What You Can Do To Reduce Stress?

In our latest article: The Negative Power of Stress… we discussed the effect of stress. Today I want to focus on the solution part; how to reduce the daily stress…

Stress has become a big part of our daily lives. If it’s not stress at work, it’s stress with children, money issues, lack of time and too many obligations.

We all know that this stress is not good for us. In fact, most of us know that stress can make us very ill.

The key to surviving our stressful lives is in knowing how to manage stress – how to find a semblance of peace and content amid the chaos.

Some of the major ways you can reduce stress in your daily life include:

1. taking time during the day to do something enjoyable for you,
2. getting plenty of sleep, and
3. taking some time to exercise each day – even if it’s for 10 minutes.

Taking a “breather” during the workday always helps to clear the mind. If you can, take a brief break from what you are doing, especially if it something particularly challenging, and do something that you enjoy – getting a cup of coffee, or taking a quick stroll outside.

Adequate sleep is a good way to recharge your batteries and let your body get the rest it needs to face the next day. If you’re working on only 5 hours of sleep, you are more vulnerable to the negative effects of stress.

Getting plenty of rest also boosts your immune system and will help you fight illness.

Exercise is a known stress reducer in that you are expending energy, and letting your body release “feel good” hormones. Of course, always check with your doctor before you begin any type of exercise program.

The American Heart Association, on its website, www.americanheart.org. lists 12 specific stress reducers.

These recommendations have to do with taking charge of your life in how you react to negative situations, not accepting more than you can handle, looking at the good, rather than the bad in a situation, not resorting to alcohol or drugs to obtain a relief from stress, and doing things like joining a stress support group.

Many times we make our own stress when we react to situations with a negative attitude, or when we take on things we know will just add to our already overextended schedule.

A good practice would be to STOP AND THINK before we decide to take on new responsibilities outside of work.

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Photo by tati.ana- flickr.com.