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Tension and anxiety are very common problems in today’s society and many people will suffer from symptoms of stress at some time in their life. I read a great article, on CEO.com (an excellent site, might I add, do check it out) about ways for executives to manage stress, but the effect of stress can be, at the very least, unpleasant, so it’s useful to know how to manage and reduce stress in our lives.
I also found a great list on a post on forbes.com about nine CEOs who share their own stress management techniques. This includes things like exercise, family time, meditation and even doodling! In some way or other, these things help such overachievers clear their heads and calm their nerves.
But there are numerous other steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of being affected by stress, and many of these are a matter of simple, common sense.
5 Top Tips for effectively reducing your stress levels:-
Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
Avoid or at least reduce your consumption of nicotine and all drinks containing caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine are stimulants and so will increase your level of stress rather than reduce it.
Swap caffeinated and alcoholic drinks for water, herbal teas or diluted, natural fruit juices and aim to keep yourself hydrated as this will enable you to cope better with stress.
You should also aim to avoid or reduce your intake of refined sugars – they are contained in many manufactured foods such as salad dressings and bread, and can cause energy crashes which may lead you to feeling tired and irritable.
In general, try to eat a healthy, well-balanced and nutritious diet.
Talk it over
Do not try to cope with problems alone. Having someone with whom you can share your problems can greatly help to “off load” the stress. You might find it useful to talk to a friend or work colleague, or talk to your line manager or employer if you are experiencing stress in the workplace.
Talking can work by either distracting you from your stressful thoughts or by releasing some of the built-up tension by discussing it.
Stress can cloud your judgement and prevent you from seeing things clearly.
Talking things through with a friend, work colleague or even a trained professional, can help you to find solutions for your stress and so put your problems into perspective.
Take control
Stress can be triggered by a problem that may on the surface seem impossible to solve.
Learning how to find solutions to your problems will help you feel more in control, thereby lowering your stress levels.
One problem-solving technique includes writing down the problem and coming up with as many as possible solutions as you can.
Decide on the good and bad points of each one and select the best solution. Write down each step that you need to take as part of solution: what will be done, how it will be done, when it will be done, who is involved and where it will take place.
Learn to say “No”
A common cause of stress if having too much to do, and too little time in which to do it.
And despite this situation, many people will still agree to take on additional responsibility.
Learning to say, “No” to additional or unimportant requests will help you to reduce your levels of stress, and may also help you to develop more self-confidence.
To learn to say “No” you need to understand why you find it difficult. Many people find it hard to say “No” because they want to help and are trying to be nice and be liked. For others, it is a fear of conflict, rejection or missed opportunities. Remember that these barriers to saying “No” are all self-created.
You might be reluctant to respond to a request with a straight “No” at least at first. Instead, think of some pre-prepared phrases to let other people down more gently. Practise saying phrases like:-
“I am sorry, but I can’t commit to this as I have other priorities at the moment.”
“Now is not a good time for me as I’m in the middle of something. Why don’t you give it to me again at…?”
“I’d love to, but…”
Act on it
Unfortunately, many people do not act positively to reduce the stress in their lives until the physical symptoms force them to consider how their lifestyle is affecting their well-being.
Want to read the rest of the Top Tips for effectively reducing your stress levels?
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