Stressed Out

Chapter 3

The very first step to prevent stress is to be honest with yourself. If you think you are stressed all the time, admit it, don't hide it. Everyone experiences stress, it is nothing to be ashamed of. If you are freaking out right now, do not worry it is normal, you are not going to fall over and die. Stress is inevitable, just like facing conflicts, having weaknesses and fears, growing old, failing, and death. But if you are concerned about your stress levels ever becoming unhealthy, here are some ways to prevent stress.

Identify your stressors. Stressors are anything that causes the release of stress hormones, basically anything that stresses you out. It is important to learn how you react to stress and what stresses you out, in other words, educate yourself. Although everyone respond to stress differently, most of the time your stressors are pretty obvious. But in some cases finding the root of your stress might be more challenging.

If you can not identify what your stressors are, and you think that you have chronic stress or you think that stress is influencing your health, keep a daily journal on you and record when and what caused you undue anxiety or stress.

Ask yourself questions like:

Are there specific people or places causing the stress?

When do I feel most "on edge" during the day?

Do I make bad or unwise decisions as a result of feeling stressed or overwhelmed?

Hopefully you'll start to see patterns, and you will be able to identify what triggers your stress.

Changing simple things in your life or daily schedule can end up greatly reducing your overall stress.

Do not make promises you can not keep. Learning to say "no" is important in preventing stress. It might be hard to turn something down or not participate in a certain event, but having time for yourself is important. Manage your responsibilities. Reduce the demands on yourself. Ensure that you are getting out and having fun out of life. Balance your responsibilities with activities you enjoy. Learn to relax. Time management is important to decrease stress levels. Be realistic, know your limitations and be firm with them. You'll be more rested and less irritable which will make it easier for you to enjoy other activities and people. Sometimes you might bite off more than you can chew, and before you know it, you are overwhelmed. It can hard to juggle the many activities and people in your life. It is also helpful to be organized. Do not procrastinate or leave things to the last minute. Keep problems in perspective instead of ignoring them, learn what you need to work on and what you need to let go.

Exercising helps combat the negative effects that stress has on your body. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, also known as ADAA, exercise and other physical activities can help relieve stress by releasing endorphins, which are natural painkillers, into your brain. Regular exercise also improves your mood and naturally lowers symptoms of stress and anxiety. Exercise can also give you a much needed boost of confidence to help you deal with stress in the future. You will probably sleep better too. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise each day. Look after your physical well-being.

Another useful tip is to be positive! Meet negativity with positive reactions. Surround yourself with positive thoughts, experiences, and people. Be optimistic, and practice assertiveness.

It is also important eat healthy foods. What you eat can affect your mood, energy, and stress level. This does not mean avoid all sweets. It is good to treat yourself once in awhile, it goes back to balancing things.

Get proper sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep that your body needs is always a plus. Oversleeping or undersleeping are both unhealthy to your body.

I was surprised to find that while doing research to write this book, not one source said that self-confidence is important. In my opinion and experience, having low self esteem plays a large role in increasing your stress levels. Being confident in yourself is also important in preventing stress. Do not let other people's opinions influence you or change the perspective you have of yourself. Do not be self conscious or second guess yourself all the time. Never compare yourself to others. Love yourself, you are not you without the characteristics that you possess. Don't try to be anyone else, if you want to change something about yourself then make sure you are changing because you want to, not because of others. No one can love you or accept you as much as you can. And make sure to remember that no one and nothing is perfect.

There are many ways to prevent stress, depending on your stressors and schedule, one or another way might be preferable.