10 Tips to Help Eliminate Stress

Stress is a natural part of life.  It is often a result of the way we
react to change.  Sometimes we have little control over the stressors in our
life.

Here are some tips for reducing stress.



1.      Avoid small annoyances - Try to eliminate stressful situations.
Join a carpool or leave earlier to avoid rush hour traffic.



2.      Exercise - When your body is in good shape, you are less likely
to get sick from stress.  Regular exercise will also help relax
stress-caused muscle tension.  Always check with your doctor prior to starting an
intense exercise program.



3.      Maintain a sense of humor - Learn to find some humor in the
situations that are creating your stress - and at your reactions to
them.



4.      Set aside time to relax - Don't fill every minute with work and
planned activities.  Leave a little time to do nothing.  Your body
needs time to just wind down.



5.      Share your problems with someone you trust - Talk to a family
member, friend, co-worker or counselor about things that are getting to
you. Getting things out in the open is a good way to relax.



6.      Don't make too many lifestyle changes at once - If you are
facing a big change - marriage, a new job - wait until you have adjusted to it
before taking on something else that produces additional stress.



7.      Reduce consumption of alcohol, sugar, and caffeine - The things
we take to relieve stress often add to it.  Eat regularly and
nutritiously, and avoid taking anything for the sole purpose of relieving stress.



8.      Get enough sleep - Your body needs a chance to pull itself
together, especially when you are experiencing stress.



9.      Set priorities - No one can do everything - and certainly not
all at once.  Take a hard look at the tasks you have to do.  Put them in order
of importance, and then tackle them one at a time, checking them off as
they are completed.



10.     Try cooperating with people - Cooperation instead of confrontation is better than fighting and always being "right".  A little give and take on both sides will reduce the strain.