|
People who
don't manage stress well can have headaches, stomach pain,
sleeping problems, illness, and depression. You can manage
stress by meditating, exercising, talking to others, or
engaging in a hobby.
What happens when you are stressed?
Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you
are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as
though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your
heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of
energy.
If you already have a health problem, stress may make it
worse. It can make you moody, tense, or depressed. Your
relationships may suffer, and you may not do well at work.
What can you do about stress?
Find out what is causing stress in your life.
Look for ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life.
Learn healthy ways to relieve stress or reduce its harmful
effects.
It's important to figure out what causes stress for you.
Everyone feels and responds to stress differently. Get a
notebook, and write down when something makes you feel
stressed. Then write how you reacted and what you did to deal
with the stress. Keeping a stress journal can help you find
out what is causing your stress and how much stress you feel.
Then you can take steps to reduce the stress or handle it
better.
How can you avoid stress?
You may not be able to get rid of stress, but you can look for
ways to lower it.
Learn better ways to manage your time. You may get more done
with less stress if you make a schedule. Think about which
things are most important, and do those first.
Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat well.
Don't smoke. Limit how much alcohol you drink.
Try out new ways of thinking. When you find yourself starting
to worry, try to stop the thoughts.
Let go of things you cannot change. Learn to say "no."
Speak up. Not being able to talk about your needs and concerns
creates stress and can make negative feelings worse.
Ways to relax your mind
Write. It may help to write about things that are bothering
you. This helps you find out what is causing your stress and
how much stress you feel. After you know, you can find better
ways to cope.
Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger
when you need to.
Do something you enjoy. You may feel that you're too busy to
do these things. But making time to do something you enjoy can
help you relax. It might also help you get more done in other
areas of your life. Focus on the present.
Meditate. When you meditate, you focus your attention on
things that are happening right now. Paying attention to your
breathing is one way to focus.
Stress Management - Ways to Avoid Stress
Stress is a part of life, and you can't always avoid it. But
you can try to avoid situations that can cause it, and you can
control how you respond to it. The first step is knowing your
own coping strategies.
After you know what is causing your stress, try making some
changes in your life that will help you avoid stressful
situations.
The choices you make about the way you live affect your stress
level. Your lifestyle may not cause stress on its own, but it
can prevent your body from recovering from it.
Start by looking at how you spend your time. Maybe there are
things that you don't need to do at all. Finding a balance can
be especially hard during the holidays.
Have a sense of purpose in life. Many people find meaning
through connections with family, friends, jobs, or volunteer
work.
Get enough sleep. Your body recovers from the stresses of the
day while you are sleeping.
Adopt healthy habits. Eat a healthy diet, limit how much
alcohol you drink, and don't smoke. Staying healthy is your
best defense against stress.
Exercise. Even moderate exercise, such as taking a daily walk,
can reduce stress.
All the best.
"The author is a Lecturer in a reputed college and handling
computer science subjects for BCA and MCA students. She is
also a student counselor."
|
