Pub. 3 2018 Issue 5

10 www.ctaahq.org Elaine Simpson H olidays can be stressful in and of themselves, however, property management professionals face daily stressors. Biological stress is a fairly recent discovery. In the 1950’s, an endocrinologist named Hans Selye first identified and documented stress. His discoveries led to research that has helped people cope with stress ever since. In most cases, stress is manageable. Try some of these stress relievers to give yourself a mental and physical boost: Laugh – Laughter releases endorphins that improve mood and decreases levels of stress causing hormones. Watch a short clip or video of a favorite comedi- an that you know will bring a smile and chuckle. Laughing tricks your nervous system into making you happy. Color – Coloring is not just an activity for keeping kids occupied. It is very therapeutic for adults and generates wellness, quietness, staying fully in the present moment and offers the same benefits that meditation imparts on the brain. Coloring pages with Mandalas, symmetrical patterns like concentric cir- cles and geometric patterns, help create mindfulness and a meditative state. It activates logic and creativity. I am proud to announce that I recently created a coloring book specifically to help de-stress those of us in Property Management and take us out of our rut or routine. The pages contain Manda- las, positive quotes and industry appro- priate artwork. Coloring in it takes you back to the stress free days of child- hood. Happy memories help one relax and feel optimistic about the future. Coloring helps property management staff become more creative in their jobs. It breaks negative thinking patterns and builds self-confidence. Add more color to your life, take a vacation without going anywhere and order one of our Occupancy Solutions Property Manage- ment Coloring Books today! Listen – Take a short break and listen to relaxing music. Soothing music and na- ture sounds have a positive and calming effect on the mind and body. Doing so has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. Meditate – Brief periods of meditation and deep breathing can do wonders for reducing Stress Relievers for Pro Management Profession