How to Reduce Stress

In our modern world, stress is hard to avoid. Our jobs, families, social pressures, and expectations can place a lot of responsibility on us and frazzle our minds and bodies. Too much stress can lead to overeating, over drinking, lack of exercise, and other physical symptoms like insomnia. Practicing simple tasks like the ones listed here to reduce your stress level can significantly improve the quality of your life!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Eliminate unnecessary stress. The first and most important thing you can do to reduce the stress in your life is to remove the unnecessary things that are causing you stress. This could mean not taking on new projects or responsibilities if you are already overwhelmed or avoiding the people who bring stress into your life whenever possible

2. Try practicing yoga or meditation. Yoga, Pilates, and other types of meditative exercises are some of the easiest ways you can reduce your physical and mental stress. Just practicing such exercises for thirty minutes three times a week can provide you with more physical flexibility, inner peace, and mental refreshment.

3. Express yourself. One thing that causes stress is keeping anger, grievances, or other emotions repressed. Keeping negative emotions inside only pushes them down temporarily. If you aren't comfortable sharing your feelings with the people around you or the source of your emotions, keep a journal. Just getting them out of your mind and onto paper can work wonders in relieving stress.

4. Be more active. Getting exercise is an important tool to reduce stress. even just getting outside to take a walk for twenty minutes a day can go a long way in relieving your anxiety.

5. Take time for yourself. This may mean ten minutes at the end of the day with a pleasure book, going to see films you enjoy, or even just sitting down with a nice warm cup of tea. Make time to do whatever relaxes you, and don't apologise for it! There is no way to care for anyone else, or any of your responsibilities if you do not care for yourself!

[dtwelloh]

on 2/6/2009 This is great information. Well written article. I give it 5 stars along with a recommendation.