Stress: The Oft-Forgotten Daily Trauma
For many Americans, stress has become a regular force in their day-to-day activities. We face stress in every area of our lives: at home, in the workplace and in our relationships with family and friends. While stress is commonly looked upon as an emotional state, it can manifest itself physically in the form of chronic headaches, insomnia or fatigue. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), stress is a major factor in more than 75% of all illnesses. If you are one of the million Americans who are impacted by stress, take time to learn about how you can better manage the stressors in your life.
The Adverse Affects of Stress
While many of us realize that we will never truly eliminate all the stress in our lives, most of us are happy to learn about new methods for managing stress. Stress can have a negative impact on a person’s life – causing changes in their attitude or behavior. Stress can affect a person’s body as well as their spirit. If left unchecked, continued stress can contribute to a host of health problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, depression and heart disease. If you are a person who needs help managing the daily stress in your life, follow our top 3 tips to lead a more carefree life.
Make Time for Yourself
After a long, hard day you’ve earned the right to decompress and take some time for yourself. Whether you’re a busy mom or a career professional, take at least 15 minutes a day to spend time doing the things you love. Listen to a few of your favorite songs in the morning before work, or unwind with a hot bath after you get home from the office. Either way, make time for yourself a priority in your day.
Learn to Say No
Sometime we feel obligated to solve every problem or generate a solution that involves us giving up more and more of our personal time. Don’t allow yourself to get pressured into activities or situations that are not really a priority in your life. Set boundaries about what types of extra activities you can realistically handle during the week and stick to them. For many, saying no can be an empowering habit that will ensure you schedule time for what is truly important in your life.
Exercise
One of the best activities you can do to relieve pent up stress and aggression is exercise. Besides helping to trim the waistline and tighten the figure, exercise can boost your feel-good emotions and improve your mood. Some exercises like Yoga and Pilates – which both encourage deep breathing – can help individuals develop deep-breathing techniques that can be useful in moments of high stress or anxiety. Exercise can be performed in a variety of settings and can be done at the gym or at home. If your family is working on a budget and you need to reduce expenses, save money by taking a nightly run around the neighborhood instead of paying for your pricey gym membership. Who knows, getting rid of the extra expense might just help relieve some of your financial stress as well.
Article contributed by Holly Adams, who writes for Coupon Croc. Take the stress out of shopping: buy online and save with discount codes and vouchers.
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