by Louise Ciccone

Created on: March 27, 2009

One of the best ways to reduce stress in your life is to reduce the triggers that cause stress. It may sound simple and it is. Reducing triggers means that you need to be aware of what causes stress. You need to identify the people, places, actions and objects, situations or circumstances that cause you daily stress and then decide which ones you can reduce immediately.We all have stress, but in order to reduce our stress, we need to practice being mindful. You need to think about things that you are able to control in your surroundings. A co worker may stress you out, but the chances of you getting rid of them are slim unless you quit or request a change in duties or surroundings, which is possible and can work, depending on how you approach the topic.

The best thing to do is to take a day or more to observe your surroundings. Observe each room in your home, observe your yard, your transportation, your work and the people you interact with.Each room, person, place or thing will give you clue to what stresses you out, but you must observe.You need to observe your reactions to the world around you and take out the triggers one by one. It is not easy and it may feel strange but observing your world in one of the most important actions you can take in changing your life for the better, no matter what the reason. I cannot tell you what stresses you out or what causes stress in your life but I can give you example of my own life and what I have done to reduce triggers.

I used to be very bothered by television. The types of programs that were on, the loud intrusive commercials, the media and more.I decided that I experienced more stress then enjoyment from the television so I reduce the stress and cut my cable. I no longer watch television and I am much less stressed. Of course this may seem extreme to some, but it is what helped me become less stressed out.I also found that the dogs barking late at night in my area bothered me to the point where I could not sleep. I did not get rid of the dogs but I did start wearing earplugs, now I sleep like a baby.I also found riding the bus during rush hour traffic to be a very big stress in my life. The experience would literate put me in a bad mood the rest of the day. I got rid of this trigger by taking the bus that comes after my usual bus. I get home 15 minutes later , but I am much less stressed and more calm due to this change.I also find it very stressful standing in line at the bank to pay my bills and taking care of

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