Stress Management

We've talked previously about developing that "whatever" attitude, now lets talk about concrete ways to handle stress. I think we all know the havoc that stress can play on health, from unhealthy weight loss to weight gain, depression to anxiety disorder, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, and possibly cancer. With all of the negative attributes of stress, finding ways to cope with it is paramount.

First of all, lets understand that all stress is not bad. There is eustress, a type of stress that is fun and exciting, and keeps us vital. (e.g. skiing down a slope or racing to meet a deadline) According to researchers at Ohio State University a brief bout of stress can even give the immune system a beneficial boost but only under certain conditions. Their experiments showed that short periods of stress mobilized all major types of immune cells, or leukocytes, to potential infection sites around the body. The researchers say this stress-induced boost in the number of immune cells may be advantageous for fighting infections and other diseases.

That being said, stress is often detrimental to your health. The goal of stress management is to bring your mind and body back into balance. By adopting a positive attitude, learning healthier ways to cope, and changing the way you deal with stress, you can reduce its hold on your life.

Ways To Cope With Stress

1. Start your day with meditation.
2. Find time to exercise.
3. Find things that make you laugh.
4. Avoid negative people.
5. Set a goal.
6. Practice deep breathing.
7. Keep a journal.
8. Get more sleep.
9. Have a support network of people, places and things.
10. Learn to let go.
11. Practice forgiveness.
12. Remember, you always have options.
13. Take care of your own feelings.
14. Smile! :)

Of course, there are many more ways that you can find to cope with stress, but these are just a few of my suggestions. I have used everything on this list at one or another and I will continue to use them. Remember, that at the end of the day you and only you are in charge of your own physical and emotional well-being. Thanks for your ear and keep reading!