Use these simple stress management strategies to bring more balance to your life. Self Help Articles | August 3 Wholesale Pirates Hats , 2009
Stress can steal our joy and peace of mind, causing life-threatening illness if allowed to go unchecked.? But these simple, practical stress management strategies will help you find balance, regaining your life and your health.


About six years ago, I came to a life-altering decision.

I was sick and tired of being?well?sick and tired.

Unable to sleep through the entire night because of fears of things left undone, unsaid Wholesale Pirates Hoodies , or forgotten, I?d drag myself through my days fueled by cup after cup of black coffee.? My routine was to work 8 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., go home and cook dinner, kiss my husband, tuck my little girl into bed, grab my computer and work until midnight.? I was so stressed out I didn?t even know I was stressed out.? But to me it seemed ?normal.?

This went on for years.? Until the day my mother died at age 64.

Funny how something so profound can change the entire way you view the world.? I decided life was way too short to spend it stressed out.? I became a student of stress management strategies and used them to eventually heal myself.

Many of us live lives full of stress - from the moment we get up Wholesale Pirates Shirts , to the time we go to bed (and just lay there staring at the ceiling).

Although we?d like to think stress simply resides in our minds, the fact is that stressful thoughts do damage to our bodies.? Experts agree that stress is a factor in hundreds of diseases and illnesses ? everything from strokes to Alzheimer?s to obesity can be caused or acerbated by stress.

Does any of this sound familiar?? If so, then it?s time to take back your life like I did.? I?d like to share some of the stress management strategies I use and continue to use every day.

Find the Root Cause.

Managing the stress in your life starts first with identifying the sources of your stress.? Some things are probably pretty easy to figure out ? like unreasonable deadlines, or the death of someone close to you.? Other things may not be so obvious and you may need to do some self-introspection to figure it out.

One thing to remember is that living in constant stress is not a normal state of being. In order to determine the sources of your stress, examine your habits, attitudes Wholesale Pirates Jerseys , and the excuses you make.? Are you always making excuses to your spouse for having to work late?? Do blame other people or events for your stress?? These could be places to analyze as potential stressors.

Once you identify your stressors, you must then work to eliminate those stressors, or at least make them more manageable.? The following tips should help you with this task.

Stop Procrastinating.

I have a rule I live by, and I encourage those I mentor to live by it as well.? The rule is this:

Do what you most don?t want to do first.

It may not be the end-all cure for your procrastination, but it sure as heck will knock a dent in it.? That?s because a lot of procrastination stems from the fact that we put off the things we dread.? The more we dread it, the more we put it off.? It?s human nature.? However Cheap Pirates Hats , by making a habit of doing the dreaded deed first, you set yourself free.? You will start thinking of yourself as someone who can and will get things done. Soon your procrastination days will be over.


Minus the Mess.

Whether you believe it or not, cluttered, disorganized surroundings affect your mental state. Physical clutter reminds us ? often subconsciously ? that things need to be done that aren?t getting done, and that causes us more stress.?

I have a close friend who recently decided to start clearing the clutter out of his life, and getting organized.? He started with his office Cheap Pirates Hoodies , throwing away, organizing ? he saw surfaces he hadn?t seen in years!? After he tackled this, he started on his garage.? The more clutter he threw out and organized, the lighter his stress level and the clearer his thought patterns became.? When you remove the physical clutter and you'll eliminate the mental clutter, lowering your stress and raising your energy.

Have Faith.

Experts agree that people who believe in a power beyond themselves are generally less stressed.? Attending church, fellowshipping with others of like faith Cheap Pirates Shirts , and nurturing one?s spiritual side have a calming and soothing effect on our minds.

Practice Extreme Self-Care.

It took me a while to figure out that unless I took care of myself, there would be little left of me to take care of others.? Many people feel selfish when they start putting their needs ahead of others, but believe me, you have to do it.

Some of the things you must do to practice self-care from a physical standpoint include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, reducing caffeine and sugar Cheap Pirates Jerseys , increasing your intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats.? One other thing?you must get enough sleep!? People who don?t get enough sleep not only increase their stress levels, but studies show they decease their life expectancy.

Just as important as practicing physical self-care is practicing spiritualemotional self-care.? While the first feeds your body, the latter feeds your soul.? Start by identifying five things you enjoy doing Wholesale Trevor Hoffman Jersey , but rarely get a chance to do.? For example, my list would include reading a good book, going to a yoga class, getting a manicure, watching a great old movie, visiting my favorite coffee shop.? Once you identify your top five (you can have more if you wish!) Wholesale Randy Jones Jersey , begin scheduling them into your daily calendar.? It may be tough to carve out the time at first?you may need to start with one per week and work your way

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