10 Tips to Manage Stress

Learning how to manage your stress takes practice, but you can — and need to — do it. Here are 10 ways to make it easier.Between juggling work, family, and other commitments, you can become too stressed out and busy. You need to set time aside to unwind or your mental and physical health can suffer.

Exercise

Work up to 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise like brisk walks or 75 minutes of a more vigorous exercise like swimming laps, jogging or other sports.

• Focus on setting fitness goals you can meet so you don’t give up. Remember, any exercise is better than none at all.

Go easy on yourself

Accept that you cannot control everything in your life.

Deep Breathing

Sit in a comfortable position with your hands in your lap and your feet on the floor.

• Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a relaxing place. Take deep breaths in and out. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

Make Time for Hobbies

Do something every day that makes you feel good, and it will help relieve your stress.

Eat Well

A balanced, well-balanced diet will help you feel better overall and control your moods.

• Include vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein in your diet, and don’t skip any of these nutrients!
• If you skip any, you may be putting yourself in a bad mood, which can increase stress.

Talk About Your Problems

If things are bothering you, talking about them can help lower your stress.

• Self-talk
• Listen closely to what you are thinking or saying when you are stressed out, and change the negative message in your mind
• For example, don’t tell yourself “I can’t do this.” Tell yourself, “I’m doing the best I can.”

Eliminate your triggers

Identify and identify the biggest causes of stress in your life.

Slow Down

Find small ways to make time go by faster

• Set your watch 5 to 10 minutes ahead to avoid being late
• Switch to the slow lane to avoid road rage
• Break down big jobs into smaller ones
• Don’t answer all emails if you don’t have to

Take a Break

plan on some real downtime to give your mind time off from stress. Restful things to do include: Prayer, listening to favorite music, spending time in nature, and writing down all of the things that bring you stress-relieving joy.

Source