Reduce stress - by Monica

View original article: Be aware of stress to manage it BY Christy Strawser SPECIAL TO THE Detroit FREE PRESS

This is an article that I printed off and put on the bulletin board in my room because I liked it so much. I think that stress is something we all have to deal with...and it honestly effects not only our happiness but also our health. Things in life happen...but what does stressing out about it do? You have to pay bills & go to work & deal with people who may not treat you the way you deserve. These things happen...and worrying about it won't stop them from happening. Worrying prevents us from going out and DOING. We think of the worst possible outcome instead of thinking of the best. Or we worry about getting something done when, instead, we just need to take it one hour at a time and not focus on anything else. Because I learned the hard way that sometimes, stress can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. I don't want to be that person who is so stressed out about a job interview that, instead of being myself, I clam up during the interview. And, at my current job, I do a lot better at it when I just RELAX.

I know it's easier said than done. But here are some tips from an article Christy Strawser of the Detroit Free Press:

Set up a schedule. Create one that includes everything you need to do, but doesn’t leave time for anything unproductive. Include work, family time, whatever would lead to a more fulfilling life. Make it easier by putting weekly errands into one or two blocks of time and turning off the BlackBerry and television during set hours.

Learn to say no. Make no excuses for being selfish with your time. Saying no to requests to organize a fund-raiser or bake five dozen cupcakes may seem selfish, but could pay off for your health.

” Quiet time. Diana Fletcher, a Pittsburgh author and life coach, advises that people spend 15 minutes a day sitting quietly. “The problem is that we never stop,” Fletcher said. “We are always so busy trying to keep up with this crazy world — but we just can’t.”

Be in the moment. Feeling scattered in different directions is one of the major reasons people feel stressed, so decide to focus on what’s in front of you.


Exercise. When you feel overwhelmed, remember exercise is a wonderful stress reliever. Walking, riding a bike, swimming, dancing to the radio or skipping rope, even for just 15 minutes, releases feel-good endorphins.