Say NO to STRESS!!

What is STRESS?:Stress is part of everyday life - and never more so than in todays' society. Stress is not just about anxiety and panic. It is the everyday experience of strain, time, and pressure and attempts to cope with the demands placed upon us t work and at home.

Some stress is good, a natural part of life. Without it, life would be extremely boring. It gets us out of bed in the mornings and keeps us going at work during leisure time or even sporting activities.

The Effects of Stress:
Stress has tangible effects on your body. The way you cope with stress, by smoking, eating unhealthily, or not finding the time to exercise, for example can have a huge negative effect on your health and your heart.

Learning to relax and control your stress will not only help you enjoy life more, but it will be better for your health in the long term.

Managing Stress:

There are many ways to reduce your stress levels. As with most things in life - practice makes perfect!

Stress Busting Tips:

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  List all the things that "trigger" your stress. Is it work colleagues or traffic jams? Recognising the triggers of stress is a huge step forward. Try to relax when you encounter these situations.
  
  
  
  
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  Are you physically active? Do gentle cycling, brisk walks or swimming is an ideal way to reduce the tension caused by stress, in addition you'll sleep much better.
  
  
  
  
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  Make time to socialise and relax! Chat to your friends. Take the time to unwind even if it is ten minutes. Read, take a lovely bath or do something that you are passionate about. (If you work just make sure it is in your lunch break or after hours.)
  
  
  
  
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  Try simple breathing and stretching exercises. You can do them anywhere even at your desk or in your car.
  
  
  
  
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  Stop multi-tasking. Put your jobs in order of priority. Plan ahead instead of doing everything at the last minute.
  
  
  
  
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  Learn to say NO to more work or demands that placed you on.
  
  
  
  
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  Take the time to eat and drink healthily.
  
  
  

How can I tell if I am stress?

If you "yes" or "no" to the following questions:
Do you feel guilty when relaxing? Uneasy if not on the go?
Do you lie awake worring about tomorrow?
Are you tense.. does your neck feel "knotted"?
Are you impatient or irritable?
Do you feel you have a lot on your mind and have difficulty concentrating?
Do you frequently feel like you just don't know where to start?
Are you smoking and drinking more?
Do you eat in a hurry?
Does life seem full of crises?
Do you find it difficult to make decisions?
Do you frequently experience a butterfly stomach, a dry mouth, sweaty palms or heart pulpatations?
Do any of the above experience sound familiar? If you answered yes to some of these questions, it is quite possible that your stress levels is a little to high.