by Jennifer Johnson

Created on: July 31, 2009

Do you feel as though you're under constant stress? Are you ready to give up or are you looking for an escape? You're not alone.

All of us have times we'd rather crawl under the covers and hide from the world and our responsibilities, but as tempting as that may seem, it will just make matters worse. It's time to face the problem head-on and develop a stress relief plan.

All of us experience stress. From traffic jams, to looming deadlines, to a stack of unpaid bills - there are many sources of stress in our day-to-day lives. It may surprise you to know that *positive* things can also bring stress into our lives: a new addition to our family, getting married, starting a new job...these things, while good, can also trigger the stress response.

Stress, in and of itself, isn't necessarily a bad thing; it can help us perform better, motivate us, sharpen our focus, and more. However, it's our response to stress that determines whether our lives are positively or negatively impacted.

In order to minimize or avoid negative consequences altogether, it's important that you develop a plan to handle stress.

IDENTIFY SOURCES OF STRESS

There are certain situations, people, and events that are stressful. Try your best to identify as many of these as you can in your life. Once you've identified your stressors, see if there's a way to reduce or eliminate them altogether.

Of course, certain events/situations are inevitable - you have to pay your bills, for example. If it's not possible to eliminate a stressor, at least try to limit the frequency with which you have to encounter it. Using the bill example, set aside a time each week where you pledge to tackle the task, rather than dealing with individual bills as they come in daily.

PRACTICE BETTER TIME MANAGEMENT

One of the key contributors to stress is poor time management.

How many times have you got caught up in a television show, or answering email, or talking on the phone and suddenly realized time had flown by and you were running late for an appointment? Feeling rushed greatly intensifies stress. See if there are ways you can better plan your day so that you aren't frantically rushing from one thing to the next without a moment to relax.

Feeling overwhelmed is also a major contributor to stress. A little advance planning will go a long way in helping you stay on top of things and not feel as though you have dozens of deadlines looming.

There are many time management systems, books, and tools to help you get better organized, but something as simple as a handwritten "To Do" list can help you focus on priorities and stay on track.

ACTIVELY SEEK STRESS-RELIEVING ACTIVITIES

The first two items in the stress relief plan deal with managing the stress in your life. This last item focuses on relieving the stress you are currently experiencing.

There are many activities you can engage in that will help reduce stress:

* relaxation techniques (deep breathing, meditation, etc.)

* exercise - getting active can greatly reduce your stress and enhance your overall feeling of wellbeing

* eat a healthy diet

* talk to friends - sometimes just talking about a problem will immediately give you a little relief from the stress associated with it

* find a hobby you enjoy

* listen to relaxing music

* get a massage

* get adequate rest - when we're tired, it takes much less to get us stressed out

* stay positive - no matter what the situation, you have the choice of how you will respond to it

Remember, stress is a part of our lives, so it's in our best interest to learn to live with it in a healthy and positive manner.

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