There are a number of effective tips for stress self-help that can quickly reduce stress levels. Exercising regularly and eating healthily, for example, can dramatically lower stress levels. Avoiding stressful situations as much as possible is important, because it is the only way to address the root cause of stress. Cutting out alcohol and cigarettes also has been shown to help.
An obvious but difficult part of stress self-help is working out the reasons for high stress levels in the first place. Many people assume they feel stressed because of work commitments or the responsibilities of family life. This may be the case, but sometimes the true cause of stress is overlooked. Keeping a record of when and where a person feels under pressure or agitated can make it easier to discover the true causes.
Exercising regularly is a simple and effective way of reducing stress levels and staying healthy. This doesn’t mean a person has to spend hours in the gym each day — even a small amount of exercise on a regular basis can make a difference. Taking a short walk, for example, can help a person to calm down through the release of stress-reducing hormones. Playing sports also is a good way of releasing tension and having fun while burning calories.
Avoiding stressful situations is one of the most important parts of stress self-help. Other methods can reduce the severity of stress but don’t address the root cause. If, for example, interaction with a certain person is causing high levels of stress, then it may be best to avoid this person in the future. Managing time better, especially if deadlines are a problem, also can dramatically improve stress levels.
Eating healthily and reducing alcohol intake is one of the most important parts of stress self-help. Diets that are high in carbohydrates or sugar have been shown to increase stress levels. Alcohol, caffeine and smoking have a similar effect. Some people binge drink or eat junk food when they feel stressed or agitated, which can make the problem worse.
Other tips for stress self-help include taking time out of each day to focus on relaxing, regular breaks from work and getting more sleep. If possible, a person with high levels of stress should try to spend more time around people with an optimistic and positive attitude. Learning to accept small problems in life, rather than becoming agitated, also can make a big difference.
