Stress Management Suggestions

If stress management is not one of your priorities, you need to make it one. Stress can make you sick or sicker. Listen to your body to discover when stress is affecting your health.

Here are a few suggestions that may help you manage your stress.

  • Relax. It’s important to unwind. Each person has her own way to relax. Some ways include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, massage. If you can’t do these things, take a few minutes to sit, listen to soothing music or read a book.
  • Make time for yourself. It’s important to care for yourself. Think of this as an order from your doctor, so you don’t feel guilty! No matter how busy you are, you can try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your schedule to do something for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, or calling a friend.
  • Sleep. Sleeping is a great way to help your body and mind. Your stress could get worse if you don’t get enough sleep. Also, body’s ability to fight off illness decreses. With enough sleep, you can tackle your problems better and lower your risk. Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
  • Eat right. Try to fuel up with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Good sources of protein can be peanut butter, chicken, or tuna salad. Eat whole-grains, such as wheat breads and wheat crackers. Don’t be fooled by the jolt you get from caffeine or sugar. Your energy will wear off.
  • Get moving. Physical activity helps relieve tense muscles, and helps your mood by releasing uplifting endorphins.  Endorphins relieve stress and improve your mood.
  • Talk to friends. Talk to your friends to help you work through your stress. Friends can be good listeners. Find someone who will let you talk freely about your problems and feelings without judging you. It also helps to hear a different point of view. Friends will remind you that you’re not alone.
  • Get help from a professional if you need it. Talk to a therapist.  A therapist can help you work through stress and find better ways to deal with problems.  There also are medications that can help ease symptoms of stress and help promote sleep.
  • Compromise. Sometimes, it’s not always worth the stress to argue. Give in once in awhile.
  • Write down your thoughts. Have you ever typed an email to a friend about your lousy day and felt better afterward? Why not send yourself an email! Keeping a journal can be a great way to get things off your chest and work through issues. Later, you can go back and read through your emails to see how you’ve made progress!
  • Help others. Helping someone else can help you. Help your neighbor or volunteer in your community.
  • Get a hobby. Find something you enjoy. Make sure to give yourself time to explore your interests.
  • Set limits. When it comes to things like work and family, figure out what you can really do. There are only so many hours in the day. Set limits with yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.
  • Plan your time. Think ahead about how you’re going to spend your time. Write a to-do list. Figure out what’s most important to do.
  • Don’t deal with stress in unhealthy ways. This includes drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking, or overeating.

Stress is a silent killer, so make use of these management suggestions.  Stress is the opposite of relaxed, and your body needs some relaxation to maintain its health.

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