Are you that stressed

How to handle stress

Everybody seems to have their own ability to cope with varying amounts of stress and some people naturally cope better than others. Learn to identify stress management techniques so you can deal with stressful situations.

Here are some basic tips for coping with stress:

1) Breathe

It may sound a bit silly, but keeping the oxygen flowing through your body will help to instil a sense of calm. It’s an old adage but it works… take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth and count to ten. Then learn to move with your breathing continuing in this pattern - stretch out your limbs and go for a bit of a walk or make yourself a cup of tea. Moving will help you to breathe and problems usually don’t seem so bad when you come back to them with a calmer frame of mind.

2) Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest is a great way to cope with stress but can be difficult if insomnia is one of your stress symptoms. Try drinking a couple of cups of relaxing herbal tea with chamomile and valerian herbs to help ease you to sleep. Run a hot bath with a few drops of lavender oil in the water and pop a couple of lavender drops on your pillow. If the problem persists you may look to investigate some over the counter supplements from your pharmacist. Magnesium and Calcium can help to ease tension in the muscles, while 5HTP and valerian can help get you into sleep mode.

3) Exercise

Take time for yourself and for your body. Exercise may be the last thing you feel like when the couch beckons, but is a wonderful de-stresser. Kickboxing can be a great way to take out stress as can a more meditative type of exercise such as yoga. Find a workout that suits your needs and incorporate it into your life. Even a good stroll around the local park or beach is sometimes all you need to clear your head.

4) Massage

Tight, aching muscles can be a symptom of stress for many people, particularly those in desk jobs, where RSI can become a problem and typing exacerbates stress on the shoulder and neck muscles. If your lucky, get your partner to give you a good rub down or better still, treat yourself to a weekly massage on your pressure points to work those stress toxins out of the muscles. Think of it as an investment in your health as well as a pampering.

5) Vent

Women in particular find talking (or let’s be honest, a good bitch!) a great way to handle work and/or relationship stress. Venting your troubles to a friend that is a good listener is sometimes the best way to ‘get things of your chest’ and feel better about your stress. Just make sure you return the favour when your pal needs it. Remember if you find that you are venting all the time about the same thing - do something about it! If you don’t like to share your problems with people, try keeping a diary or writing a letter to a person who contributes to your stress and then throwing it away unsent. Sometimes it just helps to put stress into words.

6) Break

At school, children break for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea… these days it’s more common than not for adults to eat lunch at their desk while working through. But it is essential to structure proper breaks into your day – it gives your mind a chance to relax and actually makes you more productive throughout the day.

And a final tip, that you’re not going to like!

7) Cut the caffeine…

Yes, drinking tea and coffee is a highly enjoyable and often sociable part of the day, but caffeine is a powerful stimulant – that’s why whether it is in chocolate (mmmm Moro Gold) or liquid form we crave it. Now if you do decide to cut the caffeine, don’t go cold-turkey as you’ll probably end up suffering withdrawal headaches, which won't be good for your motivation. The key is to decrease your intake by one drink a day until you are down to no drinks, then try abstaining for three weeks. If it sounds torturous, bear this reality in mind - many people find they have increased energy, sleep better, suffer less heartburn and are generally more relaxed. Try replacing your morning drink with hot water and lemon, meet friends for a caffeine free herbal tea and switch from a choc bar to a piece of fruit when the 3:30pm cravings strike. You may also like to try Dandelion Coffee, which is available in your local health store – it tastes like instant coffee, but has no caffeine and the added benefits of detoxifying your liver