How to Manage and Reduce Stress - Easy Steps to Reduce Stress.*Sometimes something so simple can prevent us for seeing what is right in front of us. Often we do not develop goals on a topic within our life, so the final outcome can seem unobtainable. This does not have to be the case on how to manage and reduce stress. Keep reading and we will show you easy steps to reduce stress while we explore the topic how to manage and reduce stress using easy steps to reduce stress.
Where do I start to manage and reduce stress? Well the first step is understanding stress and how it affects us. Good stress drives us to perform better. Other stress is destructive, slows our thought process and can finally manifest itself as physical illness.
Understanding and Managing Stress. What is stress? Dictionary.com defines stress as we are discussing it here (as a verb; used without an object)“to experience stress or worry: Don’t stress about the turkey; I promise it will be delicious. Dad is always stressing over his job.” Stress management is simply a program or techniques used to deal with stress by taking actions to reduce stress effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high stress levels can lead to some or all of the following:
· Disbelief and Shock· Tension and irritability· Fear and anxiety about the future· Difficulty making decisions· Being numb to one’s feelings· Loss of interest in normal activities· Loss of appetite· Nightmares and recurring thoughts about the event· Anger· Increased use of alcohol and drugs· Sadness and other symptoms of depression· Feeling powerless· Crying· Sleep problems· Headaches, back pains, and stomach problems· Trouble concentrating
As such, the ability to manage stress becomes paramount for most people.
What is my current stress level? There are all kinds of online resources and quizzes you can take in order to determine your current stress level. However, if you are reading this, you likely found this page because you have stress. Take this test available through the Mayo Clinic or search for stress tests on the internet and determine your current stress level for yourself. This should give you a baseline of how stressed you currently are.Best Practices to Manage Stress and Steps to Reducing Stress. Many ways exist to reduce stress, although, some are better than others. Some stress reducing activities like drinking alcohol, over eating, watching too much TV, over sleeping, and other destructive behaviors can temporarily reduce stress. However, these negative stress reducing activities can lead to long term health problems and long term stress. Healthier ways to reduce stress include figuring out what triggers your stress responses and avoiding those situations. For example, if certain conversations increase your stress levels (politics, religion, etc…) it may be best to avoid those situations. If traffic induces high stress levels, take an alternate route or leave earlier.
