Today I decided that I would look for tips on dealing with stress. Especially since this is a very stressful time of year. For me personally, I know that I need to find better ways to manage stress and reduce anxiety in my daily life. I found the following tips at the websites referenced below.
Tips for dealing with stress
- Don't worry about things you can't control, such as the weather.
- Solve the little problems. This can help you gain a feeling of control.
- Prepare to the best of your ability for events you know may be stressful, such as a job interview.
- Try to look at change as a positive challenge, not as a threat.
- Work to resolve conflicts with other people.
- Talk with a trusted friend, family member or counselor.
- Set realistic goals at home and at work. Avoid over scheduling.
- Exercise on a regular basis.
- Eat regular, well-balanced meals and get enough sleep.
- Meditate.
- Participate in something you don't find stressful, such as sports, social events or hobbies
Another site that I found had the following ideas for dealing with stress.
Positive Self-Talk
Self-talk is one way to deal with stress. We all talk to ourselves; sometimes we talk out loud but usually we keep self-talk in our heads. Self-talk can be positive ("I can do this" or "Things will work out") or negative ("I'll never get well" or "I'm so stupid"). Negative self-talk increases stress. Positive self-talk helps you calm down and control stress. With practice, you can learn to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. For example:
Negative | Positive |
"I can't do this." | "I'll do the best I can." |
"Everything is going wrong." | "I can handle things if I take one step at a time." |
"I hate it when this happens." | "I know how to deal with this; I've done it before." |
To help you feel better, practice positive self-talk every day — in the car, at your desk, before you go to bed or whenever you notice negative thoughts.
Having trouble getting started? Try positive statements such as these:
- "I can get help if I need it."
- "We can work it out."
- "I won't let this problem get me down."
- "Things could be worse."
- "I'm human, and we all make mistakes."
- "Some day I'll laugh about this."
- "I can deal with this situation when I feel better."
Remember: Positive self-talk helps you relieve stress and deal with the situations that cause you stress.
*This page will continually be updated as new resources are located.
