Stress management

Have you ever been called a stress head? Ever got yourself so worked up over a situation that you have made yourself physically ill from it? Ever just wanted to turn around and say 'do you know what I'm done with this all' and give up? Then I think it's about time you started learning to deal with your stress problems.

Like many others I have gone through my fair share of stressful experiences. Many people deal with it in different ways but most people get so worked up that stress starts to become the only thing they feel anymore and they go into this state of what seems to be depression.
Here are some tips that I have tried to put into action to reduce the amount of stress I face on a day-to-day basis and I encourage you to do the same:

Avoid necessary stress
This may seem so obvious but the truth is people don't do it, most people actually make themselves involved within the stress and stress themselves out even more which can lead to arguments and illness.

• Learn how to say no
• Avoid people who stress you out
• Take control of things around you
• Avoid 'hot-button' topics (topics that may make you more stress or get you wound up) 

Alter the situation

To begin to change the way things are around you and work on your stress levels you need to alter any situations that may be or have stressed you out to avoid any further stress.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up (only if it won't cause more stress and start any unecessary arguments). Bottling your feelings up can lead to more anger or frustration inside of you leading to more stress.
• Be willing to compromise eg. Behaviour 
• Be more assertive 
• Manage your time better (I find writing lists of what I need to do or things I need to buy for example, lower my stress levels because I know what I have to do and don't have to remember them and can tick them off when I'm done and know they are done and dusted

Adapt to the stressor

You have to be willing to change things and learn to adapt to things.

• Look for positives 
• Adjust standards, everything doesn't have to be perfect
• Look at the big picture (things will change in the future and a silly argument you will be having now you will laugh at when you are older) 

Accept the things that cannot change 

Like I said in the last part, things can't always be perfect and sometimes you just have to accept that. 

• Don't try to control the uncontrollable (things that are out of your control, just stay away from and accept you can't control it)
• Learn to forgive (people make mistakes and life and we aren't perfect, learn that we are all human) 
• Learn from your mistakes (however you need to learn from these mistakes and I know sometimes it takes me making the same mistake 10 billion times for me to finally realise but eventually I get there, sometimes some people just need a bit more pushing) 

And finally make time for fun and relaxation 

If you are always working or doing things for other people, sit back and think, you need time for yourself and to make yourself happy and time to calm down,relax and reflect.

• Have ME time
• Connect with others (go out with your friends, be socialable or just maybe go sit downstairs and watch a film with your family or talk to people over social networking) 
• Do something you enjoy everyday, at least one thing
• Keep your sense of humour (never ever become a dull person and loose your personality, always be you and stay true to yourself)

I hope this has helped even just one person manage to start making those small but very beneficial changes to their life and start living for the now.

Thank you for reading 

Laura x