I am proud to be an American, not because I am told I have to, but because I have the right to. On the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, I have the privilege of witnessing the strength of the American dream. Our citizens rose above the ashes and proved, once again, our love for freedom is stronger than our enemy’s hatred. Today, we must recognize our day-to-day freedoms and be grateful for the choices we have. Below are some favorite American Quotes. If you take advantage of everything America has to offer, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.  ~Geraldine Ferraro A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle. ~George William Curtis I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.  ~Abraham Lincoln Only Americans can hurt America.  ~Dwight D. Eisenhower If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace.  ~Hamilton Fish We sleep peacefully at night, cradled by the big strong hands of America.  ~Val Saintsbury May I never wake up from the American dream.  ~Carrie Latet America did not invent human rights.  In a very real sense… human rights invented America.  ~Jimmy Carter This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.  ~Elmer Davis America, for me, has been the pursuit and catching of happiness.  ~Aurora Raigne In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.  ~Franklin D. Roosevelt Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.  ~Louis D. Brandeis We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.  ~William Faulkner I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. ~Lee Greenwood Click here for FREE daily inspirational quotes on Facebook. ...read more

Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save. ~ Will Rogers In today’s world we tend to overload our schedules and rush from one event to the next. Time management is an effective way to lower stress. Try taking a few minutes each hour to clear your thoughts. Take several relaxing deep breaths, shake out muscle tension, and align your actions to your daily goals. Placing small reminders throughout your day will make this process a habit. Once the habit is formed you will notice; focus and concentration improvement, less sore muscle and tension pain, and goal achievement easier. Not to mention a positive mindset from the control you gain over stress. If you find this technique beneficial, check out  Stress Release Reminders, it has become my passion to help others by reminding them to take control of their schedules. Here is a list of helpful time management techniques to lower stress. Set goals Daily goals, weekly goals, monthly goals, yearly goals, and lifetime goals should be pondered over and written down. Aligning yourself each day to move forward toward your lifetime goals will keep you on track&stress levels lowered. If we remind ourselves often of our goals, detours can be corrected quickly or if necessary changed to accommodate the new path. Check out Stress Release Reminders custom 5 minute journal technique for goal setting. Learn to say “No” There is 24 hours in each day and this will never change. So when you have prioritized your time and do not have extra time, it is ok to say no. Once you have decided to say no, do not go back and second guess your decision. Priorities your tasks Do not multi task. Focus on one task at a time so you do not have to go back and redo your work. Delegate tasks to others Most people believe they are the only one who can do a job correctly. If you are thorough in your instructions than anyone can help you get your to do list done. Start early finish early There is a great sense of pride when you complete a task early. So don’t put things off to the last-minute. Procrastination is an urgency that can be avoided. Don’t compare yourself to others Comparing yourself to others will only cause stress. If the person is faster you will feel inferior. If the person is slower you will feel as if you are pulling the weight of the task. Either way it is a waste of your time and your stress. Don’t sweat the small stuff Complications will happen while achieving goals or tasks. Remind yourself of the end result and focus on the most efficient way to the finish line. ...read more

In order for you to be more productive and for your mind to be at its top performance, you must allow yourself to take time out at least once every hour. It is vital to your health and well-being. It regenerates your energy level and allows you to think more clearly.The above statement is a well-known fact. How often do you really do it?Placing small reminders is the best way to practice the necessary time-out each hour. This technique is why I started Stress Release Reminders. I want to help others stay positive and focus on their health.Most stress encountered during the day are meaningless moments not worthy of your time. If the stress does not bring you closer to your goals, then forget it, and move on.Below is a list of activities to practice during your time-outs.Deep Breathing exercise - Counting your breath and focusing on belly button breathing is a quick way to quiet your mind from the busy day. (belly button breathing indicates proper inhaling and exhaling when you can see your belly button rise and lower.)Affirmation technique - Many psychologists recommend affirming "I am quiet" over and over to yourself. I have found the best way to achieve maximum benefit is to take a deep breath in while to myself, repeat "I am," then exhale to myself "quiet." It will force you to focus on deep breathing and allow the proper oxygen in to think more clearly.Self message - Tension can be harmful to both your cardiovascular and skeletal system. The neck, face, and hands are quickly accessible and achieve great benefits of lowering stress. Closing your eyes to focus better on the benefit will help to achieve a proper time-out.Stretch -  The key to a successful stretch is to breathe through the entire stretch. Do not strain or bounce the muscle. While holding your stretch, take a deep breath, on the exhale, feel your body stretch a little more. 15 seconds is the minimal time for a proper stretch, but try to hold longer.Reflection - Writing is a great way to slow down your mind. The Stress Release Reminders journal technique is a wonderful way to journal, specially with the busy lifestyle we all seem to think we have. Each page repeats an insert area for your daily goal, daily affirmation, and a few lines to write your favorite moments. It allows you to easily go back and view your past accomplishments.Finding inspiration can be an easy task when you know where to look. Stress Release Reminders posts once a day motivational quotes, images, challenges, or links onFacebook which will also remind you to take the necessary "Me Time" and it's all FREE. ...read more