Dealing with Stress

Here are some strategies to deal with stress:

1. Identify what is causing you stress: What is the source? Try to pinpoint what is bothering you.
2. Recognize what you can change: Change what you can if you can identify a solution.  If not seek to change your response.
3. Reduce the intensity of your reactions: Reassess the situation. Are you overreacting? Walk away if the situation is too intense. Return when you feel calm. Resolve not to let situations get you over excited.
4. Re-examine your attitudes and priorities: Are you taking on too much? Can something be delegated to someone else? Learn to say no. You are not a superhero. Make yourself a priority.
5. Get organized: Identify when you are best productive.  Take some down time. Get some rest. Be a more effective manager of your time.
6. Develop emotional support and use them: Open up and reach out to others. Try not to hold things inside. Set up a support system. Reach out to friends. Cultivate relationships with people and family. Seek emotional support from counselors, religious advisors or maybe join a support group.
7. Let it out. : Let all your emotions out. Don’t hold it in! That release may be what you may need. If you feel like laughing, crying, or screaming… do it! Be selective about where you release these emotions but create an outlet where you can do so. Perhaps you can start to write in a journal.
8. Ask for help: Don’t feel like it is burden to share your need with others. You will never know what resources will be helpful to you if you don’t ask. Identify some tasks and make your request.
9. Relaxation techniques: Listen to some soothing music. Take 5 minutes to breathe deeply.  Utilize breathes in counts of 4 breaths as you inhale and then exhale. You will feel a difference!