Stress Less in 2008

Stress Less in 2008

By: Aurelia Williams

STRESS. "Yes, the S word." Stress is the 'wear and tear' our bodies experience as we adjust to our constantly changing environment. Stress has both physical and emotional effects on us, and it can create positive or negative feelings.As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new consciousness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, insomnia, ulcers and other health problems.

As you can see, as we adjust to different situations, stress can either help or hinder us, depending on how we react to it.I'm not going to sit here and tell you that you shouldn't let things concern you, but what I do want to say is that you can slowly reduce the stress in your life.As women we wear many hats, and as moms our hat racks are overflowing. Be sure to recognize stressful situations and notice how you deal with them both mentally and physically.You remember the saying, "If mama' ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"? Well, I tend to agree with it, so I am very conscience of the stressful situations that I am confronted with, and I am sure to take time off so I can replenish my mind, body and spirit. Sit back, relax, and see if you can apply some or all of the action steps below into your life and take the road to less stress.Write it down.

Write down goals, errands, chores, due dates etc, and instead of creating just a To Do list, keep a Have Done list, too. Move things from your To Do list to the Have Done list after having completed them. At the end of the day, review how productive you were.Express yourself. Unloading your worries and concerns is a terrific way to clear your mind and reduce stress. It's very important not to keep everything inside, so try finding a friend or professional with whom you can talk. You can also write your feelings down in a journal. Moving things out of your head and onto paper can help you release a lot of the inner turmoil you may feeling.

Drink some orange juice. Scientists have discovered that vitamin C can reduce the production of stress hormones. Try eating an orange, drinking some juice, or taking a Vitamin C supplement. Here are a few foods that are rich in Vitamin C: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, grapefruit and cantaloupe. Exercise. Studies have shown that taking a brief 10 minute walk during intense times will increase the amount of oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and ultimately helping you to make better decisions.Give yourself a license to be imperfect. No one is perfect. Give yourself a break.

Try to reach a healthy balance between what really needs to be done now and what can wait. Also, give yourself permission to ask others for help when you need it. Adjustments. Let's face it -- there comes a time when we have to make adjustments. Try to identify your stressors and adjust yourself so that you react differently to them.