Stress and tension can be normal reactions to situations that threaten a person. How we deal with these situations and pressures will dicatate our mental, emotional, and physical health. How a person perceives a stress-provoking situation and how they react to it determines its impact on health. Thus, the thoughts a person has about stressful situations determines whether these particular situations are a problem to them.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada along with the Canadian Mental Health Association provide ideas and tools to help you deal with stress and tension. The following tips are ways to get you started managing the stress in your life.
Tips for dealing with stress and tension.
- Recognize your symptoms of stress.
- Look at your lifestyle and see what can he changed. For instance, your work situation, your family situation, or your schedule.
- Use relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or forms of alternative health care.
- Exercise is one of the most effective stress remedies out there.
- Time management allows you to do essential tasks and prioritize others.
- Watch your diet as alcohol, caffiene, sugar, fats, and tobacco all put a strain on the ability of your body to cope with stress.
- Get enough rest and sleep regularily.
- Talk with others such as friends, professional counsellors, support groups, or relatives about things that are bothering you.
- Help others in the form of volunteer work which can be an effective and satisfying stress reliever.
- Try to get away from it all by reading a book, watching a movie, playing a game, listening to music, or going on a vacation.
- Work off your anger by getting physically active. Dig in the garden, start a project, or get some cleaning done around the house.
- Give in occassionally by avoiding quarrels when possible.
- Try to tackle one thing at a time.
- Try not to be perfect at everything.
- Ease up on criticism of others.
- Try not to be too competetive all the time.
- Make the first move to be friendly.
- Above all, have some fun. Laugh and be with the people you enjoy most.
By understanding your reactions to stress-provoking situations, you can learn to handle stress more effectively. The next time you feel stressed, take the time to check your body, your emotions, and your behaviour. If you recognize some of your usual signs of stress, then you have a clue that you need to try and cope with the situation in order to reduce stress.
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