it. We can choose how we react to a situation. The trick is to differentiate between life and death worries from the small and every day niggles.  “A drink is an effective way to deal with stress”  You may think twice about this is you’re wanting to deal with stress. Alcohol is said to increase the amount of stress hormones that we produce rather than having the opposite effect that we want.  “It’s obvious when someone is stressed out”  There are so many symptoms of stress, some people are very good at hiding it. We can be really good at being stressed but not give out the right signals or reactions for others to recognise it.  “The more successful you are, the more stressed you are”  Stress doesn’t make someone successful, it actually reduces our productivity, creativity and can cause mental exhaustion. If you look at the most successful people in the world, they seem to me as if they’re not very stressed.   By eating right, getting enough sleep and taking care of our bodies we can eliminate our stress.”  It’s often echoed that if we keep physically fit we can deal with any obstacles that life throws at us. However, the fundamental causes of the stress we face can be overlooked. Although doing this cant completely eliminate stress, it can certainly help to deal with it.    BEST MOMENTS  “Everyone will have different ways of dealing with stress. Do what works for you. Period.”  “It will only be stressful if you consider it to be stressful.”  “If you’re working crazy hours or are exhausted all of the time, those factors are not going to help you feel cool, calm and collected.”  “A big drink is perhaps not the best way to deal with stress”  “If you are stressed or feeling stressed then tell someone.”  “You’re more likely to be better equip if we look after ourselves.”     VALUABLE RESOURCES  Serial Stress Killer Podcast  ABOUT THE HOST  After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.     CONTACT METHOD  Contact the show  https://serialstresskiller.com  https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller  https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller  Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller  What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘There are many myths and half-truths around stress that many of us buy into, these can hold us back in our personal development and progress’  In the first part of this 2-part series, Chris explores the myths we are all familiar with surrounding stress.  He shares the evidence connected to each myth and explains the ways you can positively manage stress across a range of situations, listen in now to hear more.     KEY TAKEAWAYS  Stress is completely avoidable – It’s impossible to avoid stress, the goal should be to recognise it, embrace it and manage it in the most effective way. If you don’t learn how to deal with stress effectively when any stressful event occurs you will find it challenging and difficult to deal with.  Stress is always a bad thing – at the right level and in certain circumstances stress can be helpful as it can motivate people to take action or change. You can feel stress after positive events too, the key is to manage it successfully.  Stress equals unhappiness – The biggest myth about stress is that it is negative and will always make you unhappy if you successfully manage the things that are stressful then the negative tension and anxiety elements of stress can be removed.  Stress is uncontrollable – Stress can hit at any point in life. There are events in life that are outside of individual control along with those that are controllable. Perspective is everything it is what allows us to see things more clearly so that we are able to recognise the small annoyances for what they are within the bigger picture.  Stress is the best motivator – It is a positive of stress that it helps us to get things done but it's important to define the differences between stress and stimulation. If you are working on a project you love then the stress of deadlines  can be motivating because of the excitement.  Stress is always bad for the body – It is recognised that when stress isn’t managed well it can affect the body adversely so learning to manage stress effectively is key to your physical health.     BEST MOMENTS  ‘You need to learn how to tackle these problems’  ‘You can feel stress after positive events too,  the key is to manage it successfully’  ‘Recognising and deciding not to stress is a powerful skill to be mastered’  ‘If there is stress there is a root problem that will need to be dealt with’  ‘It’s an opportunity to develop and grow if you can recognise it for what it is’     VALUABLE RESOURCES  Serial Stress Killer Podcast     ABOUT THE HOST  After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.     CONTACT METHOD  Contact the show  https://serialstresskiller.com  https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller  https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller  Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller  What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you don’t like your situation All of us at some stage are going to be in a situation we don’t like. Whether it is your career, your relationships, your family or simply the result of unfortunate circumstance, you will from time to time find yourself in a difficult position and may be facing some difficult decisions  If this is you, right now, I have some words you need to hear.  First of all, and this is key - You do not need to be in any situation you don’t want to be in. Ok, if you are kidnapped, trapped or being forcefully detained against your will in some way, I accept that are exceptions.  But 99% of the time, you can choose to change something – for better or worse – that will get you out of a situation you don’t like.  Now, you may, of course, choose to be in a situation for a number of logical reasons, some of which may be life or death pressures, but you still don’t have to be in any situation. If you can choose to walk away, no matter how hard the consequences You have a choice.   But if you don’t like where you are, right now, you have to get busy.  You have to start asking yourself those difficult questions and look closely at your options and you are going to have to make some decisions.  Don’t drag things out forever, hoping that things are going to change by themselves. Don’t hope for divine intervention or that somebody somewhere is going to make the difficult decisions for you.  You have to be the instigator.  You have to be in the driving seat.  Stop delaying your happiness indefinitely. If you have commitments and responsibilities that you need to account for – that’s fine. But you have to start thinking about what you want, what you are prepared to compromise on or even sacrifice in order to get it. Be honest, What you will you put up with and for how long?  Learn to set deadlines and targets which you can measure and then stick to the outcomes. If things are no better after a period of time when you have been quietly assessing and monitoring things - you have your answer.  Don’t go back on your own word. Don’t keep on making excuses for other people and stop pretending things will be ok if you know they never will.  If you are in a job or relationship that makes you miserable, don’t hope that a lottery scratchcard is going to save the day.  Now, of course, it isn’t all about the other people. If during that time YOU didn’t make an effort to improve things and just lazily drifted along hoping for that miracle, it is pretty obvious you didn’t care enough in the first place and you need to move on. But if you have put your heart and soul into making things work but something still just isn’t right – then its ok to walk away and do it with your head held high.  Sometimes our stress and unhappiness root us to the ground. It ties us in knots and collapses our confidence.  Don’t let it.  Once you make a decision to change your situation without the chains of guilt and regret, you will feel immediately lighter and more energised.  Because the real weight of frustration is not borne out of the thing we hate, it is the frustration within ourselves for enduring something we do not have to.  CONTACT METHOD  Contact the show:  https://serialstresskiller.com  https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller  https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller  Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller  What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone’s been there. You’ve said YES to many commitments, and it’s only now you’ve noticed how much you’ve put on your plate. Feeling overwhelmed with work is not a good thing if you don’t know how to manage them. You have to learn how to take control of them efficiently if you want the best outcome. So, in this episode of the Stress Serial Killer Podcast, Chris discusses tips on what to do if you’re already feeling overwhelmed. It’s better that you to take action head on so you avoid repercussions. Discover how you can prevent and limit stress today! KEY TAKEAWAYS When you’re already drowning with too many commitments, your brain also undergoes a lot of work. It’s now on duty 24/7. So, for you to have excellent mental health, you’ve got two choices, either learn how to manage things better or remove other commitments. Ask yourself, “Why am I suffering now?” Go back, evaluate, and make sure that the things you’re doing right now are for your goals. If you’ve lost interest, then change the narrative or change how you do things. And if it won’t bring you any happiness, then why do it in the first place? There’s a limitation for what an individual can only handle. The stress can damage your mental health and your body. So, if this is happening inside your work, tell your boss about your struggles. What they want is that you perform well and have outstanding results, so anything that isn’t helpful in their cause should be fixed. BEST MOMENTS “There are gonna be times in life that you have lots of things going on.” “If they care about you, they will understand, and I if they don’t care about you, then why put their needs above yours?” “Being overwhelmed is horrible. It can utterly destroy you.” “Take action, take control of your life before stress becomes the killer.” ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on. CONTACT METHOD Contact the show: https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever walked down the street or been in a public place and a complete stranger has smiled at you for no obvious reason and receiving that smile not only made you feel good it encouraged you to reciprocate that smile yourself? Chris explains the power of your smile and why you should be using it to relieve stress and connect with others, listen in to find out more.   KEY TAKEAWAYS We all get caught up and weighed down by the challenges and situations we face in our lives and can often forget to think about the enjoyable aspects of just being alive. There are abundant opportunities for fun, discovery, education and the pleasure of being around other people whether family, friends or new acquaintances is immeasurable. Smiling at someone else will usually be reciprocated and it feels good. Smiles are contagious they can lift our spirits and cost absolutely nothing. Smiling can help to fight stress as it activates the release of neuropeptides that work towards fighting our stress responses. The feelgood transmitters; serotonin, dopamine and endorphins are all released when a smile crosses your face. These not only relax your body they can also  lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Smiling could the easiest way available to relieve stress and is certainly one of the most powerful. Stress is the enemy, but your smile could be the stress killer you need.   BEST MOMENTS ‘Just a brief human connection with a stranger felt exquisite and it elevated my mood even further’ ‘The value we get back from seeing someone smile back is addictive’ ‘As I stepped out into the sunshine I couldn’t help but smile to myself’   VALUABLE RESOURCES Serial Stress Killer Podcast   ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.   CONTACT METHOD Contact the show https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Serial Stress Killer Podcast, we talk about the ‘leader of the free world’, Donald Trump, and what we could learn from his past experience about stress. In the 90s, now-president Donald Trump had an interview with the interviewer, comedian, actress, and author Ruby Wax inside his own private jet. It was very notable since, at the middle of the interview, Donald Trump had to order the pilot to emergency land just to throw Ruby off the jet. Now, you ask, “what’s a valuable reason that could get you thrown off a jet?” Well, after Donald Trump told her of his ambition to be the next President of the United States of America, he was responded with a burst of laughter. He wouldn’t have it. So, did Trump overreacted or was he just protecting himself from such negativity and stress? Let me know what you think right after you listen in! KEY TAKEAWAYS It’s good to be ambitious but make sure that you’ll be bulletproof against adverse reactions. Some might say you’re doing a great thing; some might say you’re going way over the top. It’s up to you how you manage these reactions so they can actually help you achieve your ambition. The #1 battle that you should always win is with your self-doubt. Learn how to defeat it and show that you are the boss. The only voice you should listen to is your own. It’s time to stray away from people who got nothing to do but bring everyone else down. It will cost you the time to question yourself and stress yourself. Instead, use the time and energy to the essential tasks. Surround yourself with like-minded people that can help you actually better yourself. BEST MOMENTS “You are the sum of the company that you keep.” “When you share your goals with somebody – you tell her about your dreams, your objectives, and the stuff that you wanna do so you could improve your own life – and they try to extinguish your fire with withering laughter, I want you to consider doing a Donald Trump… I want you to think in your head, ‘Land the plane. Get them out of here.’" VALUABLE RESOURCES Ruby's American Pie - When Ruby Wax met Donald Trump (full show) | YouTube ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on. CONTACT METHOD Contact the show: https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are you feeling? We often look at ways we can actively control and manage or cure our stress through mindfulness, healthy eating and meditation but how can our environment and plants make a positive difference? There are some really quick ways of reducing stress by adding more natural elements to your home and in this episode, Chris explains how plants positively affect us. Listen in to find out about how they do it and the best plants to choose for your own environment.   KEY TAKEAWAYS A study published in the Journal of Psychological Anthropology stated ‘active interaction with indoor plants such as touching and smelling can reduce psychological and physiological stress’ Even the soil can positively impact on stress and anxiety as it contains microbes that act as a natural antidepressant Soil can boost your mood by releasing cytokines (small secreted proteins released by cells) which lead your brain to produce more serotonin, ‘the happy chemical’. As Humans we are hard-wired to respond positively to our natural environments. A 2010 study from Sydney showed a reduction in stress, anxiety and fatigue when plants were added to the environment. Not only can plants make you feel better at home they can transform your work environment too. Airborne toxins and particles are absorbed by plant leaves. The toxins are then translocated into the plant root and used as plant food or destroyed through a metabolic breakdown. Plants in your home are one of the quickest ways to reduce your stress levels and improve your environment.   BEST MOMENTS ‘Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air’ ‘Having plants means the bad stuff in the air is absorbed by them which is more positive for you’ ‘If you don’t have any plants in your home it’s time to get shopping’ ‘This is also why being outside is so beneficial’ ‘Plants also remind us of a more natural way of being’   VALUABLE RESOURCES Serial Stress Killer Podcast   ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.   CONTACT METHOD Contact the show https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If meditation, therapy sessions, your favourite tv show does not help you to relieve stress, then consider video games. In this episode of the Serial Stress Killer Podcast, Chris discusses video games and stress. It has long been a debate if video games are really beneficial or harmful to our emotional and psychological state. Chris’ answer is it depends on you. There is an addictive nature (just like in any other stuff) that video games offer, so it’s up to you to be disciplined enough how much time you allot. If it helps you combat stress from time to time, then why not use it? Listen in as Chris also shares some studies and resources about its positive effects. KEY TAKEAWAYS If you haven’t found any coping mechanisms yet to combat stress, then definitely include playing video games as one of your choices. It’s easily accessible and cost-effective since most video games are available on mobile phones. According to a study, playing video games even for a brief time can offer cognitive restoration. 66 participants did tasks which induced cognitive fatigue. After this, they were separated into 3 groups and were allowed to have a 5-minute break. Leading group plays a mobile game called Sushi cat, the second group undergoes a relaxation session, and the last group just sit quietly in the room without any gadgets. If you experienced a stressful event, then your brain is going to focus on that event. Try to do something else to engage your rational mind and to detach your emotions. After de-stressing – can be through playing video games – you can go back to assessing that event rationally. Video games can be addictive so make sure that you only allow yourself to be exposed to it for just the right amount of time. They are just designed to give you an immediate quick fix. BEST MOMENTS “If you’re stressed, spending time by yourself in a quiet room may not be your best course of action.” "Michael Rupp notes, ‘We often try to power through the day to get more work finished, which might not be as effective as taking some time to detach for a few minutes. People should plan short breaks to make time for an engaging and enjoyable activity, such as video games, that can help them recharge.’" VALUABLE RESOURCES Searching for Affective and Cognitive Restoration: Examining the Restorative Effects of Casual Video Game Play | A Study by Michael A. Rupp, Richard Sweetman, et al. Sushi Cat Stress-Proof by Mithu Storoni ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on. CONTACT METHOD Contact the show: https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Serial Stress Killer Podcast! In this very special Happy Easter Holiday Episode 2019! Your host, Chris Hackett, wanted to share with you the listeners his important lesson for this holiday. He extends the message to those of you who perhaps don’t celebrate this holiday because it is relevant not only for this event but for any free time you find yourself with. BEST MOMENTS “I want you to make sure that you enjoy every single moment of your available free time… And I want you to use this time effectively to properly down-tools; invest in some well-deserved YOU time.” “Use this precious time to relax, daydream and get inspired” "Listen in as Chris explains further into why he implores you upon his message of detaching from work and making the most of your down-time. “Be the one in control of your own destiny this holiday…. And above all; remember to look after yourself” “You owe it to yourself to make the most of the opportunities ahead of you in life. Stop procrastinating. Stop worrying and, quite honestly, stop giving a shit what people think.” ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on. CONTACT METHOD Contact the show: https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris takes a look at some of the more unfamiliar methods of dealing with stress in our lives, in a special rundown of twenty-nine practises that other people swear by. These include techniques that at first may sound somewhat unorthodox, but as Chris explains, they are all rooted in science and research, so perhaps your great undiscovered stress-killing method lies within?   KEY TAKEAWAYS Sometimes the things we consume can affect our mood - According to Web MD, high levels of Vitamin C can reduce our stress levels. An Australian researcher found that chewing gum reduces a significant stress hormone. Eating something crunchy can relieve physical tension.   A physical prompt can also help - The rubber band method is widely known and involves training one’s self to feel less stressed by utilising “operant conditioning”. Chris explains how this works and how it can lead to reduced stress levels. Inflating a balloon, which can force you to deep breathe. Standing on one leg can help you to feel more focussed. Even rubbing one’s palm can help to alleviate tension.   Drink water upside down - A familiar method for curing hiccups may also help to reduce stress levels!.   Putting a golf ball using the opposite side of the club - This increases the need to focus, and can take our minds off factors that may be causing stress. This also works for any practice that requires us to perform it in the opposite way.   Make a snowman - The best part is that you don’t need snow... Chris recommends a method for everyone’s secret favourite activity that involves nothing more than a few household items... Chris even finds advice that suggests the Japanese art of “adult wrapping” might help. The simple act of rearranging our desks or working environments can lead to a helpful, temporary shift in perspective. Fractals and abstract shapes are an easy way to reduce stress. Research shows that looking at waves or snowflakes or swirls in paintings can have a calming influence on the brain.     BEST MOMENTS ‘Deep breathing is a good stress management tool’ ‘You also get to blow up a balloon, which is slightly comical and may make you smile a bit!’ ‘If you laugh really hard at a joke that’s only mildly funny, it can spur some of that much-needed stress relief’ ‘Tip the endorphin scales in our favour’ ‘If you try to do anything from the opposite side, then you have to focus hard’ ‘If you are going to walk around the office backwards, do make sure it’s not during a very important meeting...’ ‘When you’re holding stress in, you have to let it out somehow’   VALUABLE RESOURCES https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/serial-stress-killer/id1438515546?mt=2   ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.     CONTACT METHOD Contact the show https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘It was a party that truly celebrated the life of the man and people were there to pay homage’   Chris reflects on the life and impact of Keith Flint, frontman for the Prodigy, a band who were a defining influence for him fusing together elements to create a unique sound that captured the imagination of people.   KEY TAKEAWAYS We often look at people in the spotlight as having it all when in truth we all have our own demons In joining with others to celebrate the life of Keith Flint, frontman of the prodigy it was about recognising who and what he was as a person. Life is a precious thing. Life is for living if you choose. What is it you want to do with your life? how do you want to live? What kind of people do you want to surround yourself with? How can you touch the lives of others? So that one day when your time is up people will celebrate your life with joy. The world is full of stress and full of problems that impact on our mental health. Our vision can be easily clouded with imperfect perceptions about ourselves and the world we live in. Sometimes it takes an event to shock our systems into purposeful movement. Don’t be a victim of your own making take control and choose to live your life on your terms.   BEST MOMENTS ‘For whatever reason Keith felt it was time to call it on his life’ ‘People had only good things to say about him’ ‘In truth, it was really a party atmosphere and that was the right way to offer respect to this man’ ‘The sun was absolutely beaming down you couldn’t have hoped for a better day’   VALUABLE RESOURCES Serial Stress Killer Podcast   ABOUT THE HOST After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.   CONTACT METHOD Contact the show https://serialstresskiller.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serial Stress Killer – Episode 29 It’s been an interesting couple of weeks for your Host, Chris Hackett. This is both Personally& Professionally; A struggle and battle which lead him to these two critical techniques which he shares with you on this episode. 2 techniques that had a considerably profound impact on his stress levels in a positive way. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Recognise & Accept The Situation. What you know What you do Who you talk to These don’t always translate into success. Accepting the situation and remembering the feelings and overwhelm will pass. It is okay to take a break, just remember it is just a feeling and the reality is that you are in no actual immediate danger.   Reduced Your Stress Considerations   Sometimes, stressful things come one after the other, or all at once even! The trick is to strategize and systemize; which are priority? What needs dealing with today and what can be delayed? You could take the challenge and tackle everything head- on, all at once. You may even feel that this is your only course of action; that every stressful item on your list is priority 1 and cannot possibly be delayed! However, this could be down to stress hormones and realistically, the reality is that you CAN put things aside to help yourself deal with each one individually.   Important: Routine It is imperative you keep your routine. As easy as it is to give in and let stress disrupt your systems and routines. One of the most challenging hurdles to overcome, when you are going through stress, is maintaining the routines that serve you well. So even though you have no interest in going to the gym, force yourself to go, even if it’s just a short workout. Although you have travelled slightly off the path, you are still headed in the same direction; Your routine isn’t massively disrupted as you have maintained it, and not given in to the stress. You have still achieved your goal, all be it a smaller version of. You can reap the sense of achievement however small, rather than the alternative of wallowing in the disappointment of giving in had you not gone at all! So if you have routines in your life that serve you well, physically OR mentally, you may have to push a little bit harder to accomplish less. But these are the little victories in life we all need from time to time. To remind us that we are still alive and we are still in control.   If you have a lot of really stressful things going on in your life that are not connected but causing your brain and body to go into anxiety overdrive, try just recognising the situation for what it is and reduce your stress considerations. You can always come back and deal with things in the near future. There is no shame in that and once you deal with the immediate problem, you’ll have more headspace to deal with the other stuff.    BEST MOMENTS  ‘Sometimes you just can’t control every situation‘ ‘It is just a feeling and the reality is that you are in no actual immediate danger. ‘ ‘And they all FELT like life and death (primarily because my body was pumping so much stress hormone into my system)’ ‘The reality was some things could be left to one side ‘ ‘One of the most dangerous things when you are going through stress is stopping the routines that serve you well’ ‘Remember, stress is the enemy and you the killer‘   VALUABLE RESOURCES     https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/serial-stress-killer/id1438515546?mt=2       ABOUT THE HOST  After many years of dealing (badly) with personal stress for over 20 years, Chris Hackett is on a mission to help people understand and overcome stress and anxiety by tackling the problem head-on.        CONTACT METHOD  Contact the show  https://serialstresskiller.com  https://www.facebook.com/groups/serialstresskiller  https://www.instagram.com/serialstresskiller  Support the show - https://www.patreon.com/serialstresskiller  What’s been your favourite episode so far? Connect with Chris to let him know - admin@serialstresskiller.com    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.