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Strategies
for stress management
Effective time management is just one of many ways to keep from succumbing
to stress overload. Here is a list of some other methods of stress management
that you might want to experiment with to see what works best for your
particular situation.
- Associate
with people whom you enjoy and who support you.
- Learn and practice relaxation or meditation skills.
-
Engage in a vigorous physical exercise that is convenient and pleasurable.
Sometimes it helps to get a friend to exercise with you.
- Don't let one thing dominate you, such as school work, relationships,
jobs, sports, etc.
-
View life as challenges to seek, not obstacles to avoid.
- Take responsibility for your life and your feelings, but never blame yourself.
- Maintain a reasonable diet and sane sleep habits.
- Use alcohol and other drugs wisely, be in control of it, not vice verse.
- Avoid the use of sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and other drugs to control
stress.
- Protect your personal freedoms and space. Do what you want and feel, but
respect the rights of others. Don't tell others what to do, but if they
intrude, let them know.
- Find a time and place each day where you can have complete privacy. Take
time off from others and pressures. Short time-outs during the day can
help improve efficient functioning the rest of the day. Don't drift along
in troublesome and stressful situations or relationships.
- Take action
to change rather than trying to avoid the problem. Taking chances is the
key to emotional well-being.
- Surround yourself with cues from positive thoughts and
relaxation.
- Review
your obligations from time to time and make sure they are still good for
you. If they're not, let them go.
- Open yourself to new experiences. Try new things, new foods, new places.
- When worries start to build up, talk to someone.
Adapted from College of St. Benedict / St. John's University
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