Getting The Reins On Stress

Wake up, take the kids to school, go to work, head home, make dinner, clean the house, go to bed.

On paper, your life seems boring, dull, and routine. But you know that's not true. Before heading out the door in the morning, you've got to get your kids' clothes on right side out. Then, you have to pick up your suit at the dry cleaners across town. Finally, when you're ready to rest and relax with the family at the dinner table, dinner comes out of the oven burned, and the kids just won't settle down when it's time to go to bed.

You're living the American dream, and it's a stress fest. Here's what you can do to find some calm in the midst of the stress storm.

Sleep

When you're stressed out, it's often difficult to fall and stay asleep. Having regular sleep and wake times before stress strikes make it a little easier to get the Zzzs you need when stress comes creeping around your bedpost.

Time

In the days and months when stress after stress piles up, it often seems you just don't have enough time to deal with any of the stressors. By writing down how you'll tackle each stress-inducing issue, you'll feel more in control and able to handle all of the stressors you're dealing with, one at a time. Before you know it, your "stress" list will be eliminated.

Relax

It may seem self-evident when you're trying to learn how to beat stress, but remembering to forget is often a forgotten aspect of reducing stress. In the event you find yourself unable to beat stress with all the other stress-reducing techniques, take a little time to sit back and take a deep breath. That breath not enough? Head to the beach or the mountains, and leave your cell phone at the office.

Exercise

Though exercise is only one of the effective stress reducer available, it is the only one that reduces tension, while toning up your physique. If you want to keep stress at bay (and not just fight off the sudden stress attacks you may experiencing), make regular exercise a part of your routine.

When you don’t deal with stress properly, you may neglect important relationships, lash out at people without reason, or have difficulty performing up to par at work. So, if you think letting stress bother you is no big deal, think again.

Share

Stress is often difficult to handle. Because of this, it's common for the sufferer to keep it inside and feel isolated as a result. However, many people have found solace in talking with others about what is bothering them. Whether relying on a support group, trusted family member or friend, or priest or pastor, communication is an often used key to stress relief.

Sex

Many people are happy to learn that sex can be a great way to find stress relief. It burns calories, creates hormones that result in good feelings, and strengthens monogamous relationships. As strong relationships also reduce stress, sex offers twice the stress reduction of other techniques.

But Wait - There's More!

Want another handful of stress-reduction tips? You've come to the right place.

Try the following for added relief from your stress:

• aromatherapy
• breathing exercises
• cutting back on caffeine and alcohol
• eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
• listening to relaxing music
• music therapy
• pick up a new hobby
• playing cards with friends
• writing or blogging about what is stressing you out

If none of these seem to help, talk with your physician to determine how you can address the specific stresses in your life.