|
 |
Women's Center: Health
Stress:
How do you manage stress? Did you know that you can use stress to your advantage?
Everyone feels stressed at one time or another. Turning stress into positive energy may actually help you become more productive and healthy. The trick to managing stress lies in balancing stress. Stress falls under two categories, positive and negative. Your body can't tell the difference between the two, and it reacts in the same way, such as a hormone release or an adrenaline rush, an increase in heartbeat and blood pressure, or a rise in your sugar level.
Negative stress with no release may manifest itself in headaches, backaches, depression, anxiety, tense muscles, and even ulcers and heart attacks. Positive stress--when stress is turned into productive energy--motivates people to accomplish and meet life's challenges. That is why it's important to learn how to release tension, relax, and use stress to your advantage.
Stress is defined as a response by your body to any demand made upon it. Recognize your "stressors" and then analyze your body's reaction. If your body is responding negatively, figure out a way to calm your nerves. This may mean changing your routine or taking five minutes to sit back and breath. By continually minimizing stress's effects you will eventually learn ways to balance, alleviate, and turn stress into something positive.
Minimize The Effects
- Take time for yourself to relax each day.
- Exercise regularly, after getting your doctor's approval.
- Learn to "let go" of things that are outside your control.
- Learn to adapt to changes.
- Learn to take action when you can make a difference.
- Have confidence in yourself and your abilities.
- Surround yourself with people you enjoy.
- Avoid excessive alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, fats, and sugar.
- Go away for the weekend.
- Change your daily routine.
- Give your time to something or someone you believe in.
- Take up a hobby.
- Learn something new.
- Try something new.
- Open your world.
- Listen to music
- Light some candles and enjoy the atmosphere.
- Day dream for a little bit everyday
- Set some new goals and take action to achieve them
- Write a letter to someone
- Go shopping and treat yourself
- Pamper yourself for a day
*Some of this information provided by Parlay International.
Try the relaxation techniques recommended below. They can help you relieve physical and emotional tension.
RELAX YOUR BODY
- Deep Breathing. While sitting, lying down, or standing, close your eyes and breathe in slowly. Let the breath out for a count of 5-10 seconds. Take ten of these super-relaxers any time you feel tense.
- Stretching. Practice simple stretches such as the "neck stretch". Stretch your neck by gently rolling your head in a half-circle, starting at one side, then dropping your chin to your chest, then to the other side.
- Exercise. All kinds of physical activity--hiking, running, Tae-Bo, weight lifting, etc-help to reduce stress.
- Take a bath or a long hot shower. Ask roommates to allow you at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time.
- Get a massage. A massage is a wonderful way to get rid of physical tension. Professional masseuses will work on specific areas of tension, such as lower back or neck.
- Eat Well. Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake. Find out if your diet is well balanced, and take steps to eat healthily to help reduce stress.
RELAX YOUR EMOTIONS
- Talk. Take the time to talk with a friend, partner, or child. Express feelings you might have been holding in. Listen carefully to your partner. Walking in a quiet neighborhood or park can limit distractions.
- Laugh. Go to a comedy club, see a funny movie, or spend time with a funny friend.
- Cry. Crying can be as good a release as laughing. If you haven't cried in a long time, try listening to sad music, watching a sad movie or writing about a sad experience.
- Read. A good book is a great escape. Reading a tearjerker or comedy can help release pent-up emotions.
- Do something you love. When you enjoy yourself, whether dancing, hanging out with friends, listening to music, you relax your emotions.
[ return to top ]
|
|
|
