Stress-busting tips part 2

I wrote stress-busting tips part 1 on Monday with the first five tips. Part 2 has another five tips to help you manage through stress during these uncertain times.

Five tips to manage stress

1.Establish a regular exercise routine

Stress produces chemicals that make you feel tense. Exercise helps move them through your body. Try to get at least 20 minutes of exercise three times a week. Choose something fun that you’ll enjoy and continue doing.

2.Eat a balanced diet

• Make sure you’re getting enough of the four food groups every day.
• Ensure you’re eating enough carbs and protein and include lots of fruits and vegetables. 
• Make sure you’re getting enough calcium and iron. Use fats, oils, and sweets sparingly.

3.Get plenty of rest

Most people need seven or eight hours of sleep a night to feel renewed and refreshed. If you have trouble sleeping, increase your exercise routine.

• Take a warm shower,
• meditate or
• do light yoga before bed.

Resist your computer or TV before going to bed; it will keep your mind active

4.Improve your communication skills

Learn to ask for help when you need it. Resolve misunderstandings before they become a problem by talking things over with that person.

5.Learn to accept and adapt to change

Change is an unavoidable fact of life. Major work and life changes are common. Whether or not you want these changes, they can be extremely stressful – unless you learn to adjust to them. Take time to recover, refocus and re-energize during any major change such as promotion, relocation, parenthood, divorce, or health change.

If you need more tips to help manage your stress, check out some of my other posts.

If you feel your stress is too much to handle, please contact your doctor, a counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or a health care professional. Don’t try to go it alone.