Tips on Better Managing Your Stress

Stress is a typical byproduct of day-to-day life, but high stress levels can lead to serious health problems. Health problems related to high stress levels include depression, heart problems and insomnia. Finding ways to cope with your stress can help you reduce your anxiety levels and live a happier life.

Journal

• Maintaining a daily journal allows you to examine your day's thoughts and emotions, and identify which triggers most upset you. Writing a journal at the end of each day will provide you with the chance to figure out your causes of stress and work through them. A journal can be added to any time you're feeling stressed, offering you an at-home therapy session as well to help you improve your problem-solving skills.

Therapy

• Meet with a therapist if you feel that you need to talk out loud with someone about your stress. A therapist can help you problem solve and find stress relief while allowing you to still come up with your own solutions. Likewise, group therapy allows you to discuss your problems with a group of like-minded people. Look around your city or town for a local stress management group.

Relaxation

• Daily relaxation gives you a chance to put your problems aside and just focus on calming yourself. Relaxation can come in the form of meditation or activities that help you self-soothe. For example, a bath or massage enjoyed before bed can relax your body and mind, helping you to settle down and release stress.

Cut Out Stress

• If you are becoming stressed due to a situation that you have control over being in, leave the situation. Although a moderate amount of stress is normal in day-to-day living, some situations are unhealthy and better left behind. For example, if you are losing sleep over a friend who mistreats you, perhaps it's time to re-examine the friendship and decide if it's worth remaining close to that person. It is easy to become stressed if you're attempting to solve various issues in your life that are beyond your control, such as someone else's behavior or actions. Letting go of these feelings of helplessness and understanding that you can't change the situation will instantly take a weight off your shoulders and allow you to focus on the areas of your life that you are able to change.

Exercise

• Exercise is commonly recommended as an anxiety and stress relief technique. Along with improving your physical health, daily exercise helps you to clear your mind and feel better equipped to address problems as they arise. Meet the daily minimum of 30 minutes of cardio exercise through walking or jogging, or take up a new fitness routine if you're interested in strengthening your body as well. Exercise provides instant relief if you choose to perform fitness activities during a period of stress.

Sleep Well

• If you are overtired on a regular basis, you're more likely to wind up feeling overwhelmed with even minimal amounts of stress. Getting enough sleep at night helps your body and mind to rejuvenate so that you are better equipped to deal with problems in your life. Aim for at least six hours of sleep at night and see if you notice an improvement in your stress levels.

Medications

• If you are experiencing stress and anxiety even after attempting to take control of stressful areas of your life, there may be an underlying medical condition contributing to your stress levels. Visit your doctor to determine if you are experiencing a condition such as depression or generalized anxiety disorder. You may need anti-anxiety medication in order to better manage your daily living.