How to Cope with Stress 

Since people react to stress, differently, learning how to cope with stress varies as well.  It depends a lot on your life circumstances you are experiencing and your own unique personality style.  At this site we offer various stress management tips.  When learning coping skills, start by identifying the causes and then determine which stress management and stress relief techniques offer the best results for you. Here is what we mean.

Grab a pencil!

We like to start the stress-reducing process with journal writing.  Keeping a journal allows you to keep track of patterns in your daily life and document what might be causing stress.  This technique helps you identify what is causing your stress.  If you want to learn more tips for keeping a journal, click here.  By keeping a journal you can record your daily activities, events, and responsibilities.  You can list the things that you find troubling or worrisome.  Can you find patterns in your life when stress occurs?  Does this give you insights about how to cope with stress as it develops?

When learning how to cope with stress, most individuals find specific strategies that work best, depending on the emotions they are experiencing and the situations in their lives they are trying to handle.  Coping strategies work best when you notice how your body is reacting to stress. Then you can design strategies that relieve the symptoms you are experiencing.  Mom had some great suggestions that I share here.

Try these strategies.

Listed below are some strategies that can be put into effect with a little extra planning.  Trying to accomplish too much in too little time is a common stressor that many experience at some point in life. Try using some of the suggestions listed below that show you how to <i>(1) plan ahead, (2) watch your use of time, and (3) build a support network

Plan ahead. 

Take a few extra  minutes to prepare for the day ahead of you so that you are less hurried, hassled and frazzled.  Consider the following ways on how you cope with stress:

• Get up 15 minutes earlier.
• Choose your clothes the night before.
• Always have a plan "B".

Boost Your Time Management Skills!

Improve your time management strategies and lower crisis management by trying these tips:

• Say "no" more often.
• Set goals for yourself.
• Simplify meal time. 

Enjoy Your Friends!

When you set priorities in your life, you find that friends and family members matter most.  Find ways to enjoy their company.  Go to a ball game with friends.  Play tennis or golf with friends.  Or sit and enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend. Try these activities to stay connected:

•  Develop a support network.
• Pet a friendly dog and/or a cat.
• Meet a friend for lunch.
  

Don't take life too seriously.

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Our Great Dane, Beretta, taught us how to cope with stress when he was in dog obedience training.  In his article, Beretta offers 5 tips that he learned about handling stress.  Even when you are under pressure like he was training to pass his Canine Good Citizen test.

From that situation we learned how to cope with stress by noticing how to better handle our emotions and lower our anxieties.  Letting external situations get the best of us can lead to unhealthy behaviours.  Over eating is one such negative result.  Learning how to worry less and feel more in control helps us maintain a healthy lifestyle and lower the negative effects of stress.

Another website that you can visit for additional stress management strategies is ourstressfullives.com.  A great resource with more stress management tips.

Praying Can Lower Stress Levels

Stress Relief with God

How to Manage Stress with Biofeedback

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