How to Manage Stress Effectively

For most people stress is an every day occurence. Stress can ultimately keep you from performing to the best of your abilities, while reaking havoc on your body. Stress can be related to the deadliest diseases in the world and it acts as a catalyst when those diseases are already present. Stress is detrimental to your working environment, and your home life. But it doesn't have to be. The good news is you can manage stress effectively. It is as simple as taking on a more positive attitude and making positive changes in your every day routine.

Here are some tips to manage stress effectively:

1. Ninety/Ten Rule-Keep in mind that life is ten percent of what happens to you and ninety percent how you react to it. You can't control what happens in life. You have to learn how to take things in stride and realize that you can make a choice in how problems will affect you. It is your choice whether or not you take a small situation and turn it into something much bigger, or if you immediately look for a solution without dwelling on the problem. Keep a positive attitude and look for a way out.

2. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise- If you want to feel better and relieve stress all at the same time, try exercising on a regular basis. If you are having a rough day, hit the cardio machines.(Not literally) But hop on and plug in your IPOD and burn off that stress. Take your mind somewhere else for awhile. You will find that as your workout progresses, your stress will slowly fade into the background. By the time you get off of that machine you are going to feel a wonderful rush of accomplishment and exhiliration. Exercise has been known to release endorphins in the body which will create mood enhancement. It will allow you to work off negative emotions, and build self confidence at the same time.

3. Vent!- There are times when stress and problems can feel very overwhelming. You don' t have to carry the load on your own. Find a trusted relative, friend, or talk to your spouse to help save your sanity and offer suggestions when dealing with difficult situations. Confiding in someone will help take the load of stress off of you. Knowing that you have someone to turn to when it feels like the world is against you will help you deal with stress and anxiety.

4. Personal time- A lot of people get stressed out because they have too many things going on in their lives and they take no time for themselves. Feeling responsible to take care of every one else's needs to the point of neglecting your own personal needs is a mid-life crisis waiting to happen. Try to take a little time for you. Plan ahead if you have to. Go out to dinner, catch a movie, hit the bookstore and grab a latte. These simple pleasures can really enhance the quality of life. Knowing that you are putting a litte R and R in your schedule can give you something to look forward to when things seem bleak.

5. Got sleep?- Most individuals who suffer from stress do so because they do not get enough sleep. Lack of sleep will start you off on the "wrong side of the bed" every day. Sleep is necessary for the body to restore itself. Taking a fifteen to twenty minute power nap during the day can help too. In Mexico, they have a siesta hour during the day where people close down their shops and stop working to take a nap and get some rest and relaxation. There is truth in their methods.

6. Positive Thinking- Try to think positive from the moment you wake up. Be thankful that you get to see another day. Try to focus on the positive things in life instead of dwelling on the things you cannot change. The powers of positive thinking have been studied over the past decade and it has been found that positive people live longer lives. Positive thinking is mental control. You have the power to think positive every day, in every situation.

Stress is manageable. It is just a matter of making some simple changes in your life and these changes will make all of the difference. You should try to live each day with a positive attitude, knowing you did your best. Strive to find a balance between your work, resting time, and daily responsibilites.

A wise man once said :

"When I hear somebody sigh that life is hard, I am always tempted to ask, Compared to What?" - Sydney J. Harris