By tcaruthers

Relax! You can do it.

Starting your own business can be a pain ­ literally. Job-related stress is
the second leading cause of work-related injuries. Stress can lead to a
number of health problems, including headaches, backaches, muscle tension
and fatigue ­ which can decrease both motivation and productivity.

In the past decade, day spas and therapeutic massage centers have popped up
by the dozen in cities across the country. But relief often comes with a
hefty price tag. If your budget is as tight as your neck muscles, consider
taking the matter of stress relief into your own hands.


Try these do-it-yourself massage techniques the next time you¹re feeling
tense or anxious:


1. Using either your thumbs or fingertips, massage the occipital
ridge (the area where your neck joins the base of your skull). Start behind
your ears and trace all the way to your spine.


2. Using fingertips, apply pressure starting at your temples,
working in an arc around ears and on scalp.


3. Place three fingertips below cheekbones, where your jaw hinges,
then open and close jaw as you apply pressure.