10 Top Tips for Managing stress
Follow these 10 top tips for managing stress and restoring calm in your world.
1. Awareness: Be aware of your warning signs so that you can act on them. The key to successful stress managment is to know your triggers and signs so you can do something constructive to change them.
2. Locate the cause: Find our what is causing your stress. Keep a stress diary or make a stress map to reveal your stressors. It may reveal some things that were not immediately obvious.
3. Learn relaxation breathing: Slow down your breathing to activate your natural relaxation response. Make the out breath longer to calm down your nervous system and clear your mind.
4. Physical activity: Make activity a part of your day as it uses up stress hormones and helps keep you fit and healthy. A brisk walk in the morning and at lunchtime can greatly improve your well-being.
5. Go with the flow: Many things in life are unavoidable and beyond our control. Learn to manage your response rather than the event.
6. Develop good health habits: At times of stress we often turn to comfort eating and increase our alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine intake. Recognise this is what you are doing and make changes toward more health sustaining behaviour.
7. Rehearse: Practice how you are going to handle an upcoming stressful event. 'See' yourself handling it well and 'play' this script over and over before the event.
8. Preparation: Similarly, if we have a big event on the horizon, take the necessary steps to prepare yourself for success well in advance.
9. Know your limits: Be realistic about what you can achieve in a day. Set reasonable priorities. If time managment is an issue, take action to resolve it.
10. Get support: Talking things through with someone can be helpful but there may be very stressful times when you need the extra support of a health professional.