Simple ten tips for stress management
Here is a quick list of stress management tips that you can implement into your busy lifestyle to limit the affect that stress could have on your health. If you can implement just a few of these tips you might find that your stress levels are significantly reduced. What's more, most of them are easy and enjoyable to do.
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Exercise – Adrenaline is produced and circulated throughout the body via the bloodstream when a stressful situation is encountered. It is often dubbed the 'fight or fight' hormone as it prepares the body for sudden exertion. However in this day and age, most stressful situations cannot be resolved by sudden exertion and this energy builds up in the body. The best way to release this energy is to do some exercise.
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Limit caffeine intake – you've probably heard this already but caffeine is believed to mimic the 'fight or flight' response in the body. Find an alternative to coffee like green tea or a caffeine free coffee.
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Take a hobby – a hobby can give you a break from everyday stresses and a sense of achievement. Remember that a hobby should not be stressful. If you are getting stressed out by a hobby maybe you should get a new hobby.
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Listen to music – Ambient music is created to change the mood of the people listening to it.It is often dubbed as chill-out music which sums up the way it can calm nerves and relieve stress. Even if you don't like ambient music, any kind of music can have beneficial effects on someones stress level.
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Keep a journal or diary – writing a daily entry on paper forces a person to work through any daily problems and keep in control of potential problems. Losing control of a situation is bad for stress levels.
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Keep in touch with your friends – sounds obvious but people can get so involved in work or other things that they can let friendships slip. Keeping in touch keeps a person grounded and gives them a outlet to talk about personal problems.
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Treat yourself every so often – getting into a rut can lead to chronic stress, a treat can help to get you out of the rut.
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Laugh – schedule a dose of humor in your life either once a week or once a day if possible. Watch a comedy movie, go to a stand up night or play a silly board game at home with friends. Humor is a perfet tonic to defuse stress.
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Take a long,hot bath – soaking in a bath can sooth weary joints and muscles. The act of relaxing can sooth a stressed mind. Put some baths salts or oil in to add some aromatherapy to the mix. Read your favourite book to forget your day to day stresses.
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Don't do too much – prioritise things, you can't do everything but by listing things they will eventually get done. Setting over ambitious schedules might feel like you are living life to the full but always try to remain realistic.
Stress management is about taking control of stressful situations rather than being controlled by them. Simple actions, like some mentioned above, can help you to gain control, and create a lifestyle that can deal with stress or have an alternative outlet for it.
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