Stress Busters - Top Ten Stress Busters Tips

Stress will always be a part of our lives. Our jobs, family and school all have some stress related to them. Stress can be positive and spur you to find the answer to a problem or achieve an important goal. But when stress is negative, it can leave you tired, angry, frustrated and depressed.

Studies show that individuals under great stress are less effective on the job and more likely to get sick and miss valuable worktime. Stress can cause a normally good-natured person to become irritable and it can hurt the way people relate to their co-workers, family and friends.

Here are some Stress Busters tips that provides you with the basic ideas and techniques to take hold of stress in your life and avoid the physical and mental outcomes of unmanaged stress.

Top Ten Stress Busters Tips:

1. Try not to "self-medicate" with diet formulas, alcohol orover-the-counter medications. Covering up a problem can make the stresseven worse. Medications such as tranquilizers or sleeping pills orderedby your healthcare provider should be used as they are prescribed.

2. Dosomething just for yourself. A trip to the hairdresser or barber, orhaving a therapeutic massage can do wonders when you're under a lot ofstress.

3. Eat at least one hot meal a day Goodnutrition is important because it gives your body the fuel it needs todeal with daily stress and hassles.

4. Share how youare feeling with someone you can trust and who will listen to you, suchas a family member, friend, healthcare provider or clergy. There is anold saying that "a joy shared is doubled and a sorrow shared is halved."

5. Exercising at least three days per week for at least 30 minutes each time improves your fitness and your sense of well-being.

6. Ifyou are a smoker, stop smoking and start breathing clean air. Smokingand stress are a dangerous combination. Your healthcare provider canhelp you find a smoking reduction or cessation program.

7. If you are a coffee or cola lover, cut down on these and other drinks that contain caffeine.

8. Learnand use meditation or relaxation exercises. Check with your localcommunity center or community college to see if training is offered foryoga, meditation, tai chi, biofeedback or other stress-relievingactivities of interest to you.

9. We all have heardthe adage, "laughter is the best medicine." It is. Laughing releaseschemicals in the brain that help promote a relaxation response. Rent acomedy from the video store. Share it with friends and laugh yourstresses away.

10. Get regular physical exams. Yourhealthcare provider can spot health problems related to stress and canprovide you with suggestions and may refer you for any problems relatedto stress.