10 Ways to Combat Stress
We all suffer from stress at times. In these days of demanding work and home
schedules, it's tougher than ever to keep the stress at bay. Following are
some ways to help relieve stress-inducing patterns:
- Change your scenery. When stress sets in, place yourself in a different
environment for five to ten minutes. If you're reading at your desk, move to
a bench outside. The new setting can arouse your senses and replace your
stress with more pleasing stimuli.
- Start exercising. Begin rhythmic exercises, such as jumping jacks or just
roll your head in a relaxing circular motion. Physical activity can give you
a feeling of control and work off your negative energy. Breathing slowly and
deeply also helps prevent stress from overwhelming you.
- Write it down. Start a journal where you can jot down some of your
thoughts about what's bothering you and help yourself put stress into
perspective. The act of writing down your concerns helps you adopt an
outlook of healthy detachment.
- Keep a good sense of humor. Laugh at least once a day, preferably out
loud, as often as you can. Studies show that chronic pain sufferers who
belly laugh several times a day, complain less of their pain after a few
weeks.
- Stop everything. When you start feeling stressed, stop what you're doing
and spend just a few minutes breathing deeply.
- Take a walk. Walking just five minutes with your mind focused on your
stride and rhythmic breathing does wonders to clear your mind. Step outside,
swing your arms back and forth and breathe deeply for an energy boost.
Exercise is the number one preventative of stress.
- Say no to what you don't have time to do. Lowering the demands you put on
yourself actually relieves stress. Sometimes saying no is necessary in
taking care of yourself.
- Take care of taxing tasks in the morning to get them out of the way.
Usually in the morning when you are fresh and rested is the best time to
take care of projects that require concentration. Look at large projects as
a series of steps to complete one by one.
- Devote three hours each week to you and you alone, and don't let anyone
steal that time away. Take up a hobby or pick up a book that you've always
wanted to read.
- Live for today. Don't dwell in the past for worry about the future. Live
in the moment.
