How to Cope with Stress

Stress can have a huge impact on people's lives. Among other things, stress can harm your physical and emotional health, put strain on your relationships and cause decreased productivity at work.

Here are several things you can do that help relieve stress:

1. Just say no. Many people are stressed because they are simply stretching themselves too thin. Even superman/wonderwoman couldn't handle the stress of working 40+ hours at a thankless job for a demanding boss and then coming home to three ungrateful children, all needing your attention and love. Then of course, there's dinner to be cooked, extracurriculars to chauffer the kids to and PTA meetings to oversee. When do you have time for your husband/wife, let alone yourself? The problem is, you're filling your plate too full. Of course, many responsibilities are unavoidable - you have to work to pay the bills and eventually you'll run out of plates if no one does the dishes. However, is it really necessary that you are a cub scout leader, a member of eight different clubs, and the head of your neighborhood watch program? Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with these activities, and some of them are quite admirable, but try just picking 1 or 2 that you really enjoy or that you think are most important. You'll have more time for your family and yourself and you'll probably find that you are much more relaxed.

2. Deligate responsibilities. One major cause of stress is perfectionism. Perfectionists think that no one can do a job as well as they can, so they try to do everything themselves. Sometimes you just need to let go. There's no reason that your kid's can't do the laundry - so what if the towels aren't folded just the right way? If you are usually the one who prepares dinner, ask your spouse if they can take on the responsibility once a twice a week. Who says you need to plan every event and run every meeting? Just try giving someone else the reigns for awhile...I think you'll see that the world keeps turning without you.

3. Take a hike. Exercise is an excellent stress reliever. Physically, it makes you feel healthy and alive and emotionally it makes you feel happy, due to the endorphins that are released. Exercise loosens up tense muscles and gives you a chance to work out your aggression and clear your mind. Getting some exercise outdoors can be especially relaxing - there is something about being surrounded by nature that is very calming.

4. Just breath. Its surprising how something so simple and routine can make such a difference. Simply stopping what you are doing and taking a few deep breaths can relax you considerably in only a few minutes and can be done anywhere. Don't underestimate the benefits of this simple exercise.

5. Pamper yourself. People who are stressed are usually so busy doing things for others that they don't have any time for themselves. If you think you don't have time to pamper yourself - its time to make time! Even if its just 20 minutes a day, do something for yourself that you enjoy. Take a hot bath, read a good book or listen to some soothing music. If you're lucky enough to have a loving spouse or child around, ask them for a 5 minute foot or neck massage. Or, if you really want to give yourself a treat, spend an afternoon at the spa - get a massage, facial, peticure - the whole works. After all, you're worth it. Don't think of it as time wasted - the rest of your day should run much more smoothly if you relieve some of that tension.

6. Create peaceful surroundings. You can't underestimate the impact your enviroment can have on your mood. Try to keep your desk and home neat and uncluttered. Chaos in your home can create chaos in your mind. Choose a room in your home to be your "stress free zone". Keep it uncluttered and filled with things you love. Don't keep a TV in the room or any other things that can overwhelm your senses. There are a lot of books and websites out there that teach you how to create a calming atmosphere using color and spacial design. Light a few aromatherapy candles and put on some relaxing music. Send the kids to play outside for awhile so that you can have a little peace and quiet.

7. Smile. Here's a little exercise someone told me about that really works. Take a quick break and just smile for 10 seconds. Even if you're so angry you could scream or so overwhelmed you could cry, smile like you would if you were happy and carefree. Yes, you might look and feel like an idiot, but you will find that pretending you are happy will actually make you feel happy. I'm not really sure how and why this works and I was skeptical at first, but I gave it a try and it really does lift your spirits. So go ahead and flash those pearly whites!