Stress Reduction

Stress is a response brought about by change. Those changes can range from the negative of physical danger to the exhilaration of falling in love or achieving a hard-won success. In our daily living we are confronted with a continuous stream of potential stressors. Not all stress is bad and, in fact, is desirable and essential to life. In stressful situations such as the start of a competition or public speaking, stress can help us concentrate, focus, and perform. In a stressful situation, the body produces more hormones, like adrenalin. This results in increased blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar, triggering the classic “fight or flight” response.

Whether the stress you experience is due to major life changes or the accumulation of daily minor hassles, your response to these experiences determines the impact stress will have on your life. There are numerous negative and unhealthy ways to deal with stress that compound it. Poor nutritional habits or the use of chemicals such as caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine can magnify the body’s response to stress. However, there are many healthy ways to cope with, manage, and even prevent stress.

Stress Prevention*

1. Get up 15 minutes earlier in the morning.
2. Prepare for the morning the evening before—set clothes out, make lunches.
3. Don’t rely on your memory—write down appointments, make lists.
4. Laugh! Humor can be a great stress reliever.
5. Make duplicates of all keys and keep them hidden but accessible.
6. Practice preventative maintenance with your car, appliances, etc.
7. Do one thing at a time—finish one task before starting another.
8. lan ahead—keep the gas tank above ¼ full, purchase postage stamps before you run out, etc.
9. Don’t put up with something that doesn’t work right—get it fixed or get a new one.
10. Give yourself time—arrive 15 minutes early.
11. Be prepared to wait—carry a good book.
12. Set up contingency plans, just in case—“if we lose each other let’s meet here,” etc.
13. Relax your standards—the floors don’t have to be scrubbed every day.
14. Ask questions and take a few minutes to repeat back directions.<
15. Learn to say “no”—to things you don’t have time for or will resent doing.
16. Unplug your phone—disconnect from the world for a while to relax and take care of yourself.
17. Say you’re sorry—if you feel bad about something you did, you’ll feel much better.
18. Don’t procrastinate—do it now instead of tomorrow, get it over with.
19. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
20. Count your blessings—notice and acknowledge the things that go right in your life.

*The above list of twenty tips on stress prevention comes from the Hope Newsletter.