How to Manage Stress during Recession

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By shadowynight23
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Manage Stress

With the US economy on a slippery slope, stress has increased among citizens due to various reasons. Some have lost jobs, taken pay cuts, are at risk of losing their job or business, dived deeper into debt, or even lost their homes. All of these issues have one thing in common…they cause stress. Even though times are hard, there are ways to manage stress in a healthy way.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

The desire to manage stress

Step 1

First and foremost, the best way to begin to manage stress is to BREATHE. Western society is known to breathe with the chest rather than from the diaphragm. Breathing with the chest can cause tension in the shoulders, back, arms, and the muscles surrounding these areas. Tension can cause severe pain and headaches, but can be relieved by learning to breathe correctly. A suggestion would be to take up Tai Chi or Chi Kung, if it is affordable, of course. Tai Chi or Chi Kung will help teach you to breathe properly and release tension throughout your entire body. Basically, Tai Chi or Chi Kung helps you to RELAX and manage stress.
Step 2

Start an EXERCISE regimen. There is no need to join a gym if your do not want to or cannot afford it. Find friends who would like to get a bit of a workout as well. If you prefer, you can always workout by yourself. Take a walk or jog around your neighborhood. Heavy workouts will greatly help to manage stress. The following workouts are great for burning calories and help to manage stress: jogging, sprints, lunges, jumping jacks, jumping rope, boxing, aerobics and much more.
Step 3

TALK to others who are dealing with the same issues you are. You can either talk with friends or find support groups online for those who are suffering during recession. Simply talking to someone can help you manage stress.
Step 4

THINK POSITIVE. The worst way to manage stress is to think negative. Always remember that the grass is greener on the other side. You only have to make it over the hill, but be willing to get there. Recession is not the end of the world. Manage stress now!

Comments

hlthychoclitnut said

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on 11/12/2009 Thanks for these tips on How to Manage Stress during Recession

yonni said

on 2/22/2009 I am one of the people who had a foreclosure during these hard times and find these tips quite helpful. Fighting the fear IS KEY (arising from anxiety of deviating from the social norm of owning a house and leading a comfortable life). This fear may be exaggerated if one does not go through the process of 'intellectualization' early on--say the first two days. You have got to know the scale of your crisis and the 'major life crisis scale' may help one know their situation as may separating their wants from needs--hard if you do not engage in 'repression'

on 2/22/2009 Then do something about your diet…cut alcohol. And Craft short-term and long-term goals. Identifying your personality and using your strengths will help a lot--you can do this in a detailed way on one found on www.personalty100.com. Then use the 'ok matrix' to identify what is called your 'life position'. Most of these psychological techniques are well described in many psychology books but, '7 proven steps: how to defeat stress without going through the embarrassment of counseling', found at amazon.com puts them all together and more in the context of the financial crisis and in a day by day approach (day 1 to day 21). I felt it changed my outlook of life and gave me practical solutions.