Try Physical Activity

　　When you’re nervous, angry or upset, try releasing the pressure through exercise or physical activity. Running, walking, playing tennis, or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Physical exercise will relieve your anxiety and worry and help you relax. Your body and your mind will work together to ease the stress in your life.

　　Share Your Stress

　　It helps to talk with someone about your anxieties and worries. Perhaps a friend, family member, teacher, or counselor can help you achieve a more positive perspective on what’s troubling you. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek professional help from a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. Knowing when to ask for help is a positive step in avoiding more serious problems later.

　　Take Care of Yourself

　　You should make every effort to eat well and to get enough rest. If you’re irritable and tense from lack of sleep, or if you’re not eating properly, you’ll be more vulnerable to stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult your doctor.

　　Make Time for Yourself

　　Schedule time for both work and recreation. Don’t forget, play can be just as important to your overall well-being as work. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun. Go window-shopping or work on a hobby. Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy.

　　Make a List of the Things You Need to Do

　　Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that “there’s so much to do, and not enough time”. Trying to take care of everything at once can be overwhelming, and as a result, you may not accomplish anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Give priority to the most important tasks and do those first.

　　Go Ahead and Cry

　　A good cry can be a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety. It might even help you avoid a headache or other physical consequence of anxiety and stress.

　　Create a Quiet Scene

　　You can’t always run away, but you can allow yourself a mental “get-away”. A quiet country scene painted mentally, or on canvas, can transport you from the tension of a stressful situation to a more relaxing frame of mind. You also can create a sense of peace and tranquility by reading a good book or listening to beautiful music.

　　Avoid Self-Medication

　　While you can use prescription or over-the-counter medications to relieve stress temporarily, they do not remove the conditions that caused the stress in the first place. In fact, many medications may be habit-forming and also may reduce your efficiency, thus creating more stress than they eliminate. They should be taken only on the advice of your doctor.

　　Relax

　　The best strategy for reducing or avoiding stress altogether is to learn how to relax. Unfortunately, many people try to relax at the same pace that they lead the rest of their lives. That doesn’t work. Instead, try tuning out your worries about time, productivity and “doing right”. Here are several relaxation techniques you may find helpful:

　　—You should take a deep breath and exhale to help calm your mind, counter your body’s natural stress reaction and improve your response.

　　—You should laugh. Many stress management experts advocate laughter as a relaxation technique for relieving tension.

　　—You should take a warm bath or shower. Whether you prefer bubble baths or long hot showers, this is an excellent way to relax after a stressful day.

　　—You should try progressive muscle relaxation. Individual contract and relax each muscle group of your body. Begin by tensing your toes for 10 seconds, then relax them for 20. Work all the way up your body, alternately tensing and relaxing, and finish with your facial muscles.

　　By learning the “art” of relaxation, you’ll find satisfaction in just “being”, without trying or striving. Your focus on relaxation, enjoyment and health will reduce stress, anxiety and worry in your life. The result is, you will be calmer, healthier and happier.