If stress management is not one of your priorities, you need to make it one. Managing your stress is the first line of defense against the effects of this silent killer.
Stress can make you sick or sicker. Here are a few techniques, tips and lifestyle adjustments to help you manage your own stress:
- Sleep: stress can get much worse without sleep
- Compromise: it’s not always worth the stress to argue
- Volunteer: helping others takes your mind off your worries
- Write down your thoughts: you’ll feel better after you get it out
- Set limits: only so many hours per day, don’t be afraid to say NO
- Get a hobby: do something you enjoy in nature’s form and variety
- Plan your own time: spend your time on what’s most important to you
- Get moving: physical activity helps relieve tense muscles and the endorphins help relieve stress and improve your mood
- Talk to good listener friend: helps to work through your stress, especially ones that let you talk freely without judgment and offers insightful & different point of view
- Make time for yourself: no matter how busy you are, set aside at least 15 minutes every day for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, or calling a friend
- Relax: manage your times of stress with deep breathing, yoga, meditation, massage therapy, sit quietly for a few minutes, listen to soothing music, read a book, visualization
Listen to your body to discover when stress is affecting your health. And don’t ignore all of its bells and whistles when it does sound off. Put the health of your body first, all the rest will work out just the way it’s suppose to.
