Better Stress Management Begins here

Analyze and Handle Your Stress, All of these tips can be used to help you with any kind of stress: Be AWARE – Don’t bury or cover up your stress.  Life isn’t a test or a competition that requires you to suffer in silence.   LOOK AT your stressors, understand how you react to them and what you can do about them and ask for HELP if you need it. 
Be REALISTIC – Assess what you can change and what you cannot change about your life and the stress you feel.   If you can’t get out of a situation, try to manage or organize it better (with the help of others if you need it) so that it isn’t as stressful.  And, if you can’t do THAT, learn techniques to reduce the negative effects (exercise, meditation, yoga, as opposed to medication, alcohol or overeating)
PACE YOURSELF – Try to take breaks, get out of the place that causes the stress, or away from the person, so your body and mind have a chance to recover.  Don’t try to change everything about your stressed out life at the same time.  Prioritize the issues and address them one-by-one so that you have enough energy and time to focus on that one thing.  You’ll feel good that you have accomplished something and you can move on to the next item when you are finished with the first one. KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE – Stress is often made worse by the immediate and visceral reaction we have to change. Our bodies and minds perceive physical danger and our brains take it fro there.  When faced with stress, try to recognize what you are feeling and STOP…TAKE A DEEP BREATH…slow your breathing…consciously calm yourself and try to gain perspective.

Your brain will take the cue!  FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE – It may sound trite, but people that always assume the worst get sick more often and suffer from serious disease like cancer, more often than positive people.  It will take time to ‘re-train’ your brain to think positively but you can do it with persistence and effort. When something stressful happens, try to focus on what you can do to improve the situation, change things or make things better. Don’t be the victim.  Take ACTION and KNOW that you can do it! STAY STRONG AND READY – If you are under a lot of stress, you need to train like an athlete. Exercise 3-4 times per week (moderate walking is great exercise).  Swimming, biking or other activities are good.  Whatever you LIKE to do and can sustain over a period of time.  Eat the right foods.  Stress makes you want the comfort foods like chocolate, pasta, etc. Be sure to get enough protein, vegetables and grains.  Get plenty of sleep, avoid smoking or masking your stress with alcohol or drugs. 
ESTABLISH A GOOD FOUNDATION – No one can make it through life alone, even those with very little stress in their lives. In fact, loneliness is its own form of stress and it is very real.  Develop outside interests, hobbies, friends, and activities to balance your life. All work is boring and one-dimensional and staying home alone to watch TV or play video games doesn’t exactly give you personal interaction or support. If you aren’t good at making friends, join an organization or association that will put you in proximity to others so you can find a friend or two and bond! Be sure you have some goals in your life and that you know what is important to you and don’t ignore these things.  Actively pursue them!
COMMUNICATE – Don’t expect  people to read your mind or hide your feelings or thoughts when things are bothering you or when you have things you want to accomplish. 

Reach out to friends, family and co-workers and keep them informed so they know where you are coming from and what is important to you. 
BE FIRM AND ASSERTIVE – Many people experience stress from keeping their mouths shut and not speaking up because they were taught not to make waves or to say ‘no’. Know your limitations and tell people when you are overwhelmed.  AND, don’t let others walk on you or control you.  If you are in a controlling relationship or in a job where you are being pushed around, look carefully at the situation and try to break that habit. Get out of situations where you are the ‘door mat’ and start to think and act and think for yourself.

You will be much less stressed!, For more information on how to overcome stress, please check our Stress Relief Pages.