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Tips for Relieving Stress

Affect of Stress on Our Body

Factors that Trigger Stress

Stress Management

Laugh More
Laughter is one of the most effective ways to manage stress. Laughter can help you boost your immune system. This means that you will be less prone to colds and flu and, if you do get sick, you will get better that much faster.

Be Flexible
The way you typically see the world and respond to events and people in it is called your personality. A sure–fire way to manage stress is to experiment with different parts of your personality. Be flexible. You don’t always have to be passive or controlling. Do whatever the situation demands, not what your habit or personality dictates. Being more flexible in your personality helps you manage stress by allowing you to try different ways of talking to people and dealing with events rather than acting out of habit or doing what makes you feel safe.

Breathe
When we become stressed, our bodies start to breath more rapidly and our heart rate increases. However, we also breathe more shallowly so there isn’t a very efficient and healthy exchange between getting fresh oxygen in and getting waste gases out. Poor breathing contributes in this way to anxiety and fatigue, and makes stressors harder to cope with. Relaxed breathing is an effective way to manage stress. Be aware of your breathing. You can also take a few deep, relaxing breaths while in a washroom cubicle, waiting at a traffic light, waiting for a meeting to begin, etc.

Say “No”
Stress management is sometimes a matter of reducing the demands that are placed upon you. However, many of these demands come from saying “Yes” to too many things. Think about the things that you would like to do and separate these from the things that you have to do and begin to say “No” to some of the expectations other people place upon you if they aren’t “Have to’s”. You are the best judge. Do what takes care of you, your career, your family, and your relationships. Everything else you agree to is a bonus and should only be considered if you have time and energy.

Make mistakes, and live with them
Believe it or not, this is good advice. Being perfect at everything you do is very taxing and stressful. You don’t have to be the best at everything. Sometimes people who set high standards for themselves get caught in a perfection trap. If they succeed at meeting their personal standards, they only set their standards higher the next time round. So they never feel that they have done a good job. Be a little less hard on yourself, let yourself make some mistakes if they aren’t critical. Set reasonable goals and strive to do your best. Learn from failure but don’t beat yourself over the head when you make a mistake. Be a bit easier on yourself. Can you manage that? Well, try.

Play with a pet
There is a lot of wisdom in this tip. First of all, playing with a pet can distract you from your worries. So rather than ruminate and feel stressed, focus your thoughts on your pet and thereby begin to feel better. Second, there is a real physical benefit from playing with pets. It can leave you feeling happier and healthier. Finally, playing with your pet may offer you a chance to get active.

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