April 18 - National Stress Awareness Day

Today is National Stress Awareness Day, also known as “The Day After Taxes Are Due”.

Stress is one of the major causes of illnesses. The holiday was started in 1992 by the Health Resource Network to create awareness of the causes and cures.

Here are some suggestions to help you de-stress:

1. Talk! Don't hold all feelings in! Discuss your stressful feelings with someone you trust who will listen without being judgmental or pressuring you to their own point of view. Even if you can't change the immediate situation, talking about it helps alleviate some of the tension you may be feeling. Supplement with something physical: write it out, exercise or hit a pillow.

2. ACT! Be willing to make changes, no matter how small. Try to change the stressful situation, or at least some part of it. Moving forward in small ways helps you feel empowered and in control.

3. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! If you learn about how your body reacts to stress, you can learn how to counter that stress. Learn to listen to your body's signals and find ways to reduce your stress, even if it's just "taking five" to clear your mind. Relaxation exercises (E.g. Yoga, meditation, physical exercise) help, too.

4. DON'T OVERWHELM YOURSELF! If you are overwhelmed, you might be trying to handle too much. Rid yourself of extra duties. Learn how to delegate and how to say "no" without feeling guilty. Ask for help if you need it.

5. PRIORITIZE! You may not be able to avoid all the responsibilities you currently have, but you can learn how to complete them without feeling overwhelmed or stressed by prioritizing.

6. GET AWAY! Sometimes a change can do wonders. Forget it all for a while--escape! Go somewhere new for a few hours, or a few days if you can afford to. If not, it may be helpful just to "get away" to a warm bath for a little while!

7. LEARN HOW TO BE HAPPY! 7. One thing all of life's winners have in common is a sense of well-being, a positive attitude and realistic goals. Focus on the good things about yourself, and in your life. Nobody's perfect. Learn to enjoy the "little things" that make you happy.


Here's a link to something I like to do.



Sources:
Ways to Handle Stress (www.selfgrowth.com)