The Ten Best Tools in Your Stress Reduction Toolbox

• Physical exercise- No fancy gymmasium membership is required, even taking a walk on a regular basis can do wonders for reducing the effects of stress on your body. Try making time for a 30 minute walk three times a week. Physical activity increases the production of neurotransmitters known as endorphins. Any type of exercise can help to produce the same “feel-good” sensation commonly referred to as a “runners high”, and not only reduces the effects of stress but also serves to improve one’s mood.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs of any kind, which all serve to provide temporary “self-medication” of stress, but do nothing for the stressfull stimuli in the long run.
• Do something, anything, that you enjoy every day- from crafts to reading, listening to music to playing the piano, a routine that involves an activity that you love will help to reduce the effects of stress.
• Avoid “type A” personality type habits such as overworking, skipping sleep to get a project done, or over-scheduling your day. Learn to tell yourself to be the best YOU you can be, not the best that Anyone can be!
• Try to stay in the here and now, but at the same time make a plan for managing your time and schedule.
• Set reasonable goals for yourself, and re-evaluate your personal priorities related to school, employment and even relationships.
• Evaluate your stressors, and then evaluate them even more intensely to determine who benefits from these activities- is it you, your boss, your family? Whose goals are you meeting by continuing with these stressfull activities?
• Laugh and try to use humor to reduce stress. Research has proven that the use of humor decreases stress, and that laughter actually reduces stress hormones.
• Participate in relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing. Many producers of relaxation recordings have CDs available on the market to assist you in muscle relaxation, deep breathing and mediation techniques.
• Try aromatherapy, especially the use of lavender. There is a reason that lavender is included in products such as bath oils, lotions and even baby bedtime bath soaps- it has a natural relaxing effect that does wonders to reduce the effects of stress.

    With the holidays approaching, many of us are feeling even more stress than usual, and can benefit by making an effort toward reducing stress wherever and whenever we can!