[dropcaps type=”type5″]G[/dropcaps]enella Macintyre, author and international trainer and empowerment expert, led a large group of Manitoba Women in Construction members and guests in a professional development session titled “Five Steps to Stress Management” on Thursday, October 26. If you’re stressed out that you missed such an enlightening event, follow these three simple rules.

Take a break
“You have to be a steward of your own health,” Macintyre says. “When you break your leg, you get a cast. When it’s stress, we’re not as careful with it. It’s like tread on a tire, except you don’t get an opportunity to retread.”

Trigger a relaxation response
“You need to initiate relaxation techniques,” she says. Change what you do, change what you think, change how you feel.

Smile… or strike a power pose
According to Macintyre, “two minutes of smiling will tell your body that it’s okay,” and the stress won’t register as a threat.

DID YOU KNOW?

Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can boost feelings of confidence, and might have an impact on our chances for success. The most well–known and versatile high-power pose is nicknamed “The Wonder Woman” pose.