Coping with Personal Life Stresses: Recommendations (cont.)
Managing Stress
One suggestion for stress relief might be to spend time on hobbies. Remember to include activities you enjoy in your daily schedule. When people are pressed for time, they often cut out things they do for enjoyment because they seem less important. In reality, spending a little time on your hobbies will actually give you more energy to complete what you are required to do.
Exercise is another excellent outlet for relieving stress. It builds muscle, reduces weight, and may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Aerobic exercise can lead to a decreased output of the “fight or flight” hormones and release endorphins – natural relaxation chemicals found in the brain. Consider taking up yoga, which is designed to help with emotions and connect the mind and body. Deep breathing exercises work in the same way, as well as a variety of other relaxation techniques designed to help you calm down during stressful times.
Simply sharing your feelings with others is yet another stress-reducing method. Talking to a close friend about your worries can help to make things seem better, and therefore easier to handle. It can also help you think through the problem. Your friends may have suggestions that you had not considered.