5 Stress Relief Tips For Managing Your Daily Stress

Stress can effect your life We all experience stress on a day to day basis. Chronic stress can have negative long term effects. It can effect our mood, our concentration level and even effect us physically as well. While it can be difficult to rid your life of any stress at all, knowing how to manage your stress can be key to not letting your stress control you! Use the tips below to help you effectively manage your stress. What causes stress? Stress is caused by a certain stimulus (event) and stress is your reaction to it. Different people define stress differently because we all have different ways in which we react to a stressor. Stress can manifest itself in many different ways such as: anxiety, fear, nervousness, irritability, anger, etc. If you feel a certain situation is beyond your ability to handle or to control, you are likely to feel stress. According to the Mayo Clinic it is important to “ identify your stress triggers.” In other words you must figure out what things cause you to feel stress. Identify what stresses you out Knowing the problem is half the battle. Once you have identified certain things in your life that increase your level of stress, you can begin to make a plan to cope with these things. Sometimes it may even be possible to eliminate certain stressors in your life. For example, if you get stressed in heavy traffic, it may be possible that by changing the route you take may decrease your stress by taking a route with less traffic. Put things in perspective Are your fears realistic? Or are they unrealistic? Do you have accurate expectations of yourself or are you putting to much pressure on yourself? Considering these things can really help in putting things in a different light and help you to relieve some of your stress. Take a deep breath If something stressful is taking place, try deep breathing. Hold it for three seconds and then let it out slowly. Continue doing this until you can fully count to ten when exhaling. Taking time to do this can slow your heart rate and assist in helping you feel more relaxed. Find something that you enjoy to do Do something that helps to decrease your stress. This is different for different people. This may be listening to music, reading, taking a bubble bath, taking a walk, or journaling. The key is to find something that you enjoy and to continue doing that on a regular basis. Learn to say no Many times we stretch ourselves to thin and there just aren’t enough time in the day for everything that you want to get done. If you are known for always doing things for others, don’t forget to do things for yourself too. You are just as important as everyone else. Remember that if you don’t take care of yourself that you can’t take care of yourself. It doesn’t mean that you have to start saying no to everything, but before you say ‘yes’ think about what else you have already committed yourself to doing. You have all the tools you need! Practicing these 5 simple steps can greatly reduce your stress. Stressful situations will continue to come up from time to time. Having the proper tools to cope with the stress will make all the difference. Original article from:rnhttp://www.suite101.com/content/5-stress-relief-tips-for-managing-your-daily-stress-a345340rn