Let’s face it, there are tons of reasons to be stressed these days! Our jobs, the economy, the health of our family, the planet; you name it and stress can be there. Stress can sneak up on all of us, and it sometimes takes over before we know it. We can always think about the possibility that any given situation will cause us stress. Like everything else, if we have not practiced stress control techniques regularly, the effects are well on their way to causing us distress before we even realize what is happening.
Here are some tools that can help with control of stress:
1. Stay connected to friends. Laughter is good for the soul- we have all heard that saying! Laughter and companionship, sharing stories, experiences and good times releases hormones within the brain that are designed to help us feel better. These activities and the hormones that they help generate, lower the stress hormones thereby elevating mood and decreasing the bad effects on our bodies of stress.
2. Take care of your body. This seems simple enough. Like laughter, exercise helps with release of substances that improve our sense of well being. Healthy diet improves energy, sleep, endurance; all of which help you to feel in control of your body and your life. Making your health a priority improves sense of well being as you are doing something for yourself.
3. Become involved in an organization whose mission you agree with. Some of you may think, why spend my precious time on something like this?! The truth is, becoming involved in something outside yourself helps a sense of purpose and accomplishment. It can give us a perspective larger than ourselves and puts our problems and worries in a different light.
4. Develop your spirituality. Why are we here, what is the meaning of our lives? Many of us have wondered this from time to time. Devoting some part of our day or week in quiet contemplation of these issues helps to decrease stress. Quiet meditation or prayer, with focus on one thing and quieting the worries and lists of do’s and don’ts, can lower stress hormones and improve our response to stress.
5. Listen to your feelings and thoughts. By being in touch with your feeling and emotions, you can improve your choices and perhaps reactions to stress. You can place yourself in better situations and advocate for yourself. You will have a better understanding of how you will react in any given situation and better prepare for potential stressful times.
Regular practice of introspection, self respect, involvement in community and connection to friends all help to make us all feel that we are useful and valued by the people around us. This can lead to better stress control as we feel more empowered to meet the stress that life can bring us.
I try to practice as much of the above tips as I can, what about you? Any other tips?
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
Great list.
I would add do things you like, like gardening, reading, hiking, shopping anything that you like to do.
Wonderful advice! Thank-you!
Great post! Stress is present in everyone’s life nowadays….
Agree with Harlee: do what you like, what you love, what makes you tick. I would add: join a yoga class, practice a sport, get to know your city as a tourist, visit an old people’s home and engage the residents (they are not all old and feeble !), volunteer at a school (teachers are always grateful of a pair of hands)…..
Definitely doing what you love and what replenishes you, is how you can reduce stress. All of the above suggestions from readers are great! How you do it is as individual as your style. Thanks for the comments.