Reducing Stress Levels

In our previous post we discussed the impact of stress on mental and physical health, and a few ways to begin reducing stress levels. This post will pick up with further ways to reduce stress levels and begin to see improvement in the way you feel.

Simple physical activities such as enjoying leisure time, listening to music, meditating, deep breathing, and using positive visualization, are methods of relieving stress. These are easy to implement and have huge benefits.

Being organized is another stress reducer. The better prepared you are, the less likely the situation is to become stressful. For example, when traveling, planning ahead and being prepared to be on time will create a much less stressful trip than being unorganized, rushing, and fearing that you will miss your plane.  Recognizing what situations cause stress will allow you to better control them.

Keep your emotions in check as well. Becoming emotional usually indicates that you feel you are losing control. The more emotional you become the more risk you are at for becoming illogical in your responses and making further bad decisions - which causes you to feel in further out of control. This can become a vicious cycle.  Realize that people are not always going to agree with you and you will often encounter annoying people. This is just a part of life. If you find yourself in stressful situations such as this, use the following ways to make the best of the situation.

• Identify key stressors - find out what is causing you to be.

• Recognize why and how your are reacting to the stressor.

• Take steps to better deal with the stress by visualizing and setting a goal for responding in a positive manner.

• Practice positive stress relief.

Take time to relax. Don't bring work troubles home with you and don't take home trouble to work. Create environments in which you can "get away from" the different stressors in your life. Develop realistic goals, and create and maintain a support network. Identify a few close friends and family members in whom you can confide and share concerns.

Remember, when you recoginize stressors and take care of yourself, you CAN reduce the impact that stress has on you.