Ten Ways To Prevent Stress

Stress often brings different outcomes.But in most people, a biological reaction is imminent.Occurring stress results in certain hormones being secreted into the adrenal glands.This secretion leads to a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate and sweating.This type of reaction is good in an emergency situation, encouraging and signaling to the body that a dangerous situation is occurring; communicating to the brain to remove one's self from the situation and get to a safer place.However, the type of stress that will be discussed is the type that is a reaction, or overreaction, and can be controlled and prevented.

To decrease negative stress in one's life, changes in thinking, behavior and lifestyle must occur.These types of changes will positively affect mental health, directly resulting in a positive change in physical health.Mental health is directly correlated to physical health and should be viewed as such while practicing the following methods.

Changing one's thinking can take some time, but will result in a healthier lifestyle.Do you see the glass as half-empty or half-full?If you see the glass as half-empty, it is time to make some changes in thinking.It is often easier for people to see the negatives in a situation.But now is the time to change that reaction.

Every situation that occurs has a positive side to it, even a situation as serious as abuse can be viewed as positive.Although the abuse itself is negative, how one handles it and views it will determine how well they are able to overcome that terrible obstacle.In a case with particulars like this, the abused individuals can internalize this abuse, blame themselves and bury it deep inside themselves.Or the abused can seek help, discuss the situation with a professional (or another), realize that they are the victim and decide why this obstacle was placed in their life.Did it teach the abused individual how to be more aware to prevent a future similar situation or did it make them a mentally stronger individual.Turning a negative, sometimes horrible, situation into a learning experience is one way to prevent stress. Negative situations are dealt to everyone at one point or another in life.How the situation is dealt with is what will increase or prevent stress.Be Proactive Rather Than Reactive.Take any bad circumstance and reprogram the course of its path in your brain.Don't react to the situation; instead think about what can be done to make this situation better and more positive.Then act on that plan, being proactive.

Next, realize that there are only 24 hours in a day.Don't overplan.Buy a daily planner or create one on your computer.Then write in it and follow your schedule.This sounds simply silly, but this time management can prevent much of daily stress.It also increases feelings of accomplishment, which results in positive stress.To make a list of what needs to be accomplished for the day and to be able to check off each task after it is complete is a visual confirmation that a task is complete and that it is time to move onto the next task.It is also very important to find time in that schedule for you.Make one hour a day, even if it is broken into minutes here and minutes there, just for you.Make this your time to plan, reflect and relax.

Changing behavior is another key to preventing stress.Be Assertive rather than apprehensive.If there is a change that needs to occur, be assertive and make it happen.Take the steps to make the change possible, but do it with tact in order to avoid more stress.Also, find a person to vent to about daily stresses.Find ten minutes in your day (be sure to limit your vent time to a small part of your day, once a day) and a Vent Partner to discuss your daily challenges, how you dealt with them and how you would change your dealings in the future to make the situation positive.Sometimes this takes practice, but discussing and reflecting on your proactive response can help create awareness to prevent this type of stress in the future.

Another behavior change to prevent stress is to simply Have a Sense of Humor.Laugh!If something makes you boil, turn it around and laugh it off.A good laugh relaxes tense muscles, speeds more oxygen into your system and lowers your blood pressure.Once you have laughed it off, you will deal with the situation with a different mindset or perspective.

Lifestyles are often set in stone for most people by the time they turn twenty years old.Most people have certain ways to do something or to deal with situations.Be Open to Change.Realize that the way life is heading can be changed and positive impacts can come from that change.Don't take on the mindset that, "if it isn't broken then why fix it?"If you are experiencing overwhelming stress, then something IS broken and DOES need to be fixed.That change can be most effective if changing certain aspects of one's daily lifestyle.

Physical and mental health goes hand-in-hand, so it is important to lead a healthy physical lifestyle in order to maintain a healthy mental lifestyle.Eat Healthy and Drink Lots of Water.Eating fresh organic foods (free of salts, preservatives and other toxins that impact the body negatively) and drinking lots of water or teas can help to eliminate stress causing toxins from the body's system.Removing these bad toxins clears room in one's body for health and positivity.The body then responds more quickly and clearly to situations, preventing stress.

Find a Daily Exercise Regimen that will benefit your situation.Choose from exercises such as a simple walk around the neighborhood, practice yoga or Pilate's, sign up at the local gym or find an alternative, and notice the positive impact on your physical and mental being because of this time taken out to care for the body.Exercise has been proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and increase the positive hormones released into the body.

Get a Good Nights Sleep.For a body to properly function at peak potential mentally and physically, it needs its rest.Be sure to regularly get a good nights rest.Buy a new mattress if it is what is currently preventing a good nights rest.It will be an investment that will pay off for years to come.Plan eight or more hours a night for sleep.Don't do anything else in the bedroom other than sleep, meditate or engage in intimate moments with your partner.Television watching, eating, reading or any other activity needs to be done before entering your bedroom.The bedroom should be viewed as a peaceful space that can be used as an escape toward relaxation.Limiting events that occur in the bedroom will train the brain to only associate certain events, such as sleep, to that room.This will decrease the time spent tossing and turning to get to sleep.Also, be sure to remove yourself from the bedroom if you can't fall asleep because something is on your mind.Go into the other room and write it down.Once on paper, try to relax and once again make an attempt at sleeping.

Pets are great therapy for stressed individuals.Pets are loving, compassionate and always forgiving animals.Pets can't talk, but they certainly can show their emotions.The act of petting your animal can decrease stress.The act of touching another living thing is very therapeutic and beneficial.

Practice Deep Breathing Techniques, especially when dealing with a stressful situation.Deep Breathing helps to clear the mind and it releases good-feeling endorphins into the mind to help discourage stress and negative emotions.Deep breathing techniques increase oxygen flow and relaxation, and reduce stress.

Finally, Find Your Spirituality.Spirituality comes in different forms for different individuals.Some individuals relate spirituality to religion.Others view spirituality as finding one's true inner self.Knowing one's self includes awareness of surroundings and how actions can affect surrounding situations.Knowledge and awareness can create a state of mental peace.This peace creates a lifestyle less full of stress and simply stated, a more full life.Meditation, or taking time out to reflect, is extremely important in the spirituality endeavor.Meditation clears the mind of negative thoughts and allows room for positive thoughts, which in turn result in an ongoing cycle of good health and stress reduction.

Good luck in reducing your stress.If followed, these steps will prevent stress and provide you with a full and satisfying life.