10 Tips to Manage Stress

1.Exercise

Working out regularly is one of the best ways to relax your body and mind. Plus, exercise will improve your mood. But you have to do it often for it to pay off,

2.Relax Your Muscles

When you' re stressed, your muscles get tense.

You can help loosen them up on your own and refresh your body by:

Stretching

Enjoying a massage

Taking a hot bath or shower

Getting a good night's sleep

3.Deep Breathing

Close your eyes.

Imagine yourself in a relaxing place. It can be on the beach, in a beautiful field of grass, or anywhere that gives you a peaceful feeling.

• Slowly take deep breaths in and out.

Do this for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

4.Eat Well

Eating a regular, well-balanced diet will help you feel better in general. It may also help control your moods. Your meals should be full of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein for energy. And don't skip any.

5.Slow Down

Modern life is so busy, and sometimes we just need to slow down and chill out. Look at your life and find small ways you can do that.

6.Take a Break

You need to plan on some real downtime to give your mind time off from stress. If you're a person who likes to set goals, this may be hard for you at first. But stick with it and you'll look forward to these moments.

7.Make Time for Hobbies

You need to set aside time for things you enjoy.

Try to do something every day that makes you feel good, and it will help relieve your stress. It doesn't have to be a ton of time -- even 15 to 20 minutes will do.

8.Talk About Your Problems

If things are bothering you, talking about them can help lower your stress. You can talk to family members, friends, a trusted clergyman, your doctor, or a therapist.

And you can also talk to yourself. It's called self-talk and we all do it. But in order for self talk to help reduce stress you need to make sure it's positive and not negative.

9.Go Easy On Yourself

Accept that you can't do things perfectly no matter how hard you try. You also can't control everything in your life. So do yourself a favor and stop thinking you can do so much. And don't forget to keep up your sense of humor.

Laughter goes a long way towards making you feel relaxed.

10.Eliminate Your Triggers

Figure out what are the biggest causes of stress in your life. If you're able to identify what they are, see if you're able to eliminate them from your life, or at least reduce them.

If you can't identify the main causes of your stress, try keeping a stress journal. Make note of when you become most anxious and see if you can determine a pattern, then find ways to remove or lessen those triggers.