EasySelfHelpTips.com

Top 10 Tips for Kicking Stress’ Ass

Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by Jon Winthorp in dealing with stress

photo credit: Ana Santos

Stress sucks. If left unchecked, it can cause depression, high blood pressure, sleep deprivation, and other serious health issues.

But all of us have to deal with stress at some point in our lives. It’s inevitable. That’s why we’ve come up with this list of tips for kicking stress’ ass.

1. Rest—Did you know almost 70 million Americans don’t get enough sleep? Furthermore, 69% of people fail to realize that sleep is an important part of maintaining your health. A lack of sleep will leave you tired, and it can lead to depression. Get a good night’s sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever the day throws your way.
2. Read a book—Oddly enough, reading for at least 6 minutes a day can decrease your stress levels by almost 70%. How does this work? It’s because reading relaxes your heart muscles, and it also allows you to drift off into a fantasy land for a little while.
3. Avoid stressful situations—There’s good news: much of the stress we experience can be avoided altogether. It’s true; we often place yourself in stressful situations that we don’t need to be in. For example, if you get upset when you talk about politics, turn off the TV talk shows or avoid political conversations with your friends. If the morning commute stresses you out, try waking up earlier to avoid traffic or taking the bus so you can relax. Little things like this will help you avoid a lot of stress.
4. Listen to good music—Studies show that listening to music can reduce your level of stress by 61%. So, put on the headphones, and enjoy your favorite artists.
5. Get help from others—One of the most common causes of stress is taking on more than we can handle. This happens both at work and at home. Instead of trying to do everything yourself, get some help from those around you. If a co-worker can help you on a project, get his or her help. If you have a lot of errands to run, get a friend or family member to help pick up the slack. Don’t be a control freak; others can help.
6. Laugh—Laughter is one of the most powerful natural medicines available to man. Simply put, laughing makes you feel good. It takes your mind off the things that are bothering you, and it lets you truly be happy for a few minutes. Watch a good comedy or read the comic strips. Just do something that will let you laugh!
7. Adapt to stress—Unfortunately, you can’t always avoid stress. That’s okay. What you can do is learn to adapt to it better. If you’re an overzealous perfectionist, try lowering your standards a little bit in those situations where perfection just isn’t possible.
8. Get a pet—Animals are great stress relievers. They show you love no matter how bad your day is going, and they’re always good for a few laughs. Studies have shown that simply petting an animal can reduce your blood pressure. Go adopt a pet today!
9. Find a hobby—If you don’t have anything productive to do, you’ll sit around all day dwelling on those things that are stressing you out. A simple hobby (playing an instrument, video games, sewing, gardening, etc.) can set your mind free from worry for a while.
10. Reduce caffeine intake—Coffee and other caffeinated drinks cause your body to increase the production of a major stress hormone. So, while you think enjoying that cup of coffee will help you relax and get away from the stress, it’s actually causing more harm than good. Stick to decaf.

You really can kick stress’ ass. Go out there and do it today!

Tags: stress