Cope with stress so it doesn’t control you
If you find your home and work schedules full and life is causing you stress, be aware that it can take a toll on your health. Too much stress can affect your mood, making you anxious or restless. It can lead to negative behaviors, such as overeating or eating poorly. And it can attack your body, causing headaches, fatigue and other health problems.
Some stress is unavoidable, but you can learn to cope with it so stress doesn’t control you.
Consider the four As of stress relief: Avoid, Alter, Accept, Adapt.
• Avoid situations you know to trigger your stress.
• Alter your perception to make the situation better.
• Accept the things you can’t change.
• Adapt your standards and expectations to create less stressful situations.
Here are some ways to manage stress you can’t avoid:
Get active
Watching television, surfing the internet or playing video games might seem relaxing, but they are passive activities that can actually increase stress in the long run. To de-stress, try getting active instead. Get up, go for a walk, wash the car, do a little gardening — anything that gets you moving can help. Getting physical activity every day can help relieve stress.
Change your mindset
Here are some ways to clear your head when life begins to overwhelm you:
• Practice relaxation and positive thinking. This can alter your perception and calm you.
• Practice gratitude. By focusing on the good, you can see things more positively and change your perception.
• Participate in activities you enjoy.
• Learn how your body reacts to stress and teach yourself to take deep breaths, slow your heart rate and remain positive.
• Spend time with supportive people.
• Write in a journal if you need a more private outlet than confiding in someone else.
• Understand your emotions. Are you really stressed, or just upset about something? Identifying the issue is the first step in fixing a problem.
Manage your time, maintain perspective
If work is causing you stress, sharpen your time-management skills and maintain perspective:
• Set realistic goals, expectations and deadlines.
• Prepare a list of tasks to complete, and rank them.
• Block time on your calendar to work without interruptions.
• Talk to trusted colleagues about your situation and listen to them.
• Take a break. A few minutes of personal time can be refreshing.
• Have an outlet. Set aside time for an activity that you enjoy.
• Take care of yourself. Get physical activity, sleep, and eat a healthy diet.