6 ways to loosen the grip of work stress

Many of us experience trying days on the job. From projects that force us to labor into the wee hours to recurring arguments with co-workers, work stress surfaces in our lives now and then.

The good news is that relief from your pressure-filled workday might be more attainable than you think. Here are six ways to alleviate job stress:

Treat yourself.

Finally put that huge budgeting project to bed? Why not dine out? Check out a movie at the local cinema, or maybe spring for an hour-long massage at that spa you've always wanted to try. Not looking to spend much money? Treating yourself to an ice cream cone or picking up the latest novel from your favorite author might also do the trick.

Call a loved one.

Everyone tackles stress differently, says Brandan DuChateau, executive director for the National Wellness Institute. Some prefer to sort through their problems alone, while others depend on the help of friends and family members. The latter can prove beneficial in the long run, DuChateau says. "The research shows that social wellness is very important. So, even if you don't want to recoup with a group, it's important to have that group so when you are recouped, you can have fun with them so you have that social network," she says. "That group is so essential to people's overall happiness." Try bouncing a concern or two off of a good friend or acquaintance. It just might be your job-stress cure-all.

 Exercise.

Yoga, Tai chi, or even a 15-minute walk can help ease your mind. Meryl Rosenthal, chief executive officer and co-founder of the agile work solutions company FlexPaths, says exercise plays a crucial role in relieving work stress. "It's hugely important to be able to exercise and clear your mind and take care of yourself," says Rosenthal. "All those health issues help people be more engaged at work and help them be more patient in managing people."

 Go to sleep earlier.

Try heading to bed before midnight. This simple move gives you sufficient time to recuperate from the day's frustrations and rejuvenate your strength for what lies ahead

Set boundaries.

When the clock strikes 5 p.m., leave heavy workloads and frustrations with co-workers behind at the office. Setting boundaries between work and family time can significantly reduce stress. "I call it work-life integration, because really there is no balance," Rosenthal says. "It's really the integration of both and how you navigate them." She also suggests keeping a calendar to help organize your life better, lessening scheduling conflicts and reducing worry.

 Organize a post-work seminar.

If you're experiencing stress on the job, chances are, you're not alone. Companies that allocate time and space for their employees to discuss conflicts and concerns in a group setting foster a psychologically sound workforce, DuChateau says. "We actually see an enormous growth in the number of businesses recognizing that the health and well being of their employees is essential to the productivity of their company," she says. As a result, many companies are now hosting in-house stress-reduction seminars and workshops, because "they recognize that a stressed person is going to be a less-productive person," DuChateau explains. DuChateau also encourages employees to initiate lunch-and-learn sessions about ways to positively reduce job 

Venus transit may boost hunt for other worlds

Astronomers around the world will be using advanced telescopes to watch Venus cross in front of the Sun on June 5 and 6 in the hopes of finding clues in the hunt for other planets where life may exist.

By studying the atmosphere of a well-known planet in this once-in-a-lifetime event, scientists say they will learn more about how to decipher the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system as they cross in front of their own stars.

"There are many, many of these events that are observed for distant stars. The thing is that stars are just points of light because we are so far away, so you can't actually see what is going on," Alan MacRobert, astronomer and editor of Sky and Telescope magazine, told AFP.

However the transit of Venus, an event that will not happen again for another 105 years, or until 2117, offers a chance to practice decoding the atmosphere of a planet based on the impression it leaves on its star's light.

"The idea is some of that starlight skims through the atmosphere of the planet and the atmosphere leaves its imprint on that tiny, tiny little bit of a star's light," MacRobert said.

"If you can separate that from the rest of the star's light -- analyzing the light before, during and after the transit and looking for the difference -- you can actually tell something about the planet's atmosphere," he added.

"And this is absolutely at the cutting edge of present day technology."

The beginning of the transit will be visible in North America, Central America and the northern part of South America on the evening of June 5, as long as the skies stay clear. The end will not be seen in these regions due to sunset.

All of the transit will be visible in East Asia and the Western Pacific.

Europe, the Middle East and South Asia will get to see the end stages of the eclipse as they go into sunrise on June 6.

However, due to the risk of blindness or painful, permanent eye damage, people should not look directly at the Sun without a proper solar filter to try and observe the tiny black dot crossing its surface.

Global astronomers are keenly searching the universe for hints of a rocky planet like Earth in the Goldilocks zone -- not too hot and not too cold -- with the right atmosphere and the existence of water to support life.

Experts believe the galaxy is teeming with billions of rocky planets that might be able to support life. Most have not yet been discovered by Earthlings, and are located so far away that they would be impossible to reach with modern technology.

The latest catalog released by NASA's Kepler space telescope team in March showed a total of 2,321 planet candidates transiting 1,790 stars.

Ten of the 46 planet candidates found in the habitable zone where liquid water could exist are close to the size of Earth, according to NASA. But in most cases, scientists lack details about these planets' atmospheres.

Even though Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is far too hot to be habitable and has a dense, C02 thick atmosphere, watching it transit the Sun is a valuable exercise for science.

"The fact that Venus is not in a habitable zone does not really matter," said Rick Feinberg of the American Astronomical Society.

"It gives us an opportunity to study in very great detail something we are observing very much further away and gives us more confidence in our ability to interpret the signals we are getting."

Feinberg added that the best times for scientists to watch the transit are the first and last 20 minutes, when sunlight filters through the Venus's atmosphere as it forms a fine shell around the planet.

The US National Solar Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, will use telescopes in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Hawaii, Australia and India to monitor the transit and collect data.

"This one will help us calibrate in several different instruments, and hunt for extrasolar planets with atmospheres," said Frank Hill, director of the NSO's Integrated Synoptic Program.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, astronomers used transits to measure the distance of the Earth to the Sun, he added.

"We have that number nailed down now, but transits are still useful."

Find out if he’s great in bed – without tearing his clothes off!

You’ve locked eyes across the bar, he seems great, but how can you tell if he’s all talk and no action?

Look out for these indicators to find out whether you will be left satisfied...

Go out for dinner – If he scours the menu and chooses the most boring dish on it, you may be in for a dull night in the bedroom. Food is one of life’s pleasures so a man who loves to eat will probably love to have wild sex too. If he’s willing to be adventurous or picks something he’s never tried before, chances are he’ll bring the same spirit to his sex life.

Really listen – If he speaks in a monotone voice and hardly ever changes his facial expression you may not be in for an exciting night of sex. Men who move their arms, hands and face when they talk are more excitable and enthusiastic making them more likely to wow you in the bedroom.

Look him in the eye – If he doesn’t want to look you in the eye, or looks away nervously every time, he’s either really shy or hiding something. But if he staring at you so much it’s making you uncomfortable, he could be too intense or self-assured. The perfect gentlemen should hold your gaze for a couple of seconds at a time – showing he’s interested and respectful.

Hit the dance floor – Dancing requires rhythm, variety, timing and energy and so does sex! Look out for men who can keep up with the music and don’t take themselves too seriously. Any man who’s parading around with his shirt off doing a replica of Michael Jackson’s Thriller is probably cocky and slightly selfish in the bedroom.

Ask to meet his friends – His friends have probably taught him everything he knows about sex, so find out what they’re like. If his mates are warm, sociable and funny, chances are you man will have the same qualities. If he greets his friends with firm handshakes and full-body hugs it shows he’s not afraid of intimacy. The more comfortable he is with expressing affection, the more loving and attentive he will be in the bedroom.

Look at what seat he chooses – If he chooses the seat opposite you facing a wall he can’t be distracted by people watching – meaning he only has eyes for you! The more he focuses on you, the more he will be able to concentrate on pleasuring you during sex. A man who decides to sit in prime view of the bar may be looking for something or someone else.