How to Deal With Being Overstressed

Stress is the body's physical response to the daily pressures of life. Small amounts of stress are beneficial, increasing a person's energy, concentration and alertness and helping him rise to meet challenges, according to HelpGuide.org. However, too much stress negatively affects a person's physical and emotional health. Stress reduction is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Instructions

• 1

  Identify your stressors. Stressors may be external, such as a demanding job or family responsibilities, or internal, such as an attitude of perfectionism. If you have trouble identifying stressors, it may help to keep a stress journal, in which you record situations that make you feel stressed and how you coped with them.

• 2

  Assess which tasks and activities are necessary or important to you and eliminate the others. Examples may include refusing additional responsibilities at work, when possible, and limiting volunteer obligations. Prioritizing daily tasks also allows you to make more time for stress-relieving activities like working out, spending time with friends or pursuing a relaxing hobby.

• 3

  Eat a healthy diet, get plenty of rest and exercise and practice relaxation techniques, such as yoga, tai chi, meditation or deep breathing exercises regularly. Taking care of yourself helps to relieve stress, as well as offsetting its negative effects.

• 4

  Take stock of the positive things in your life. These may include friends and family, a rewarding work project or hobby, or personal achievements or characteristics you value. Compile a list of these things, place it in a visible location or carry it with you, and refer to it when you feel stressed.

• 5

  Establish a strong support network of friends and family. Spending time with people who support and nurture you acts as a buffer against the negative effects of stress. If possible, avoid individuals who increase your stress unnecessarily.

• 6

  Talk to your doctor if your stress does not improve with lifestyle changes. He can determine if stress is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as depression or anxiety, and recommend treatment options.