Just when you thought the stress level in your life could not get any worse it has. Well hold on there! There are plenty of ways to ease the stress you are feeling. All you need to do is to tap into the methods that are most beneficial for you. Here we offer five more ways to send stress out the door!
- Take a close look at your habits (your bad habits that is).We all have them so be honest with yourself. If you smoke give serious thought to quitting. While you may crave your pack of cigarettes when you are feeling stressed the nicotine in them is actually a stimulant that can worsen your stress symptoms – even if you think it is making them better. Smoking is bad for you in so many ways so ending the habit can help to reduce the stress you are experiencing and can improve your health. Do an inventory of your other bad habits and take steps to correct them as well.
- Learn to assert yourself and to say no when it is required. You need to stand up for yourself while at the same time respecting other people. You also need to learn not to always give in to the demands and high expectations of others. This tends to be more difficult for women to do than men as they fear the disapproval of others more. If you do not have the time, energy, resources or even interest in doing something then graciously learn the art of saying “No thank you.” Once you stop agreeing to everything that is requested of you then you will be able to breathe easier and feel less overwhelmed by stress.
- Explore the different types of relaxation techniques that are available and then put them to use. Take time to relax your body and mind each and every day. Choose light methods of relaxation and intersperse them with deeper relaxation strategies. Here are some examples of relaxation methods to learn more about- deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, relaxing to music and mental imagery relaxation.
- Never forget your spirit and the core of you which is your values and beliefs. Base your actions, behaviors and decisions on your values and what you believe in and stand for. When you do what you know to be right for yourself intrinsically you can reduce your stress because you are being true to yourself.
- When stress threatens to engulf you remind yourself that you are a worthwhile person. Learn an affirmation and repeat it to yourself when you are feeling under pressure. Do what you can to cultivate your self-worth and sense of self-esteem. This will help anchor you when you are not feeling so good about life.
Stress is something that we cannot eliminate completely. Instead it is important to look for ways to reduce stress in your life. Try as many ways as you can in order to discover what works best for you!
More tips to reduce stress here.
Becca
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