We are living in a world that is filled with stress and it does not appear that its going to stop anytime soon. There is no longer a 40 hour work week. Parents are busier than ever keeping up with the wild schedules of their children, ferrying them from sports to music lessons and then play dates etc. If you have more than one child the pace you keep is staggering. That is why an article on stress management can be a life saver.

Those of us who are either single or have children that are grown and gone dont have it much easier. Lets face it, keeping up with all the opportunities and information we are presented with can be overwhelming. We often dont want to miss a minute of it.

With the amount of stress we deal with on a daily level, most everyone would readily agree that a program of stress management is necessary for survival. It has been demonstrated that both regular exercise and a daily practice of meditation are greatly beneficial in reducing stress and improving health. You certainly wont get any argument from me regarding making an effort to include both of these strategies into your life.

What I would like to address here in this article on stress management is a technique for those moments when you really need to take the stress down a notch immediately. When you are stuck in traffic and running late or you have just had an argument with a spouse or a child. Then of course there are just the everyday mini-meltdowns at the office and you could use some immediate relief.

The next time you are faced with this type of situation I encourage you to breathe. Thats right, breathing is one of the best stress management techniques there is. I am not talking about the normal in and out shallow breath we are familiar with. I am talking about a specific breathing technique.

Here is the basic technique to manage stress:

1. Sit comfortably, on the floor or in a chair. (Or your car if needed). You will be breathing in one nostril and then out the other

2. Using your index finger (either one) to hold the right nostril closed, breathe in with your left nostril to a count of six. Hold the breath for three counts.

3. Now, closing off the left nostril with your finger, release the right nostril and breathe out to a count of six.

4. Still closing your left nostril, breathe in with your right nostril for six counts. Hold for three counts.

5. Then, closing off the right nostril, release the left nostril and breathe out to a count of six.

6. Repeat the entire sequence three to five times.

By alternating the flow of air through your nostrils you feel an incredible sense of relaxation. It can be done virtually anywhere and is a wonderful stress management technique that can bring relief in a matter of a few minutes.

An article on stress management, while seemingly too simple, can be just the handy tool that helps you keep your stress in check. That, in turn helps you to be a better husband, wife, employee,and parent. You will be able to cope with many of the small things that used to be great annoyances. All in all, life gets a little easier. Your child or significant other will also reap the benefit of this easy technique. Give it a try and see for yourself.