How to Reduce Stress in Your Life

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Reduce Stress in Your Life

While some stress is actually necessary for you to function at your best, too much takes a mental and physical toll. Learn to manage stress levels to prevent anxiety, depression and other conditions.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Stress Management Counseling
Stress Relief Products
Notebooks
Pens
Personal Organizers
Pens
Notebooks

Step 1

Write down everything you have to do when you're feeling overwhelmed. Set a time frame, then block out when you will accomplish what. By divvying up your workload into manageable chunks, each with an allotted time, you'll feel more relaxed about the work before you.
Step 2

Concentrate on one task at a time. Stressing about work you haven't done yet only detracts from accomplishing the task at hand.
Step 3

Manage your energies wisely, prioritize your workload and put in less effort for low-priority jobs, and avoid expending energy on unimportant tasks.
Step 4

Delegate responsibility and get outside help if you feel overwhelmed. Hire a gardener for your lawn or a baby sitter for your child when you feel pressed for time.
Step 5

Reward yourself for accomplishing things. Acknowledge the work you put in and give yourself a pat on the back, instead of immediately rushing into the next task and creating more stress.
Step 6

Take small breaks during work. Visit a nearby café or take a quick walk, or allow yourself 10 minutes to relax in your office: Close your eyes, strip your mind of work-related thoughts, visualize a pleasant landscape or vacation scene and relax your muscles.
Step 7

Exercise regularly to maintain your health and release stress, or take up a hobby. Set aside some quiet time to meditate and relax.
Step 8

Give yourself vacations. If indulging in a long vacation (and staying away from work) seems even more stressful, try taking several short vacations per year.
Step 9

Maintain your perspective by asking yourself, "Is the situation at hand really that serious that I should become stressed-out about it?"

Comments

ianmogab said

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on 6/23/2009 I think Im gonna try this out. Seems very helpful.

AnneZ said

on 6/23/2009 LOTS of great advise. Stress can overwhelm even the most balanced person! 5*s

on 6/23/2009 Great tips! For me, I find remembering to take breaks throughout the day is really key or the stress builds up and it can be a lot harder to find the energy to dissipate *lots* of stress at the end of the day. But by being proactive and taking breaks, I arrive back home calm and ready to spend time with my family.

dibear said

on 6/23/2009 I'm a type A personality, so I need to take an aggressive approach to handling stress. I find that hardcore mountain biking is *the* stress reliever in my life. So, I love your #7, but it has to be aggressive.